Comment by photochemsyn | Hacker News Reader

Comment by photochemsyn | Hacker News Reader

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I'd read the study conclusions again, in particular the dosages and circumstances:

> "Psilocybin, in 10mg or 25mg doses, has no short-term or long-term detrimental effects in healthy people... The research, published in The Journal of Psychopharmacology, is an essential first step in demonstrating the safety and feasibility of psilocybin – a psychedelic drug isolated from the Psilocybe mushroom – for use within controlled settings alongside talking therapy as a potential treatment for a range of mental health conditions, including treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and PTSD.'

Notice that very large doses were not studied, and the studies were conducted under controlled settings, with one-on-one support from a trained psychotherapist, in groups of up to six people simultaneously.

As the study was not flawed, then, under these conditions, psilocybin certainly seems like a safe and effective option for treatment.

I'd be curious to know how many mg's an average sized magic mushroom contains. I've taken a stem and had an enjoyable couple hours. I've taken several mushrooms 3.5-7g and had a rather intense set of experiences that I'll never forget, along with some very dark and scary moments -- And I can see how these moments would permanently change someone (even a 'healthy' person).

Ultimately, how many mg's of psilocybin does an average magic mushroom contain? The very first line of text in a google search said 10mg psilocybin per 1g of mushroom. 35-70mg psilocybin for the two standard street dosages - so on the street, your minimum suggested dosage is, at minimum, like 40% stronger than this study looked into? Could make for some less than favorable experiences for people hearing about this 2nd hand and not looking into it.

I wonder if the researchers in this study had people consume mushrooms on an empty or full stomach, as well. Also makes a big difference in terms of intensity and duration (in my experience).

And like you mentioned, those in the study also had 1-on-1 support from a trained professional.. On the street, you've got your goofball friends and maybe one wise, old trip-sitter if you're lucky. And honestly, I'd prefer a seasoned trip-sitter whose taken the drug many times over a trained professional who has is much less likely to have that kind of firsthand experience. The company you keep can have just as much of an impact as the potency of the hallucinogen (again, in my experience).

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