Toxicology: Psilocybin/PsilocinPsilocybin and Psilocin Psilocybin and its dephosphorylated relative psilocin are the active substances in mushrooms

such as Psilocybe cubensis, Panaeolus subbalteatus, and Gymnopilus spectabilis. Most of these mushrooms contain primarily psilocybin and only traces of psilocin, but the body converts most of the psilocybin ingested to psilocin, which is about ten times as psychoeffective. The effects are primarily on the seritonergic systems of the brain, and are similar to the activities of mescaline or LSD. Sensory effects are common, particularly intensifications of color perception, and "kaleidescope effects" with eyes closed. One elderly individual suffering from chronic hearing degredation reported that "small amounts of (Psilocybe cyanescens), too small to cause intoxication, had a remarkably positive effect on his hearing" (reported in Paul Stamets, Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms). Mood alteration is also common, ranging from elation to anxiety. Feelings of paranormal occurances such as leaving the body or travelling through time are not uncommon. Duration is generally 4-10 hours, and there are no lingering effects. At least one death of a child has been attributed to an overdose of Psilocybe baeocystis; children often run high fevers after eating such mushrooms, and their systems are apparently particularly vulnerable to them. In adults, the primary danger to long-term health is misidentification of the mushroom species. Many psilocybin- and psilocin-bearing fungi are "little brown mushrooms" and may be confused with other, poisonous kinds of "lbm's" by the mycologically naive. Religious use of several psilocybin/psilocin-bearing species has been documented among the Mazatec, and is suspected among other groups ranging from pre-Christian Europeans to the ancient Greek. In modern times, P cubensis may be the most commonly cultivated mushroom outside of the standard supermarket varieties.