Posted by pinksharkmark (64.32.116.191) on January 16, 2002 at 06:23:59:
In Reply to: Not having a... posted by Paco on January 15, 2002 at 15:59:22:
***Am I to understand that there are numerous psilocibic shrooms that have different hallucinogic properties, and that we should try another variety if the cubensis doesn't work?***
There are numerous species of mushrooms containing psilocybin (around two hundred at last count) but none are currently known to contain active compounds other than psilocybin and psilocin, although a few also contain baeocystin and nor-baeocystin in trace amounts. It's not so much that the different species have different hallucinogenic properties (psilocybin is psilocybin, after all) as that they have different CONCENTRATIONS of psilocybin by weight. "Psilocybe azurescens" mushrooms contain nearly double the concentration of psilocybin/psilocin than "Psilocybe cubensis" mushrooms do, so the required dosage is halved.
If P. cubensis doesn't work for you, than neither will P. semilanceata (Liberty Cap) or any other psilocybe.
***Would one shroom interfere with the other, like sansert interferes with the cubensis?***
Yes. If one takes a dose of P. azurescens one day, it will be necessary to wait the standard four or five days before dosing with P. cubensis.
But Flash does make a valid point when he says that if psilocybin doesn't work, LSD might. There have been reports on this board that LSD has worked better than psilocybin for some people. There is a definite difference between the LSD experience and the psilocybin experience. It is not just a QUANTITATIVE difference (like the difference between eating two grams of mushrooms and eating three grams of mushrooms) but a QUALITATIVE difference as well. The LSD experience, while very similar to that of psilocybin, is definitely not identical. And mescaline is different than either LSD or psilocybin. In fact, Dr. Alexander Shulgin's detailed studies show that humans have the capacity to reliably distinguish between dozens of similar hallucinogens.
It is not surprising to that LSD works better than psilocybin for some individuals... look at the varying reports we get regarding the "triptan" family. For some people, Maxalt works wonders while Imitrex does nothing. For me sucking a Maxalt wafer does as much good as sucking a lifesaver, but Imitrex or Zomig tablets will ALWAYS work. At least they have so far.
The main reason we are concentrating so much on mushrooms rather than LSD is that it is a fairly trivial process to reliably produce REAL psilocybin, while obtaining LSD is a crapshoot. Does that little square of paper this raver dude is selling REALLY have LSD on it, or is it partly or completely LSA? Or just a pretty piece of paper with no effect at all other than to part the naive from their cash?
***I also believe that Flash and Pinky have made great contributions here. I just hope they don't get exasperated at those of us who fail to give them their due.***
To my mind, Bob P's contributions outweigh mine. His extensive research on serotonin and the relationship between serotonin and psychedelic compounds took place long before I got involved. I was extremely upset to hear that it didn't work for him. That REALLY sucks! If anyone deserved success from mushrooms, Bob did. Can we say, "irony"?
pinky