2. Research, Legalities & The Basics
There is no "official" research currently being done regarding this treatment for headaches. This and other individual groups of people are in the process of trying to get official research approved and underway.
The only people doing any research and trying to compile any data, are those of us willing to do this without the help of the medical or research communities. There are several individual medical professionals and organizations interested in beginning clinical trials and have our offer of support in this endeavor.
There is research currently being conducted with hallucinogenics in other areas and additional information can be found at: http://www.maps.org/research/
The substances used in treatment are currently, for the most part, illegal and this should be given due consideration in your decision to try this treatment or not, and in the approach you take in using the treatment, should you decide to do so.
I heartily accept the motto, "That government is best which governs least"; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carried out, it finally amounts to this, which also I believe--"That government is best which governs not at all"; and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have. Government is at best but an expedient; but most governments are usually, and all governments are sometimes, inexpedient.
Thoreau
Laws are most often enacted to protect the innocent. Drug laws, arguably, are enacted to protect the young and the uninformed from doing physical and mental damage to themselves and others that care about them. I submit, who is more innocent than the chronic pain sufferer, friends and family? Who are the most innocent participants in the fight against chronic pain? I offer you the children of chronic pain sufferers are the most innocent and examples of damaged lives, time lost with a mother, a father, a sibling. I offer the spouse of the sufferer, dreams never fulfilled and watching a loved one in pain they can not control.
Does this author believe or advocate that chronic pain sufferers are above the law? That these laws do not pertain to all? Not in the slightest. With each law, innocent people have their rights and lives encumbered. We all as a society suffer laws to protect those that would do harm to themselves and others.
We also have a duty to ourselves, our children, and future generations, to mold legislation to truly protect the innocent and speak up for those lost in broad based laws. I do not believe we need to sacrifice one soul to save others.
The fight to legalize drugs for recreational purposes, is a fight for others to wage. We as unwilling participants in this war, have our own battle to wage. If we could go to the local pub, drink 3 beers and break us away from a manacled life of chronic pain, we would do so. When laws provide for sufferers to go to a physician to obtain a prescription for psilocybin, we will gladly do so. Until that time, it is up to us, the common man, to find a way to salvage our lives and to research methods to save the lives of others, *before* they are damaged.
2.1 What is in "magic mushrooms" that makes them work?
The primary active ingredients of Psilocybe mushrooms are psilocybin and psilocin, and to a lesser extent baeocystin and norbaeocystin. The ratio of psilocybin to psilocin varies from species to species. The primary difference is that psilocin is unstable and it breaks down when the mushroom is dried, while psilocybin lasts much longer (a 115-year old mushroom sample was found to contain some). The two are equally psychoactive, since one molecule of psilocybin breaks down into one molecule of psilocin.
[lycaeum]
2.2 Where can I find early research into vascular headache treatment using hallucinogenic substances?
Some of the very earliest papers may not have ever been transcribed to the net. There are quite a few papers on various aspects of hallucinogens quoted in the discussion forums at The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)
[psm]
2.2.1 Cluster Headaches
Why should I try this method rather than conventional treatments?
The most interesting thing that differentiates psilocybin (and LSD) from other CH medications is that it does not just abort a single attack (like Imitrex, Cafergot, or oxygen), and it also does not just prevent an attack from occurring as long as serum levels are high enough (like Sansert, Verapamil, Lithium, Prednisone, Depakote, Neurontin, Topamax, et al), but it actually terminates the entire CH "cycle" for an extended period of time -- long after all traces of it have vanished from the body. In the case of some chronics this period may be as short as two weeks. In the case of episodics, this period may be as long as a year.
[psm]
When should I attempt this treatment for the best results?
- 1) The most effective use of psilocybin is as a prophylactic. If taken before a CH cycle is due to start, the cycle will not start. This of course is an option not available to chronic clusterheads.
