Did you ever get curious and wonder how long do shrooms last? Is it detectable over time? Psilocybin mushrooms, known colloquially as shrooms, are species of diverse macrofungi with hallucinogenic effects: when it starts to kick in, you become less aware of the reality, putting you in unpredictable situations! Collaborating with our in-house mycologists, substance experts, and physicians, we have written this article to prevent such circumstances. Whether you have consumed it already or not, this feature article will serve as a guide – or simply a leisurely read – regarding shrooms in general!
What Are Shrooms and Why Do People Consume Them? What Are Risks?
Mycologists informally categorize shrooms as mushrooms under the genus Psilocybe and other genera containing hallucinogenic properties. To frequent drug consumers, they are magic mushrooms, a playful pun about its ecstatic effects that lasts for several hours. But aside from knowing how long do mushrooms last, what are the risks?
According to family doctors, short-term health risks may vary for each individual. Individuals with less "fitness" may experience severe nervousness, fear, depression, panic attacks, anxiety, and paranoia. Long-term users may suffer from Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD), which, as the name suggests, causes experience-associated flashbacks due to non-stop mushroom use.
If you ever experience some of this, our physician recommends seeing your trusted doctor immediately. This article is only intended to broaden users' knowledge of psychedelic fungi, including general effects and mushroom trip length, and not prevent, advise, or advertise anything detrimental to our readers' health.
Are Magic Mushrooms Legal and Where?
How long do dried magic mushrooms last? Before answering this burning question, what about the shrooms’ legal status? In the US, magic mushrooms are considered illegal and categorized as Schedule I substances written in the Controlled Substances Act. This placement simply means that there is a high chance of abuse and has no proven and accepted medical treatment.
In some countries in the Americas, including Jamaica and the Bahamas, they are completely legal. If you are to ask them, they are likely to have straight answers on how long does shroom high last. Brazil does not explicitly regulate the possession and use of the product and it is not even on the list of banned drugs –technically putting shrooms in a legal state. Similarly, Costa Rica shares the same status, where vendors are plainly selling in the streets.
Crossing the east of the Atlantic Ocean, psilocybin use is not widely welcomed by European lawmakers. In the Netherlands, you will quickly stumble upon shops that sell magic truffles that contain similar compounds. In some other countries like the Czech Republic, Austria, and Portugal, it is not legal per se, but personal use and possession of a small amount wouldn’t necessarily lead you up to the criminal court.
What Psychedelic Mushrooms Have the Longest Effect?
When do shrooms peak? Does it have to do with the type of mushroom? Out of more than 200 species known to have psilocybin, Psilocybe cyanescens and P. azurescens are said to last the longest, but there are also other mushrooms that are great contenders for this placement, such as the following:
- Psilocybe cubensis
- Psilocybe semilanceata
- Psilocybe tampanensis
- Psilocybe baeocystis
- Psilocybe mexicana
- Psilocybe caerulescens
- Psilocybe aztecorum
- Panaeolus papilionaceus
- Inocybe aeruginascens
- Cordyceps sinensis
- Gymnopilus purpuratus
- Amanita muscaria
Does Mushroom Trip Length Depend on Shroom Type?
How long does a shroom trip last? This question has no definitive answer. Why? This is because the psychedelic effects of shrooms are a function of various factors. For instance, dosage is one of the first determinants. A microdose per session won’t be as effective as one with elevated but within the safe limits. However, it is indeed a fact that some magic mushrooms like Psilocybe azurescens and Psilocybe cyanescens were reported to last up to 12 hours!
Factors That Impact on How Long Shrooms Last
As mentioned in the previous block, how long does shroom last? It's dependent on the dosage and the consumed species. To further add to the list, other factors are critical elements in prolonging or cutting shroom's euphoric effects:
- Consumption method
- Individual tolerance
- Metabolism and physiology
- Psychological factors (one's mindset or set where they are in)
How Long Are Shrooms Detected in Human's System?
Now that we know how long do shroom trips last, let’s tackle the topic of its detectable levels in the human body. This can vary depending on the biological sample taken, which includes:
Hair
Regardless of how long do shroom trips last, it is usually detectable within 24 hours after use. This is because the sweat and oils excreted by the glands in the scalp contain the metabolites from psilocybin and similar chemical derivatives. However, including the hair follicle, the chemical substance can still be perceptible with CSI-like laboratory analysis.
Saliva
Shrooms duration in saliva is pretty detectable within 12 hours of consumption – which is why this human liquid sample is taken for real-time detection. For instance, the test is useful in surprise drug testing in the workplace, driving or medical purposes. Usually, the assay is colorimetric-based, which means that it can change color if positive or not, after smearing it into a paper wet with the chemical substance.
