All About Psilocybe Cubensis
If you’ve crossed paths with the alluring magic mushrooms, chances are you’ve met with psilocybe cubensis. In this article, we’ll explain why. We’ll also cover:
· What is psilocybe cubensis?
· What happens when you consume psilocybe cubensis?
· Is psilocybe cubensis legal?
· What are psilocybe cubensis spores?
· How to grow psilocybe cubensis
What is Psilocybe Cubensis?
All psilocybe cubensis are magic mushrooms, but not all magic mushrooms are psilocybe cubensis.
Magic mushrooms are mushrooms (or “shrooms”) that contain the active, psychedelic compounds psilocybin and psilocin. There are actually over 150 species of mushrooms that contain these compounds.
The most famous of these is psilocybe cubensis. Psilocybe cubensis rose in popularity because it has a moderate potency, and especially because it is relatively easy to cultivate at home. Within this grouping, there are multiple different strains. For example, you may have heard of the B+ strain, one of the most famous psilocybe cubensis family members.
Active Compounds in Psilocybe Cubensis
Psilocybin might be the poster-child of mushroom chemistry, but there’s actually another compound called psilocin which is even more biologically important. Psilocybin and psilocin sound alike, and they look alike as well.
Psilocin is simply the dephosphorylated version of psilocybin. The conversion takes place easily under acidic conditions – like in stomach acid or lemon juice. In fact, almost as soon as you ingest psilocybin, it is metabolized to form psilocin.
This also explains the chemistry behind lemon tek theory. It is common practice to soak magic mushrooms in lemon juice, to increase potency. Lemon juice has an acidity comparable to stomach acid, so it easily converts psilocybin into psilocin. This also significantly decreases the amount of time you’ll need to wait between ingestion and the onset of symptoms.
What difference does a phosphate group make? Psilocybin is more water-soluble, because the phosphate group makes it more polar. Psilocin, on the other hand, is considerably less polar and therefore more lipid-soluble. The result is that psilocin more easily crosses the blood-brain barrier where it can have potent effects on the brain.
Both of these molecules bear a striking resemblance to serotonin, an important neurotransmitter. In fact, they bind very strongly to certain serotonin receptors in the brain. This ultimately produces hallucinogenic effects and altered perception that we associate with psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD.
Psilocybe Cubensis Quick Facts
Psiolcybe cubensis usually takes 20-40 minutes following ingestion until the onset of symptoms, which can be expected to last for about 6 hours. Of course, we always hope that the positive, life-changing effects will be permanent – that is what makes magic mushrooms so special.
For a more in-depth guide on effects and proper dosage, check out this article.
Effects of Psilocybe Cubensis
The altered perception that comes with psilocin activity can be permanent – and that can be a good thing. Psilocybe cubensis and other psychedelics are thought of as a “spiritual teacher.” Users are not generally looking for a party drug, but rather for a deeply meaningful experience, or what has even been clinically described as “oceanic boundlessness.”
Many people report lasting insights from mushroom trips, which allow them to heal on physical, emotional, and spiritual levels. The scientific community is also recently beginning to explore the healing power of these fantastical drugs.
What are Psilocybe Cubensis Spores?
The spores are perhaps the real reason that psilocybe cubensis rose to fame, above all the other species of magic mushrooms.
Take a look at the life cycle of a mushroom. The gills (the underpart of the cap) give rise to spores, which can then spread, germinate, produce mycelium, and eventually produce a new fruiting body. You can think of spores like seeds in a plant.
The special thing about spores is that they don’t contain psilocybin, psilocin, or anything interesting. Or anything illegal, for that matter.
Because the fact is, psilocybin is illegal under federal law in the US. It’s a Schedule I drug, right up there with heroin and ecstasy (and marijuana and LSD). Setting aside the fact that drug scheduling is based on politics rather than actual science, the fact is that mushrooms are only illegal insofar as they contain psilocybin.
In other words, mushroom spores are federally legal up until the very point that they begin to form psilocybin. That happens at the mycelium stage. In the meantime, it’s perfectly legal to buy and sell mushroom spores. If you intend to use them exclusively for microscopy, that is. (You may be aware of similar loopholes related to cannabis and hemp.)
There are some exceptions. For example, the spores themselves are illegal in California, Georgia, and Idaho. On the other hand, there are certain jurisdictions where even psilocybin has been decriminalized.
If you happen to live in a jurisdiction where psilocybin or magic mushrooms are legal, then you can use the spores to grow your own magic mushrooms at home. As we mentioned, psilocybe cubensis is the easiest of the magic mushrooms to cultivate at home.
