How Do Magic Mushrooms Work? .Whoever mixed magic mushrooms with chocolate for the first time was a genius, but they’re long gone now.
The ancient Aztecs mixed psilocybin-containing mushrooms with cacao well over a thousand years ago.
Things are done slightly differently today, but the principles remain the same.
In this article, we’ll go over everything you need to know about magic mushroom chocolates, from their history of use, effects, how to shop for them, and how to make your own magical truffles at home.
How Do Magic Mushrooms Work?
The active ingredient in magic mushrooms, psilocybin, is a psychedelic compound responsible for altering your state of consciousness.
When you consume psilocybin, it’s converted into psilocin in your body, which binds to serotonin receptors in your brain and causes acute changes in cognition, perception, emotion, and sense of self.
Psilocin increases the activity of the default mode network (DMN), which is the network of seven large-scale brain regions that work together to perform abstract thinking, rumination, projecting the future, and defining our sense of self (aka “the ego”).
Psilocin essentially disrupts this network, resulting in a loss of ego and a feeling of oneness with the universe.
If this all sounds pretty woo-woo, here’s some science to back it up.
Participants in a study were given a placebo or psilocybin and placed in an MRI to observe brain activity.
The participants who were given psilocybin described a sense of “ego-dissolution,” which correlated with a “disintegration” of the salience network, which is involved in detecting and filtering sensory stimuli in the environment [1].
These participants also reported feeling more “connected to nature” and less concerned about their egos.
While psilocybin is still considered an illegal compound in many parts of the world, there are clinical uses for the compound for treating depression, anxiety, and addiction.
In a therapy setting, psilocybin is usually taken in a capsule or as tea, and the effects last for around 6 hours. Patients typically experience profound changes in their thinking and perception during this time.
In some cases, these changes can be life-changing, leading to long-term improvements in mental health. While more research is needed, psilocybin therapy shows great promise as a treatment for mental illness.
What Are Magic Mushroom Chocolates?
Dried mushrooms don’t have a pleasant flavor, so they’re often combined with herbs and brewed as a tea or, more popularly, mixed into a chocolate bar or truffles for a more palatable experience.
Chocolate and magic mushrooms have a long and intertwined history.
The cacao plant itself, Theobroma cacao, has long been considered a sacred food [2]. Its active ingredient, theobromine, enhances the production of ‘feel-good’ chemicals like serotonin and dopamine in the brain, which is why consuming chocolate is so uplifting and energizing.
The Aztecs believed that cacao was a gift from the gods. They would brew the cacao beans into a bitter drink known as ‘xocolatl’ for religious ceremonies and celebrating vicarious warriors.
Most chocolate bars on the shelves have very little cacao — most of it consists of highly processed sugar. Some mushroom chocolate bars on the market are only that — psilocybin mushrooms blended in with highly processed chocolate.
While these make for a tasty trip, you won’t be getting the most out of this combination.
If you’re looking to make the most of chocolate mushrooms, especially when it comes to a more spiritual experience, souring high-quality cacao is key.
In the United States, psilocybin mushrooms are still considered a Schedule I drug—so purchase and use them at your own risk.
Effects Of Magic Mushroom Chocolate
Chocolate shrooms might sound like a fun and harmless way to try out magic mushrooms for the first time, but they can be incredibly potent and overwhelming for many users.
This delicious treat is made by infusing chocolate with dried magic mushrooms. The result is a potent psychedelic that can produce powerful visual hallucinations, deep introspection, and feelings of euphoria.
Magic mushroom chocolate is often consumed in small doses, so it’s perfect for first-time users or those who want to avoid an intense trip.