- 2) The second most effective use of psilocybin is to take it at the very beginning of a cycle, before the cycle is firmly established, and while the individual is still free of other medications. Again, an option for episodic clusterheads only.
[psm]
2.2.2 Migraines and other vascular headaches
Does this therapy also work for migraine sufferers?
Actually, the answer is 'yes' to your migraine question. Just the simple act of grinding up the tea for my husband has caused my own migraine symptoms to go into remission - now for almost 5 months. I didn't even drink any of it - just absorbed it through my fingertips. Just made me a little queasy for about half an hour and a slightly strange feeling, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat if I felt those symptoms coming back.
[M]
The original research into this treatment was specifically done in the migraine area of vascular headaches and from all published reports, the results were outstanding...before all research was banned due to hallucinogens being made illegal, not because of *any* problems with the treatments.
2.2.3 Flash, Pinky, Erowid Survey
Please take a moment to take part in this important survey.
The survey is part of a study of the home treatment of vascular & migraine headaches using hallucinogenic drugs (such as LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, etc.) If you suffer or have suffered from these symptoms AND you have tried to use hallucinogens to manage symptoms, we would appreciate your participation in the survey. Thank you for your time.
Click Here To Participate in Survey
2.2.4 Legality
Psilocybin mushrooms themselves are not specifically named in the U.S. federal scheduling system, however their two primary active chemicals Psilocybin and Psilocin are both DEA schedule 1.
This is defined federally as a drug which :
- Has a high potential for abuse.
- Has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
- A lack of accepted safety for use of the drug under medical supervision.
Because these two substances are specifically named as illegal to possess, fresh or dried psilocybin mushrooms are also illegal to possess. Because spores contain no psilocybin or psilocin, they are legal to sell and possess in all states except California and Georgia. But in most states, it is illegal to cultivate or propogate spores into mycelium since mycelium generally contains both psilocybin and psilocin.
[erowid]
3 Procurement
Psilocybe mushrooms are illegal to purchase, grow or possess in most of the world. Most people purchase the spores (which are legal in most states and around most of the world) and grow their own mushrooms.
3.1 Anonymous Donors
There have been rumors that some people in this and related communities, have been willing to supply the initial materials for treatment to some sufferers. This is not an option without some possible hazards but it seems impossible to thwart some people with compassionate hearts.
3.2 Off the Street
Since it is not only illegal to do so, plus impossible to know exactly the substance and strengths you would be getting, it is not recommended to purchase your "medication" off the street, any more so than you would purchase Imitrex off the street.
3.2a Collecting wild specimens
Depending where one lives, this is a viable alternative to home cultivation. Selection and identification are of utmost importance.
3.3 Cultivation
Although the growing guides might SEEM lengthy and detailed, this is only because each step is described as clearly as possible to ensure the reader grasps things completely. Don't let this seeming complexity worry you. It is a LOT easier to DO it than to READ about it. There are actually very few steps involved:
- Prepare the substrate (mushroom "soil"), load it into the growing jars
- Sterilize and cool the substrate-filled jars
- Inject spores into jars (using good sterile technique)
- Wait about three weeks or so
- Remove the colonized substrate (cakes) from the jars and place in the fruiting chamber.
- Spray Mist, and fan while waiting
- Harvest the crop
- Dry and store the crop
[psm]
3.3.1 Recommended techniques and links
Here is the BEST tek:
Simple Cubensis Growing Technique
and another with great pics:
Fungifun's PF-Tek For Simple Minds
and another guide:
The Shroomery's Cultivation FAQ
This is a WONDERFUL Faq:
The Shroomery's Psilocyban Mushroom FAQ
3.3.2 Tips
- Have lysol spray around the house.
- Be as clean as possible when handling cakes.
- Handle as little as possible.
- Get that "no water" hand soap, killing bacteria kind.
- Dunk cakes after each flush with distilled water.
