History
Psychedelics are also known as “plant medicine”. Plant medicines have been used for thousands of years by various indigenous peoples around the world for therapeutic, spiritual and healing purposes. This goes back further than the scientific discovery of psychedelic substances such as ayahuasca, LSD and psilocybin in the twentieth century. The earliest known plant medicines were probably magic mushrooms (psilocybin), cannabis, ayahuasca, peyote and hemp. In South America, ayahuasca was traditionally used by indigenous shamans as medicine and as part of spiritual rituals. Native tribes in North America also used mushrooms and peyote to contact spiritual forces.
Through scientific research and the invention of new substances in the laboratory, there is increasing awareness of the healing potential of these traditional psychedelics and new psychedelic substances such as MDMA and various derivatives. Although research shows promising results, many psychedelic substances are still illegal and psychedelic therapy is not considered a medical treatment in 2024.
Our sessions are based on magic truffles. This is the only way we can legally offer these sessions in the Netherlands.
Magic truffles
Magic Truffles, are similar to magic mushrooms, they contain psychoactive compounds such as psilocybin and psilocin, which induce altered states of consciousness when ingested. The main difference between magic truffles and magic mushrooms is their growth location: while mushrooms grow above ground, truffles develop underground. Despite this distinction, both magic truffles and magic mushrooms share similar effects and are used for their psychedelic properties. Participating in a Magic Truffle ceremony can have all different kinds of mental, emotional and spiritual benefits (see below: “the subjective experience”).
The working compound in Magic Truffles, is psilocybin. Once consumed, psilocybin is being converted into psilocin which is the compound that will make you “trip”. Research suggests that psychedelics like psilocybin can induce alterations in brain function, including reduced activity in the default mode network (DMN), which includes the medial prefrontal cortex (part of the frontal lobe) and other brain regions associated with self-referential thinking and introspection. This may lead to a temporary dissolution of the sense of self, labeling and ego boundaries. When experienced, this is often described as ego dissolution or even full ego death at high doses. During a psychedelic experience, individuals may also experience a shift away from logical thinking and language-based processing towards more intuitive, symbolic, and holistic modes of cognition. This can lead to experiences of profound insight, interconnectedness, and ineffability.
What is psilocybin?
Psilocybin is the substance that, after conversion to psilocin in the brain, provides the effects of this psychedelic. It owes its name to the mushrooms in which it occurs, of the genus Psilocybe. The molecular structural formula is C12H17N2O4P and this substance is also known as O-phosphoryl-4-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine or indocybin. Psilocybin occurs in varying amounts in mushrooms or truffles that are found on all continents except Antarctica. Many people know psilocybin for its psychedelic and hallucinogenic effect.
The subjective experience
The experience of someone taking psilocybin can vary greatly between individuals. The effects depend on several factors,
the main reasons being dose, environment, the person's state of mind, intention and individual sensitivity to psychedelics.
The most common effects and experiences that people can report during a Truffle ceremony are the following:
Altered Perception: Participants often experience changes in perception, such as enhanced colors, intensified textures, and heightened sensory experiences.
Visual hallucinations: Users may experience visual hallucinations such as patterns moving across surfaces, geometric shapes and distorted images. Both with open and closed eyes (depending on the truffle kind and the dosage this can differ in strength)
Euphoria: Many individuals report feelings of euphoria, joy, and inner peace during the truffle ceremony.
Introspection and Insight:People often report a heightened awareness of their own thoughts, emotions and an openness to explore everything that comes up through a more compassionate and loving lens. Because the brain is working together in ways it normally doesn’t, it is able to look at things through a different perspective. The combination of this can lead to deep introspection and self-reflection, often resulting in profound insights and personal revelations.
Altered perception of time: Time may feel different than normal, with the feeling that it is slowing down or standing still.
Connection to Nature and Others: Participants may feel a stronger sense of connection to nature, the universe, and other participants in the ceremony.
