A mushroom is a fleshy plant which has the spore-bearing fruiting body of the fungus. It grows above ground wildly or some of them are cultivated for many different purposes. There are many species of mushrooms, such as fairy-ring mushroom, enoki, shiitake, oyster mushroom, and also magic mushroom like Psilocybe, paddy straw mushroom, etc. Mushroom is low in calorie and it is usually used in cooking. However, there are some mushrooms that can be used as a traditional medicine.
Mushroom has excellent nutrients such as carbohydrate, vitamins, and minerals. You can find those especially in Agaricus sp. like crimini or Portobello. This is the safe mushroom to eat because it is grown in controlled in the sterilized environment. The other mushrooms that you can eat include shiitake, maitake, oyster, and enoki. However, there are species of mushroom that poisonous. Agaricus bosporus contains also carcinogen called hydrazines. This carcinogen will be destroyed by moderate heat of cooking, but if you eat this in the raw condition you will get mushroom side effects, such as:
- allergic reaction
The substances in Agaricus mushroom bring the side effects to some people that come in the allergic reaction such as urticaria (dermatologic reaction in allergy).
- asthma condition
The allergic reaction of this mushroom can lead to the asthma attack. It makes the bronchus has a hypersensitivity to produce the secret and make a swelling so you will have difficulty in breathing.
- anaphylactic shock
The severe allergic reaction of the mushroom side effect will come as an anaphylactic shock. In this condition, people who get this will have severe hypotension and need emergency treatment.
- influence the growth of cancer cells.
The carcinogen in raw mushroom can influence the growth of cancer cells. This is mutagenic and can spread anywhere.
The other mushrooms which bring many side effects are Psilocybin mushrooms. These mushrooms are commonly known as ‘magic mushroom’ because they can change your life insight through their psychedelic properties. Psilocybin can be found in over 200 species of mushrooms. They are typically dark-spored fungus which grows in tropical and sub-tropical climate. These type of mushrooms have been researched to treat psychiatric and psychological problems.
- hallucinogenic effect
Ingesting the psychedelic properties of the magic mushroom brings the strong hallucinogenic effect for 20-30 minutes.
- Mild anxiety
Psilocybin properties in the mushroom are broken down into psilocin once it’s taken. It makes the mild anxiety feeling.
- Mild electricity sensation through the body.
Psilocybin mushroom brings also the physical sensation like mild electricity and energy that run through the body.
- Emotional and mental changes.
Psilocybin mushroom can bring the emotional and mental changes which appear in the change of insight, perspective, and feeling.
- Euphoric sensation.
The effect of Psilocybin mushroom is similar to LSD. It brings the euphoric sensation to the consumer.
- Makes stay awake.
Psilocybin mushroom can prevent someone from falling asleep. It is usually used to make people stay awake to do their jobs.
- Change in focus attention.
Psychedelic properties in Psilocybin mushroom can change the focus of attention. It is similar to the other psychoactive drugs effect.
- Dilation of pupils.
Like in the psychoactive drugs, Psilocybin mushroom has the dilation of pupils as a side effect. It’s because the substance activates the sympathetic nervous system.
- Increase heart rate.
The mushroom side effect in increasing the heart rate comes from the Psilocybin properties that affect the sympathetic nervous system which plays the role in regulating the heart rate.
- Increase the blood pressure.
This side effect of mushroom happens because of the reaction of sympathetic nervous system. It stimulated by Psilocybin properties in the mushroom.
- Over fear reaction or paranoid.
The psychedelic effect in the mushroom can bring the over reaction of fear even paranoid. It is connecting with hallucination effect of Psilocybin mushroom.
- Bring the nausea feeling.
Some mushrooms are not easy to digest. It will make the nausea feeling when you eat these mushrooms, especially in raw condition.
- Attention disruption.
The Psilocybin mushroom disrupts the serotonin neurotransmission to the brain. This mechanism can disrupt the attention and change the focus of thinking.
- Bring the dizziness and confusion.
The disruption of serotonin transmitter brings also the dizziness and confusion. It makes the mood changing also.
- Panic attack.
The panic attack comes as the side effect of the mushroom because of the stimulation of sympathetic nervous system and psychedelic effect. When this effect becomes one it stimulates the panic attack.
- Being fatigue
Fatigue comes when the euphoric side effects of the mushroom reach the climax. It makes your body being fatigue later.
- An experience of stomach discomfort.
Mushroom contains enough gas that can make the stomach discomfort. It can go to be indigestion, nausea, and vomiting experience.
The mushroom side effects have been uncovered above. Both of the Agaricus mushroom and Psilocybin mushroom have their side effects. However, the side effects of Agaricus can be minimized by cooking them over medium heat. It’s not like Psilocybin mushrooms which are the side effects can be removed by heating them. You have to give the interval 2-3 weeks from the previous eating of Psilocybin mushroom with the next one to avoid the fatal side effects.