3.3.3 Contamination
The best way to avoid contamination (`be clean' means to wash hands and wear clean clothes):
- Be clean during jar preparation to prevent contaminants from entering the jars.
- Sterilize jars (preferably in a pressure cooker) prior to innoculation to eliminate any contaminants that may have entered the jars or substrate.
- Be clean during innoculation. Some farmers prefer to `flame-sterilize' the syringe needle before innoculating. If you do this, be sure that the needle is cooled to room temperature before innoculating otherwise the spores may die due to contact with theexcessively hot needle.
- Be clean during cake birthing.
- Some farmers add hydrogen peroxide to the perlite in the fruiting chamber. 1 part hydrogen peroxide (3%) and 9 parts water is a good mixture.
- Make sure to fan the fruiting chamber daily to help prevent contamination.
- When dunking cakes between flushes, use distilled water or previously boiled water.
We are not experts in microbiology. What follows is a description of some of the commonly observed contaminants.
Contamination will usually become apparent during incubation before the mycelial network has taken control of the substrate. Contaminants directly compete with the mycelial network for food and space. Don't be over-awed by the large variety of possible contaminants. The important thing to
remember is that the mushroom mycelium will be a network of `bright white, ropy strands'. Any appearance of green, blue, red, yellow, purple, orange, or black growth in the incubation jars is likely to be contamination.
- DON'T consume mushrooms grown from a contaminated cake.
- DON'T sniff or smell a contaminated jar because it may contain molds that you may be allergic to.
- DON'T consume any mushrooms which have black or green goo on them.
The Enemies:
- Cobweb mold - This is usually off-white and wispy (not bright white and ropy). This mold can quickly overtake a jar within 1 week.
- Black pin mold - This is very dark green or black and becomes visibly obvious when it invades the white mycelium network.
- Mildew - Olive green color.
- Watery goo or dull grey mucous - Bacillus contamination or `wet spot' contamination.
- Aspergillus or trichoderma - May appear sea-green or lime-green in color.
- Reddish `lipstick' mold - Red color.
[EA]
3.3.4 Popular Strains
The following is a brief list of the more popular strains of Psilocybe cubensis among farmers:
- Ecuador - This is probably the most popular strain right now among clusterhead farmers. Ecuadors are very predictable, reliable, and can grow large.
- Golden Teacher - This strain is a prolific fruiter with many flushes and thick stems.
- B+ - This strain is known for having large fruit (especially caps... hence the name B+).
- PES Amazonian - This strain is reportedly more potent than the other strains listed here.
- Treasure Coast - This strain is similar to Ecuador, notable among farmers for its ability to produce albino sub-strains.
- Tazmanian - This strain is prolific but grows slower than Ecuadors with thinner stems.
(Description of strains assembled by EA, Monique, and Mast)
3.3.5 Procuring spores
Spores can be procured through one of the several internet spore dealers. The first time farmer wants spore syringes, not spore prints. Once the spores are injected, SAVE THE SYRINGE. An empty syringe is very useful for measuring water (for use as a counter balance on a home-made dosing scale). Also, an empty syringe will enable you to make up your own spore syringes (using spore prints) in the future, thus making you a far more self sufficient farmer. It is a good idea to order more than one syringe, that way if one happens to be contaminated you will still have another one to start a farm with. A contaminated syringe is rare and most reputable suppliers will replace it free of charge. The going price for spore syringes often depends on the availability of a particular strain. Right now, as of this writing, a syringe of Ecuador spores costs $13.00 at SporeWorks. Suppliers often have discounts for buying multiple syringes. Again, for example, at SporeWorks 4 syringes cost $9.50 each (or $38.00 total... less than the cost of an imitrex injection!).
Here are 3 favorite suppliers:
3.3.6 The Functional Fungus Farm
What do I need to build a Functional Fungus Farm you may ask?
Well,
it's probably much easier than you think. It is cheap to build and requires a few simple items and some planning. Basically the process can be broken down into 3 main parts: innoculation (injecting spores), incubation, and fruiting.
