Psychedelic A–Z is a short guide through the most important people, concepts and substances connected with modern psychedelic culture. From Albert Hofmann and LSD, through microdosing, to growkits and psilocybin – this glossary helps you better understand the terms you meet in articles, scientific papers and everyday conversations about psychedelics.
A
Albert Hofmann
Swiss-born chemist considered the father of LSD. Employed by the Sandoz pharmaceutical company, he was working on a respiratory and circulatory support drug. The object of his research was ergot – a parasitic grain fungus used as early as medieval times. Hofmann isolated the substance LSD-25, which accidentally entered his body. The scientist experienced disturbing symptoms, but decided to take LSD he had synthesised a second time, this time consciously.
He felt dizzy, had trouble concentrating and asked an assistant to escort him home on a bicycle. On 19 April 1938 the world saw its first LSD ride – literally and figuratively. During the trip, Hofmann experienced euphoria, strong visual distortions, but also anxiety, synaesthesia and a feeling that he was seeing and sensing far more than in ordinary reality. At home he was frightened enough to call a doctor, who found nothing but dilated pupils.
The next day the researcher already knew what he had created – a very potent psychoactive substance that, despite intense experience, does not cause memory impairment. Hofmann devoted his life to researching psychedelics and called LSD a “medicine for the soul” with therapeutic properties. He admitted that he took it many times, and yet lived in good health for 102 years, becoming an icon of psychedelic pop culture.
B
B+ (Psilocybe cubensis)
The B+ mushroom variety is considered one of the milder strains, recommended for beginners also because of its ease of cultivation. It is quite resistant to temperature changes. It has large fruiting bodies, very flexible stems and golden-brown caps. The variety was developed in Florida by the legendary grower known as Mr. G. In the 1990s it became one of the best-selling strains in the world.
The visual effects after taking these hallucinogens are moderate and often described as warm, pleasant perceptual sensations. Experienced users who consumed B+ also noticed fewer side effects (less nausea) compared to other varieties. This makes it a popular choice for those who want to explore psilocybin in a gentler form.
C
Will psychedelics save the world?
A remarkable scientific book “Will Psychedelics Save the World?” by Maciej Lorenz – a sociologist, writer and translator of psychedelic literature. It is a title you should definitely consider when building your psychedelic library. The author presents, in an empathic and academic way, the facts standing behind the renaissance of psychedelics.
He touches on neuroscience, psychology, religious studies, politics, anthropology and psychopharmacology. The book broadens the horizons of any “traveller” and may even convince sceptics. The book is also available in our store and we highly recommend it, as it made a very big impression on us.
D
Silicon Valley
Located in California, Silicon Valley – the birthplace of high technology – has a special place in the psychedelic world. Many employees of the Valley: scientists, researchers, engineers and entrepreneurs have had a very positive impact on spreading information about psychedelics.
By experimenting with microdosing, they noticed an increase in creativity, focus and general cognitive performance, and thus began to promote the use of LSD or psilocybin mushrooms. A big impact had articles in Rolling Stone and later in The New York Times.
The researchers even entered into cooperation with James Fadiman (writer, psychedelic researcher), with whom they developed rules for microdosing. Steve Jobs himself repeatedly mentioned that LSD was not a foreign substance to him. For more on Silicon Valley and microdosing, see our post here.
E
Education on psychedelics
The psychedelic renaissance is in full swing, but to make sure history does not come full circle and that we can get the best from psychedelics, education is essential. Although psilocybin mushrooms are among the least harmful substances in many rankings of psychoactive drugs, their reckless use can lead to serious problems.
Institutions worth following are the Polish Psychedelic Society and politykanarkotykowa.pl. Also recommended is the blog terapianowoczesna.pl, the YouTube channel Czas na Kwas and, of course, our blog.
F
Videos about psychedelics
The streaming platform Netflix, by distributing bold documentaries and series about psychedelics, has significantly contributed to education on the topic. Clear, accessible storytelling backed by research has a chance to reach a wider audience – and an average person can discover that psychedelics are not “just drugs”, but also objects of serious scientific interest.
Recommended titles include: “How to Change Your Mind”, “Fantastic Fungi”, “Magic Medicine” and “Have a Good Trip”.
G
Growkit
Also known as a growbox or grow kit. A growkit is a cultivation set that allows you to grow plants or mushrooms yourself at home. It consists of a substrate that, properly cared for, will produce fruiting bodies. In the case of mushrooms, it is a block of mature mycelium that, under the right conditions, is ready to produce fruiting bodies.
Psilocybin growkits in our offer are prepared under controlled laboratory conditions, which helps minimise contamination risk and makes the whole process more accessible even for beginners.
H
Hallucinations
Hallucinations are inherently linked to the use of psychedelics and mean a disturbance of perception. These can be visual, auditory or other sensory experiences. A person experiencing hallucinations perceives them as real, even though they originate from within the nervous system, not from external stimuli.
