Study finds ‘magic mushrooms’ may improve personality long-term

[cleanhippie]

A new study suggests that a single dose of psilocybin -- the active ingredient in "Magic Mushrooms" -- can result in improved personality traits over the long term.

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine found that individuals who received the drug once in a clinical setting reported a greater sense of "openness" that often lasted 14 months or longer, according to study published this week in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.

The study defined openness as a personality trait that "encompasses aesthetic appreciation and sensitivity, imagination and fantasy, and broad-minded tolerance of others' viewpoints and values." It is one of five main personality traits that are shared among all cultures worldwide.


http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/09/29/study-finds-magic-mushrooms-may-improve-personality-long-term/

[HopeHoops]

1. I think that's just the purple cow talking.

[maxsolomon]

2. aren't those open to taking mushrooms already exhibiting those traits?

i was open to everything before and am still open to everything (except squares, man) for 20 years after (so far).

[cleanhippie]

3. Indeed, they are.

But I am in favor of holding down any and all conservatives and giving them a dose. And while they are under, performing the procedure to remove the stick from their ass...

[marions ghost]

4. this could be the answer

how do we get mushrooms in their champagne before it goes out on the balcony?

[truedelphi]

5. Heh. Heh! n/t

[cleanhippie]

7. Hmmm, put it in at the source?

[EOTE]

6. I have no doubt this is true. If you're looking for an even more profound experience...

take some Syrian Rue or other natural MAOI about an hour beforehand, of course making sure to observe proper precautions pertaining to MAOIs such as diet. It completely alters the experience, making it, IMO, far more spiritual and touching. It's very much akin to an analogue of the traditional shaman's brew called Ayahuasca, but is MUCH easier to get down.

[Schema Thing]

8. where does one find Syrian Rue?

[EOTE]

9. Many, many places.

A lot of Middle Eastern grocery stores have the seeds (which can be eaten as is, or made into something easier to eat via a number of extraction processes), they're usually very cheap. There are a ton of online distributors and some local head shops have them too. If you're looking for a specific retailer, let me know and I'll send you one. If you have a weak stomach and find that Rue causes stomach distress, you can also purchase the extracted Harmala alkaloids which provide all of the effect of the Rue without having to eat something that's pretty foul tasting. There's a pretty awesome product out there called "Caapi Copy" which is the extracted alkaloids of the Banisteriopsis Caapi vine rather than Syrian Rue. Caapi is the MAOI that's traditionally used in the Ayahuasca brew. It's MUCH easier to get down 200mgs of powder as opposed to several ounces of some of the foulest tasting stuff you've ever been likely to encounter.

[Schema Thing]

10. Thanks!

YEs, please point me to a good online retailer. :)


I take it these things have some good effects even w/o taking the shrooms?

[EOTE]

11. Yes, but those effects vary from person to person.

I can't stress how important it is to learn about drug interactions and such before taking an MAOI. Natural MAOIs like Rue and Caapi (which contain harmine, harmaline and tetrahydraharmine) are reversible, so they only last around 8 hours as opposed to irreversible MAOIs which can stay in your system for weeks. This makes them less dangerous and less prone to cause issue than most pharmaceutical MAOIs (with the possible exception of Moclebomide), but it's still important to be aware of drug and food interactions. If you're taking an SSRI, you should definitely NOT take an MAOI. You should also follow an MAOI diet a day before and a day after taking the MAOI.

The effects of the harmala alkaloids can be very interesting on their own. Typically not very visual, but they can provide a lot of introspection, like a mild LSD trip. But I find they're much more interesting when potentiating other things like mushrooms or DMT which is not orally active unless taken in conjunction with an MAOI (as in the case of Ayahuasca).

If you're not a big fan of chewing several grams of bitter seeds or making a tea which is even fouler tasting, I'd recommend getting the isolated compounds:

http://flowingvisions.ecrater.com/c/1168679/harmala-extracts

Harmaline is about twice as strong as Harmine, so typically only about 100mgs is required to fully inhibit MAO as opposed to 200mgs with Harmine. It's a personal matter as to which you prefer, but Harmaline is usually cheaper as you need only half as much. The Caapi Copy, as I mentioned before, is a mix of harmine, harmaline and THH, it's more expensive, but can provide more interesting effects.

If you're looking to pick up the seeds alone or an extract, I'd look here:

http://www.iamshaman.com/eshop/10Browse.asp?Category=Seeds:Syrian%20Rue

But keep in mind that the stuff tastes horrible and it causes many people a lot of stomach distress. Rue is incredibly cheap, but I find it's worth it to spend a little bit more to get only the active compounds.

[EOTE]

12. Another note about using an MAOI.

The MAO in your stomach destroys many of the active compounds in psilocybin mushrooms, so when MAO is inhibited, the effect is usually a good deal stronger. The maxim that I've heard is that it makes the shrooms seem twice as strong and ten times weirder. So if you're accustomed to taking say 4 grams dried, only take 2 grams in conjunction with an MAOI. This should provide an experience at least as powerful as the typical 4 gram trip, but typically much longer lasting and with more positive effects.

[haele]

16. Need a disclaimer with that suggestion -

Women who are pregnant (any stage) or nursing should never take Rue (including Syrian Rue)as Rue is the primary trigger ingredient in most early aborficants. Just like Pennyroyal, which is a common herbal tea ingredient used as a calming agent that doesn't zonk one out. Salvia Sativa is also a bit iffy. From personal experience, Rue affects the hormones - at least in me, it tended to cause any sexual interest to fade away for a couple days.

Sorry for butting in, but Herbalism used to be a study of mine, and I've seen too many self-medicators get into bad trouble by thinking that "because it's natural, it's safe as sugar" and not actually take the time to look up the herb or compound before they use it.

Haele

[EOTE]

18. Yes, definitely educate yourself before using any drug, natural or not.

I tried to stress that again in my later posts, but it can't be mentioned enough.

I'm not familiar with Salvia Sativa, are you referring to Salvia Divinorum? I've had a few experiences with that and don't intend to go back to it any time soon. In me it causes this really odd skin sensation which is extremely hard to describe and really unpleasant.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

13. Some people need a personality transplant to begin with.

Like, tax laywers and beanos (bean-counters).

[BlueJazz]

14. So THAT'S why I'm such a nice person. Our group (band) used to do so many of them...

...even our Bass Player was in tears one night when we were playing "Elizabeth Reed" by the Alman Brothers.

He turned to me and said: "That's so beautiful" :)

[ladywnch]

15. ok, how do we get this stuff into the teabaggers tea? n/t

[EOTE]

17. This would be a good method.

http://www.erowid.org/plants/mushrooms/mushrooms_prep2.shtml