How to Grow Psilocybe Cubensis
When you’re wondering how to create a hospital growing environment for psilocybe cubensis, you can always try to replicate the conditions of the native habitat. In the case of psilocybe cubensis, that would be…cow shit. Literally, though.
Like any good spiritual teacher, psilocybe cubensis exists in a harmonious symbiotic relationship. The mushroom, the cattle, and the cattle egrets together create an unlikely trio. Presumably, you don’t want to bring cow dung into your home, so there are a few things you can do instead.
Everything you need to know about growing psilocybe cubensis is included with your spore kit and psilocybe cubensis grow bag. A grow bag is a sterile bag with everything you need to grow your mushroom spores. This will help to maintain stable conditions during the growing period.
Here are some of the parameters that go into creating an ideal growing environment:
Growing Substrate
One of the great things about psilocybe cubensis is that they aren’t actually that picky about the growing substrate. They will thrive happily on multiple substrates, including rye grain, coffee, brown rice flour, straw, and sawdust. A popular choice is to grow the shrooms inside a mason jar, where you can expect the mycelium to take form in about two weeks. Alternatively, you can grow shrooms suspended in water, which is known as a liquid culture.
Casing Material
Casing is optional, but helps to keep the ideal level of humidity. The casing layer is a soil-like layer that surrounds the substrate. It does not provide nutrients, but absorbs and releases water almost like a buffer system, which protects the mushrooms from drying out or becoming water-logged.
Acidity
Having too much acidity doesn’t feel very homey for psilocybe cubensis. You can aim for a neutral to slightly alkaline pH by adding calcium carbonate salt to the casing soil.
Light Exposure
Research has shown that growing mushrooms in the dark actually increases the concentration of psilocybin. Therefore, it’s best to avoid direct sunlight. Indirect light or a few hours of fluorescent light per day should be sufficient.
Let the Magic Happen
Obviously, there’s a lot to say about magic mushrooms, but the magic itself is difficult to impart with words. If we’ve piqued your curiosity about psilocybe cubensis, you can check it out for yourself here.
As always, if you have additional questions about psilocybe cubensis or any of our products, please feel free to contact us for a free consultation.
Shrooms that contain psilocybin are considered federally illegal, at least in the U.S., because psilocybin itself is a Schedule I Controlled Substance. This means that, in the eyes of the federal government, psilocybin has a high potential for misuse, no accepted medical uses, and can only be safely used under the supervision of a medical professional.
Whether or not this classification of shrooms is really fair is up to you, but there are fortunately other options for those looking to experiment without breaking the law. Remember our friend Amanita muscaria, the classic red-and-white toadstool mushroom? Its active ingredients are not controlled substances, which means they are not subject to the same restrictions and legal penalties.
- Use the right amount for your body.
- Pay attention to side effects.
- Talk to a doctor before starting any new medication plan, shroomy or not.
- Take time to find the right products for your needs and goals.
Magic mushrooms, including those with psilocybin and things like A. muscaria, typically begin to kick in within about 30-60 minutes. Effects generally peak after an hour or two, and the entire trip will likely last from four to six hours.
There are, of course, personal and biological factors that can affect how long your shroom experience lasts. The potency of the shrooms in question, the dose you take, and your own metabolism can all influence how strong a trip is and how long it sticks around.
Once your trip has come to a close, you can likely expect the remnants of your fungal friends to linger in your body for about one to three days. Keep in mind, though, that most standard drug tests don’t check for magic mushrooms, and if they do, they’re almost certainly looking for psilocybin.
If drug testing is a concern of yours, it might be best to choose shrooms that are psilocybin-free or time your trips to leave enough days for your body to purge it from your system.
The word “shrooms” is generally used as an umbrella term for different types of psychedelic or “magic” mushrooms.
Unlike the mushrooms we might eat in a dish, shrooms often contain compounds that can produce psychedelic effects, like hallucinations, distorted senses, and altered states of consciousness, also known as “trips.” The most common psychoactive compound found in these sorts of shrooms is psilocybin, but not all shrooms capable of impacting the brain rely on psilocybin to do so.
Many people turn to shrooms for recreational or medicinal purposes (or both), which isn’t a new phenomenon; many types of mushrooms have been used for centuries or even longer to treat common ailments, promote spiritual exploration, and bring people closer together.
In fact, some shrooms, like fly agaric (Amanita muscaria), are so ancient that researchers have traced their origins back to the period before indigenous peoples crossed from Eurasia to the Americas via the Bering Straits. That means that shroom use has been around for almost as long as modern human society has!