For a psychedelic traveller, hallucinations should be a stop on the road, not an end in themselves. The most valuable part of the experience is usually the insight, emotional work and change of perspective that may remain long after the visuals fade.
I
Integrating the psychedelic experience
A psychedelic session can be profoundly transformative, and it is not always easy to simply “return to normal life” afterwards. Integration is the process that begins when the trip ends – it is the reworking and understanding of what the mind has experienced.
Integration can take place through reflection, meditation, psychotherapy, conversations with trusted people, art therapy or writing a journal. For some people it takes days, for others months or even years. It is a deeply individual process and a key element of safe and meaningful psychedelic work.
J
James Fadiman
A populariser of microdosing, an icon of the psychedelic world, writer, researcher and co-founder of the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology. Author of the book “The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide” and creator of a widely used microdosing protocol.
James Fadiman lectured at Harvard and Stanford and, together with Dr. Sophia Korb, created a website to collect data on microdosing from users around the world.
K
Ketamine
A drug that induces general anaesthesia, relieves pain and can cause hallucinations. Ketamine is a dissociative psychedelic – it inhibits signals from the body reaching conscious awareness. After ingestion, one may feel detached from the body and reality.
Ketamine can be used as a rapid-acting treatment for major depression, significantly shortening the onset time compared to classic antidepressants. A dedicated ketamine clinic is now available in Poland.
L
LSD
Lysergic acid diethylamide – LSD – was first synthesised by Albert Hofmann at the Sandoz pharmaceutical company. It is a potent psychoactive substance that was widely used in psychiatry in the 1940s–1950s with promising results. In the 1950s, LSD was also intensively studied by the CIA.
In the 1960s and 1970s LSD became a popular substance within the hippie movement, which contributed to it being classified as an illegal and socially dangerous drug. After several decades and new research, LSD is returning as a promising tool in psychotherapy and consciousness studies.
Legalisation
The legality of psychedelics varies from country to country. Full legality of psilocybin mushrooms exists in the Bahamas and Jamaica. For personal use, possession has been decriminalised in the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Portugal.
In Poland, a growkit itself is a substrate that does not contain illegal substances, but the mushrooms grown from it are already banned. Use, sale and cultivation of psilocybin mushrooms are illegal. The answer to why they are illegal lies largely in politics – in short, it started with the Vietnam War and President Nixon’s decision to wage a “war on drugs” instead of addressing deeper economic and social issues. The current legal status of mushrooms can be checked here.
Ł
Lanceolate baldcap
Psilocybe semilanceata – lanceolate coot, also known as the “liberty cap”, is a species of psilocybin mushroom. This very potent hallucinogenic fungus grows, among other places, in Poland and can be found in wet meadows and pastures, especially in mountainous areas. You can read more about this magic mushroom here.
M
Maria Sabina
Mazatec healer and shamaness of sacred mushrooms. She conducted velada ceremonies – night vigils with people who needed treatment of the soul using psychedelic mushrooms. Her figure became controversial because, despite many contributions to her local community, Maria Sabina introduced Westerners to religious traditions and rituals previously known only to the indigenous people of Mexico.
It was at her home that Robert Gordon Wasson (researcher, ethnomycologist) consumed mushrooms as the first outsider and later described the ceremony in the American magazine Life. Maria Sabina – mother of magic mushrooms – while cursed by her community, became a pop culture icon visited in the 1960s by well-known artists and psychedelic researchers such as John Lennon, Jim Morrison, Walt Disney, Bob Dylan, Aldous Huxley and Albert Hofmann. You can read more about this remarkable figure here.
Microdosing
Microdosing means taking a psychoactive substance at specific intervals in amounts that do not noticeably alter ordinary perception. It is assumed that 0.1–0.3 g of dried mushrooms is a typical microdose. The exact dose is individual and depends on body weight and the actual psilocybin content in the mushrooms.
Microdosing has become popular because users report increased creativity, improved mood, better focus and easier emotional processing. Early studies suggest that microdosing may be helpful in treating depression (including treatment-resistant depression), PTSD and some substance use disorders. Read more about microdosing here.
N
Nightcap – night protocol
A method of microdosing psychedelics that involves taking a small dose before bedtime. The nightcap protocol is recommended for people who are particularly sensitive to psilocybin and do not want to feel its effects strongly during the day. More on the night protocol can be found here.
O
Orange Sunshine
The name of an LSD product that was manufactured in Orange County, California, in 1969. Orange Sunshine was regarded as one of the purest forms of synthesised acid. Around 3.6 million tablets (300 micrograms each) were produced by Tim Scully and Nick Sand – LSD advocates who, through the Brotherhood of Eternal Love, distributed the psychedelic around the world believing they would “save the world” with it.
A legendary event was the “West Coast Woodstock” in Laguna Beach, California, where during the festival planes associated with the Brotherhood scattered postcards containing hidden Orange Sunshine over the crowd. LSD was literally falling from the sky. Although musically the festival was not outstanding, many considered it an unforgettable experience.
