Psychedelic mushrooms, more commonly known as “shrooms,” have been used for centuries for their spiritual and therapeutic properties.
While recreational use of these magic mushrooms has risen in recent years, little is still understood about their pharmacology and metabolic pathways in the human body.
Join us in trying to answer the question “How long do shrooms last in our systems?”, the science behind it, and what causes their psychedelic effects.
How Shrooms Work in the Brain and Body
Shrooms contain the psychoactive compounds psilocybin and psilocin. When eaten, psilocybin is broken down into psilocin by enzymes in the liver. Psilocin is then transported throughout the body and absorbed by serotonin receptors in the brain. Here is where things get truly fascinating.
Psilocin binds preferentially to 5-HT2A receptors, which are involved in mood regulation, perception, and higher cognitive functions. This temporary hijacking of the serotonin system disrupts regular neural signaling, manifesting as visual and auditory hallucinations, mood swings, and enhanced introspection.
The Mysteries of Metabolism
So how long do these alterations of consciousness last? Metabolism plays a key role in determining the duration of a mushroom trip. Once absorbed, psilocin starts to leave the bloodstream within 3 hours as it is broken down by the liver into inactive compounds and excreted in urine.
Yet detectable levels may linger up to 8 hours after ingestion. Individual metabolic rates vary, as can a person’s tolerance from prior use, impacting the length of a psychedelic experience. Further research on these metabolic insights could help advance the safe and regulated use of medical mushrooms.
Understanding Drug Detection Window
For individuals wondering how long shrooms may be spotted in drug screenings, it depends on the type of test. Most standard urine screenings can identify psilocin for around 24 hours after consumption. More precise blood or hair follicle tests may detect mushrooms from 1-4 days and up to 3 months respectively.
These detection windows are important for professionals in safety-sensitive roles or anyone seeking employment opportunities to consider. Hair tests in particular provide the longest lookup into mushroom use history but are less commonly administered.
So, How Long Do Shrooms Last Really?
While psychedelic effects themselves fade within hours, some subtle lingering impacts may continue beyond detectable residues in the body. Users often describe days of an afterglow characterized by improved mood and enhanced introspection. Some research even suggests psilocybin can increase hippocampal neurogenesis, the birth of new neurons, which could relate to sustained benefits for depression.
The true ‘longevity’ of mushrooms’ impact is difficult to quantify precisely but may extend well past the transitory high through subjective psychological and physiological changes.
Looking Ahead
As research on psilocybin-assisted therapies rapidly expands, more light will shine on these mysteries of metabolism, mechanism and lasting impacts. However, to help facilitate safe and ethical therapeutic use, public understanding of the science is key. Psychedelic mushrooms have incredible promise for treating mental illnesses like PTSD, addiction, and anxiety when used judiciously and taken with care.
How long do shrooms last? Once we all better comprehend their pharmacology and dismantle stigma, more individuals may eventually access these benefits, so one day these fascinating fungi may be seen as versatile medicines and not illicit substances alone.
