Can You Smoke Shrooms? Risks You Must Know!

Nature has many secrets and miracles hidden around us. Magic mushrooms are one such miracle that it is a psychedelic mushroom used by various cultures around the world for years. Commonly called shrooms, these have the potential to cause substance abuse and therefore are not legal in many countries around the world.

Magic mushrooms are consumed orally commonly but this article examines the question ‘Can you smoke shrooms?’. It also gives you detailed information on shrooms, their various ways of consumption, potential risks associated with smoking shrooms, etc. So read on and find out everything you need to know about ‘Can you smoke shrooms?’.

What Do You Mean By Shrooms?

Shrooms are the colloquial term given for certain mushrooms that cause psychedelic effects on your body. These are commonly called magic mushrooms. These kinds of mushrooms have been used for centuries in various cultures worldwide for medical and ceremonial purposes. These are found in the wild or cultivated in some parts of the world and contain psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychoactive and hallucinogenic compound. 

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), magic mushrooms or psilocybin is one of the most well-known psychedelics. It is also considered a Schedule 1 drug which means it can be potentially misused and not legalized for medicinal purposes inside the United States.

Some other common names of magic mushrooms include mushies, blue meanies, liberty caps, golden tops, Amani, philosopher’s stone, etc. Psilocybin mushrooms look common but have whitish-grey and dark-brown caps with long slender stems.

They are usually eaten, brewed for tea, or mixed with food. There are also some other ways of using these mushrooms which we will detail in coming sections.

Can You Smoke Shrooms?

The shortest answer to the question ‘Can you smoke shrooms’ is ‘Yes’. But whether it is okay to do so is a matter that comes under debate. Usually dried shrooms are crushed into a fine powder and smoked by rolling them up directly or blending with other substances such as cannabis or tobacco. But the fact here is that what exactly happens when you smoke shrooms is not researched much.

There aren’t any proper studies in this regard and the only sources available are anecdotal reports made on websites like Reddit and Quora. In most such reports, smoking shrooms is deemed ineffective and doesn’t claim to cause high as you eat it directly. Some of the reasons for this might include:

• Sensitivity to heat- One of the reasons why mushrooms are ineffective while smoking is because the psilocybin in it is heat sensitive, which means it loses its properties upon heating.
• Absorption by your body- When shrooms are eaten, the compounds are absorbed by your body properly. But when it is smoked up how well they get absorbed by your lungs is unclear.
• The dosage quantity- To get high, the user needs to consume shrooms in higher quantities. In smoking, the dosage of the shrooms is less so the high also is reduced.

Ways Of Using Shrooms

There are various ways of using magic mushrooms and some of them are listed in detail below:

• Oral Ingestion- One of the most common ways people consume shrooms is through oral ingestion. This includes consuming it after it is dried along with other food items and eating it fresh after harvesting. Some other methods of oral ingestion of shrooms include brewing it into tea, consuming it with lemon juice (lemon tea), and mixing it with alcohol.
• Edibles- Sometimes shrooms are converted into delicacies like gummies, candies, chocolates, and other edibles. This makes it more palatable and controls its dosage.
• Microdosing- Consuming shrooms regularly in small amounts is found to be somewhat beneficial. The amount ranges from 0.1 to 0.5 grams of shrooms and this is done for the less serious effects like focus and mood. If done in moderation, the shrooms won’t lead to a trip.

The Effects Of Smoking Shrooms

 Some of the possible effects of consuming magic mushrooms include:

• Hallucinations- People who have consumed shrooms in various ways have reported seeing people and things that are not in reality.
• An altered perception of reality- When you are on a shroom trip, the reality gets altered for you. Colors become more vibrant and everything seems a bit enhanced and altered.
• Change in sense of time- Another effect of the shroom trip is the altered sense of time. They don’t feel like time is moving and it can also lead to confusion regarding the present moment.
• Heightened emotions- Every emotion whether happy or sad can feel a bit more heightened during a shroom trip. Some feelings like self-reflection, euphoria, and excitement are commonly reported.

The above-reported effects are commonly found during a high caused by shroom consumption either orally or as edibles. However, there aren’t many studies on the effects of smoking shrooms. Anecdotal reference indicates that smoking shrooms causes a less high compared to consuming them in other ways.

Risks Of Smoking Shrooms

There are many risks and side effects associated with smoking mushrooms. These include:

• Lung irritation and respiratory issues- The presence of tar and ash in any organic material while smoked can cause lung irritation and lead to serious respiratory issues in the future.
• Risk of overdosing- As smoking shrooms only provide a mild high this can motivate people to consume it in larger amounts leading to overdose.
• Chance of developing mental health disorder symptoms like anxiety, paranoia, or fear.
• Weakens the immune system- Another major risk of smoking shrooms is that it can weaken your immunity. This can lead to infections and inflammation in your body, especially the lungs.
• Changes in cardiovascular functions- Smoking shrooms have been shown to cause adverse effects on your heart such as increased heart rate, heightened blood pressure, palpitations, etc.
• Harmful interactions- Shrooms are smoked by combining them with other products like cannabis or tobacco. As there isn’t much research evidence on the effect of combining such products, there can be a potential threat to the human body.

Safety Tips While Smoking Shrooms

Even though there is no such thing as safely consuming substances like psilocybin, you can take some approaches to reduce its risks. These include:

• Try not to smoke the shrooms and choose any other method- Smoking shrooms can cause detrimental effects and if you have to consume psilocybin, opt for other methods of intake.
• Exhale the smoke right away if you have chosen to smoke shrooms, try to limit holding the smoke in your lungs. Holding it longer can cause risks to your lungs.
• Reduce your dosage- While smoking shrooms, always start with the lowest dosage and then gradually increase your way up. Taking higher doses all at once might cause adverse effects like a bad trip.
• Drink plenty of water- Drinking water can hydrate your body as shrooms are shown to dry your vermouth and raise your body temperature. 
• Do not starve yourself- Consuming food is important while you smoke shrooms as it can cause gastrointestinal discomfort otherwise. 
• Avoid mixing it with other substances- Mixing shrooms with other substances like tobacco and alcohol can cause serious side effects for your body.
• Choose the right place and time- Do not smoke shrooms while you are already anxious or depressed. Only do this after you are relaxed and comfortable in a familiar place. 

Conclusion

Shrooms are the nicknames for magic mushrooms or psilocybin, a psychedelic mushroom found in some parts of the world. This is classified as a Schedule 1 drug due to its psychoactive properties and is not authorized for usage for medicinal purposes inside the United States. But in various cultures around the world, magic mushrooms were consumed as part of therapeutic and healing practices.

Even though it is normally consumed orally, some anecdotal references suggest that it can also be smoked. But there is no proper research evidence on this and what effects it can exactly create is not understood. Smoking shrooms have been reported to cause only a mild high because the active substance in its psilocybin is heat sensitive and can be destroyed while heated.

Also, how fast they can be absorbed by your body is not understood. Smoking shrooms can also cause side effects like lung irritation, chance of overdosing, harmful interactions, anxiety, paranoia, etc. So it is better not to consume it in this way.

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