P
Psychedelics
The word “psychedelic” literally means “mind-revealing” or “soul-revealing” – from Greek psyche (soul) and delos (reveal). Psychedelics are psychoactive substances that affect the central nervous system. They differ from each other, but the common denominator is that they change the way the brain processes information and how different regions communicate.
The effect of taking psychedelics is a change in the perception of reality, as well as influence on creativity, memory, emotions, fears and traumas. Although research is still limited, existing studies confirm their significant therapeutic potential.
Psilocybin
A psychoactive substance that occurs naturally in mushrooms of the genus Psilocybe and some related genera – commonly called psilocybin mushrooms or magic mushrooms. Depending on the species and age of the fungus, the concentration of psilocybin can vary; young fruiting bodies usually have the highest levels.
Psilocybin is an alkaloid that has recently attracted serious attention as a potential treatment for depression, addiction, anxiety disorders and end-of-life distress.
Psilocin
Psilocin is an organic compound formed in the body as a result of metabolising psilocybin contained in hallucinogenic mushrooms. It is psilocin – not psilocybin itself – that directly binds to receptors and is responsible for the subjective effects of consuming psychedelic mushrooms.
R
Serotonin receptors
Psychedelics act on our brain mainly through 5-HT2A serotonin receptors. Psilocybin (via psilocin) is an agonist of this receptor, which affects neuroplasticity and improves communication between brain regions. Classic SSRI antidepressants also act on serotonin, but primarily through 5-HT1A receptors.
For more on serotonin reuptake and receptor mechanisms, see our blog.
S
San Pedro
A species of cactus from Peru and Ecuador containing the psychoactive substance mescaline. San Pedro is one of the oldest known psychedelics on Earth, used in religious ceremonies by Native Americans for around 3,000 years.
According to legend, a Spanish priest converting Indigenous people tasted the cactus and named it San Pedro (Saint Peter), because like the apostle, it “holds the keys to heaven”. More about San Pedro can be found here.
Set & setting
Preparation for a psychedelic experience is one of the most important issues. Set & setting literally means “mindset” – the inner attitude – and “setting” – the external environment in which the trip takes place. This is crucial, because our mood is likely to be amplified under the influence of psychedelics, and the place should be safe and comfortable.
How to prepare well for a psychedelic journey can be found here – this is a practical guide to good set & setting.
T
Timothy Leary
An eccentric scientist, psychology professor, Harvard lecturer, writer and philosopher, and a legend of the hippie movement. Timothy Leary was one of the biggest advocates of LSD and promoted psychedelics on a huge scale.
After returning from Mexico, where he tried psilocybin mushrooms, he was to say that he “learned more about (his) brain and its capabilities and more about psychology in the five hours after taking these mushrooms than in the previous 15 years of studying and doing research.” He launched a scientific programme called the Harvard Psilocybin Project. One of his famous studies was the Concord Prison Experiment, in which psilocybin use was associated with a lower rate of reoffending.
Eventually Timothy Leary was removed from the university due to irregularities in his research. He went down in history as one of the main symbols of American counterculture.
U
Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore (USA) is one of the leading and first modern research centres focusing on psychedelics. In 2019 it established the Center for Psychedelics and Consciousness Research, headed by psychopharmacologist Dr Roland Griffiths.
Research from Hopkins has confirmed that psychedelics show very good results in the treatment of addiction, in psychotherapy, and in work with terminally ill patients – helping reduce anxiety and improve mood at the end of life.
W
Wasson
Robert Gordon Wasson – American banker, researcher and ethnomycologist. His passion for mushrooms came from his wife, Valentina Pavlovna Guercken. Together, the couple travelled to a remote Mexican village to meet the legendary Maria Sabina and participate in a traditional Mazatec velada ceremony.
During the ritual, Wasson consumed psilocybin mushrooms as the first representative of Western culture and later described the event in Life magazine. He became a bridge between the sacred mushroom heritage of the Mazatecs and the modern Western world. This meeting has had long-lasting consequences up to this day. You can read more about this in our post about Maria Sabina.
The content on the psychodelicroom.pl website is educational, research-based, and expresses many opinions that should be treated with caution. We advise against using any substances that affect consciousness, as all of these substances can both heal and be very harmful. In particular, we advise against cultivating mushrooms from growkits in countries where it is illegal – including Poland – because it involves criminal liability. We recommend that you dispose of the growkits purchased from us within 72 hours of receiving them.
Footnotes:
https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Hofmann
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Leary
https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietyloamid_kwasu_lizergowego
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ALD-52
https://www.inverse.com/article/26849-tim-scully-lsd-orange-sunshine-documentary-documenta
https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psylocybina
https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psylocyna
https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halucynacje
https://sin.org.pl/substancje/meskalina/
https://www.mp.pl/pacjent/leki/subst.html?id=442
https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketamina
https://ruj.uj.edu.pl/xmlui/handle/item/201533
https://hyperreal.info/info/robert-g-wasson-w-poszukiwaniu-magicznych-grzybow-life-13051957