Blood
Human blood is also one of the common ways of psilocybin testing, as the fluid carries various chemical signatures of the body. How long do shrooms last for in the blood? One of the serological techniques – called EMIT (Enzyme multiplied immunoassay technique) – is used to detect psilocybin and its digested counterparts after 48 hours of consumption in drawn blood samples.
Urine
Psilocin, psilocybin, muscimol, and other related psychedelic metabolites can be screened after 24 hours using GC/MS, a type of highly sensitive laboratory equipment capable of detecting less than a gram and micro-doses. However, depending on the dosage and the individual’s metabolism, they can remain detectable for up to 3 days.
In general
Aside from using body samples as one of the means to detect secondary metabolites of psilocybin, others are still in the experimental phase. If one asks, "How long does a mushroom high last?" it can be easily detectable by merely observing one that is under the influence of drugs. Most experienced trip sitters are capable of discerning who is sober or not by observing the movements and behavior.
Factors That Influence How Long Shrooms Stay in the System
Generally, as to how long do the effects of shrooms last, it usually declines after 360 mins or 6 hours. However, some factors influence the persistence of the active compound in the human system:
- Hydration levels: The more hydrated you are, the faster it is likely for the metabolized to get flushed
- Physical activity: A quick run and other intense work-out boosts metabolism that exp
- Type of diet: If you have a less balanced diet, the compounds will likely persist more in your anatomy.
- Time and patience: Of course, with time and a bit of patience, the chemical substances will eventually get detoxified.
How Long Do Mushrooms Last in Average by the Following Types?
As noted in the previous statements, how long can shrooms last is a function of species. Whether raw, dried, or processed, each may have a different effects on each consumer.
Raw Magic Mushrooms
When do shrooms wear off if it's raw? There are no specific trials regarding the effects of raw vs dried psilocybe mushrooms. Whether raw or dried, the duration is likely to last within 4-6 hours on average, like your usual trip. What is known, though, is the stability of the psychedelic compounds, which degrades fast in fresh mushrooms, a study says.
Dried Magic Mushrooms
Shroom trip length in dried mushrooms may also be the same duration as the raw one. Their only difference lies within the consumption method, allowing one to consume as tea or eaten with other food to mask the bitter taste.
Shroom Gummies
Shroom gummies are already the processed form of the consumable psychedelic compound psilocybin. After drying, gelatin is added as the solidifying agent to achieve a jelly-like texture, ready to be ingested orally without aftertaste. Like other magic mushroom forms, this may also last about 6 hours on average. However, some brands usually have a higher or lower dosage, prolonging or shortening the trip duration.
How to Grow Your Own Magic Mushrooms
Growing your own magic mushrooms can be quite a challenge. You can either start from scratch or buy fruiting bags. The general steps include:
- Prepare the culture media. This may include different substrates such as wood chips, sawdust, and pH-adjusting substances like lime.
- After preparation, the substrate is subjected to high-pressure heat to kill other organisms. Then the “seed” or the viable hyphae (vegetative organ of the fungus) is added to the substrate.
- Place them in the ideal room with controlled temperature, humidity, light, and even personnel access to prevent contamination.
- For a more easier method, some companies sell ready-to-fruit mushroom bags that just need some moisture and time to reap your first shrooms.
Cultivating magic mushrooms takes years of dedication, extensive research, and trial and error in order to achieve the perfect blend of conditions. It can vary depending on your target species, so have fun reading other useful articles that can help your guide through your mushroom-growing journey!
FAQ
Are Magic Mushrooms Wild Mushrooms?
The widely available shrooms often come from species of Psilocybe cubensis and other species under the genus. While these species can be grown in artificial conditions, these mushrooms, including other psychoactive fungi can be found in the wilderness.
Can Magic Mushrooms Build a Tolerance? What Type of Shrooms Can Do It?
Yes, but regardless of the type of species, with continuous and gradual increase of dosage – according to lab mice studies – one may develop tolerance. This explains why novice consumers rather succumb easily to the hallucinogenic effects of the active compound.
Do People Consume Shrooms for Healing Purposes?
Yes, some people consume shrooms for healing purposes, such as anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders. However, there is no consistent scientific data to prove this claim, and it is still a subject of debate.
Is It Risky to Consume Magic Mushrooms?
Consuming magic mushrooms always comes with a risk, like other hallucinogenic drugs. It can lead to addiction and other short-term and long-term effects, including HPPD, paranoia, etc., that may need treatment with a certified psychiatrist.