Spiritual Experiences: Some individuals report having spiritual or mystical experiences, feeling a sense of oneness with the universe or experiencing a deeper understanding of existence.
Emotional Release: Magic truffles can evoke a wide range of emotions, ranging from ecstatic joy and awe, to sadness and fear. You’ll notice you can swing from profound joy and laughter to deep sadness and grief while you’re releasing stories, experiences and emotions that were still stuck in your body, mind and spirit.
Mindfulness and Presence: Magic Truffles enhances your ability to be present in the moment, fostering a sense of mindfulness and awareness.
Spiritual or mystical experiences: People also report spiritual or mystical experiences during a trip, with feelings of oneness with the universe or transcendence.
When you consume Magic Truffles, the main ingredient responsible for their psychedelic effects is something called Psilocybin. Once you eat them, your body starts to break down this psilocybin into another compound called Psilocin. This breakdown process happens because of a natural enzyme called phosphatase, which is found in your liver. Think of it like a chemical reaction where a part of the psilocybin molecule, called a phosphate group, is removed.
This conversion from psilocybin to Psilocin is essential because Psilocin is what actually makes you feel the psychedelic effects. As soon as Psilocybin is absorbed through the intestines, it will first be converted by the liver via the portal vein. Acidic environments such as the human body and especially the stomach can also cause Psilocybin to be converted to Psilocin. If Psilocybin were not converted to Psilocin, then Psilocybin would hardly be psychoactive.
So, in simple terms, your body transforms psilocybin into Psilocin, which is the compound that gives magic mushrooms and truffles their psychedelic power.
How does it work in the brain?
WHich receptors does it mainly target in the brain?
5-HT1A
Psilocin is a partial agonist of the 5-HT1A receptor, which means that it is able to bind to and partially activate this receptor. Activation of this receptor can produce anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) and antidepressant effects. The 5HT1A receptor is also involved in regulating autonomic functions such as heart rate, body temperature and endocrine functions.
However, high stimulation can also cause side effects, including nausea and dizziness, which are common during use of magic truffles.
5-HT2A
High stimulation of the 5-HT2A receptor is associated with psychedelic experiences, including visual or auditory hallucinations, a heightened sense of consciousness and an altered sense of time.
For the time being, the 5-HT2A receptor is seen as the most important when it comes to psychedelic effects. Stimulation of this receptor is also associated with increased BDNF concentrations (its a neurotrophin. Neurotrophins are important for the survival, repair and growth of neurons. Even a slightly higher BDNF ensures that you learn faster, remember better, age more slowly and your brain quickly rearranges the connections with the different parts of the brain and body) and thus increased neuroplasticity.
5-HT2B
The 5-HT2B receptor plays a role in the regulation of blood pressure and heart rate. One of the best known functions of the 5-HT2B receptor is its involvement in the growth and development of heart valves during embryonic development.
Psilocin's affinity for the 5-HT2B receptor is likely lower than for the 5-HT2A receptor, meaning that its psychedelic effects are mainly mediated through the 5-HT2A receptor
Ego Death
During a psychedelic experience (especially with high doses) you can experience something people call “ego death”. Ego death mainly has to do with the diminishing sense of self. This happens when the parts of your brain that tries to make sense of yourself and the world around you through putting labels on everything starts to fade away — “my name is …” “this is a tabel” “i am … years old” “this is a phone” “i am here in space” etc. During such an experience you’ll notice that your whole identity, who you think you are, what you believe in, the sense of separation and even your ability to formulate yourself in words, may fade away as you start melting into a sense of oneness and nothingness at the same time.
This can be a very scary experience for people (especially when you start fighting it) because in your own personal experience this can feel like your dying or losing your grip on reality. In these moments it is most important that you surrender into this experience and let go of control. When you let go and surrender into this dying off proces, users often report experiences of utmost bliss, unconditional love and a sense of rebirth when they come back to reality.
It is also possible to experience an ego death without using psychedelic substances, such as deep meditation/breathwork or anything else that can bring you into the flow. There are also many similarities with a near-death experience.