So You Want to Try Psychedelics?
We all go through phases of experimentation; while some stop at weed, for others, it’s just the beginning. Although this article is by no means encouraging people to use illegal substances, those who are determined should heed my advice.
I sincerely believe that not all drugs are bad. In fact, some of them, like psychedelics, can be quite therapeutic.
Psychedelic drugs come in many shapes and colours, but the ones you are most likely to try are Psilocybin mushrooms, as well as classic LSD. Let’s begin with magic mushrooms; they were used by Mesoamerican tribes in religious rituals, whose “visions” are thought to be products of them.
The psilocybin high is relatively short compared to that resulting from LSD consumption, as it lasts four to six hours depending on the dosage.
The first stage, known as “The Come Up,” is often uncomfortable; because the experience is so far off from reality, it is perfectly normal for your brain to panic. The elapsed time from the moment of consumption to when the effects start kicking in is roughly forty minutes. At the ten minute mark, you will get an awful feeling of gut-rot and your muscles will start tensing up. You might also start to feel a little nervous, but have no fear; it is to be expected.
For those of you with sensitive stomachs, my advice would be to brew the mushrooms in some tea or to drink ginger tea after eating them.
For those of you who are more adventurous, grinding the mushrooms and mixing them with lemon juice, a process called “Lemon Tekking,” intensifies the effects and speeds up “The Come Up.” The reason for this outcome revolves around simple chemistry; usually the stomach acid turns psilocybin into psilocin, however “Lemon Tekking” achieves that prior to consumption.
Towards the end of the first hour is when you will start seeing minor visuals; this marks the beginning of “The Peak”. “The Peak” is an all-around explosion of the senses, which are sponsored by those beautiful chemicals in your system.
This stage is as good as it gets. So, put on some good atmospheric music and think of happy memories, hence the main point of this article: harm reduction.
Psychedelics can either be a beautiful companion or a cruel mistress, and there are three cornerstones to a good trip;
These include mood, setting, and dosage.
Always make sure to be in a good state of mind and to never take psychedelics in an uncomfortable setting. Initiate a trip with an open mind; psychedelics will never make you choke on your own vomit or stop your heart.
However, they can lock you in an introspective nightmare for the duration of the trip, which explains why a good state of mind is mandatory.
Also, make sure that you are not predisposed to any mental illnesses because psychedelics, like Marijuana, have been proven to sometimes trigger them. Please, if you know that mental illness runs in your family, stay clear.
This brings me to my final point, dosage. Though the standard magic mushroom dose is 3 to 4 grams, when it comes to first timers, I highly suggest a smaller dose of 0.5 to 1 gram.
The tolerance build up for magic mushrooms and acid goes away after two weeks, so remember to start small.
Written by: Amir A. Alamatsaz