How do I provide sterilized food for the farm?
You will need to prepare sterilized food for the mushroom farm before injecting spores.
There are a few items you need to gather to prepare the sterilized food: brown rice flour (2 lb bag, very cheap and easy to find), vermiculite (10 dry qt bag, very cheap and easy to find at your local garden store), 12 wide mouth tapered half pint canning jars, a large bowl and spoon, a set of measuring cups, aluminum foil, and a pressure cooker. You will need the pressure cooker to sterilize the mushroom food.
Prepare the canning jar lids by drilling or punching 4
evenly spaced holes about 3/4 inch away from the edge (making sure not to puncture the rubber seal). You will inject the spores through these holes. Mix 8 cups of vermiculite, 3 cups of brown rice flour, and 3 cups of water in the large bowl. This mixture of mushroom food is called the substrate. Fill each of the canning jars with the substrate, leaving about 3/4 inch room at the top. Don't pack the substrate into the jar, just spoon it in. Then fill each jar up to the top with a layer of vermiculite. Put the lids on the jars, and cover each lid with aluminum foil (to cover up the holes for the
sterilization process). Pressure cook the jars for at least 1 hour at 12 psi. After the cooking cycle is finished, let the jars cool completely (overnight). Do not proceed to inject spores until the jars are completely cooled, otherwise the spores may die.
When injecting spores, be clean:
wash hands,
wear clean clothes,
and work in a clean area.
Shake up the spore syringe, remove the foil from the lids, and inject 0.25 cc per hole (total 1 cc per jar). Inject
through the hole and into the bottom half of the substrate. The injected spores and substrate in the jar are referred to as cakes.
The main goal of the incubation process is to provide warmth once the spores are injected. How do I provide warmth for the cakes? The aim is to keep the temperature at 80 to 85 degrees for 3 or 4 weeks. The simplest way is if you already have a closet or space at that temperature so that you can place the jars there for the incubation time.
An alternative is to place the jars in a box and put the box
on top of a heat source such as a water heater or reptile heating pad. If you do this, be very careful to monitor the temperature. You run the risk of killing the spores if the temperature exceeds 90 degrees. Another alternative which gives you more control over the temperature is to place an aquarium heater inside a water-filled pickle jar. Then place the pickle jar inside an insulated box or cooler with the cakes. The warmth from the pickle jar will radiate and heat the inside of the box. Once again, be careful to monitor the temperature. After a week of incubation, you should notice
patches of ropey white strands develop on the cakes. These patches are referred to as mycelial growth. By the third week this growth will appear to completely colonize the jar. Once it is visibly apparent that the mycelial growth has completely colonized the jar, wait 1 more week before birthing the cakes into the fruiting chamber.
The fruiting chamber must have proper humidity, fresh air, and
light. How can I provide a fruiting chamber to meet these
requirements?
Get a large, tight-sealing rubbermaid-type bin (18"
long x 12" wide x 9" high) with lid and some perlite (10 dry qt. bag, very cheap and easy to find at your local garden store). The rubbermaid bins make good fruiting chambers and the perlite is used to provide humidity. A bin that will allow light to pass through is ideal.
If you can't find such a bin, then you may have to get a dark-colored one, cut out the center portion of the lid, and then cover the cut out area of the lid with clear plastic material. If you have to cut and cover with plastic, it is important to make sure there are no holes and no gaps in the plastic material. If there are holes or gaps in the plastic it will be very hard to maintain proper humidity within the fruiting chamber. Tight sealing glass terrariums are an excellent alternative to rubbermaid-style fruiting chambers.
How can I provide proper humidity to the fruiting chamber?
Pour out some perlite into a large colander (beware, perlite is dusty). Thoroughly wet the perlite then shake out the excess water. Dump the damp perlite into the fruiting chamber. You want about a 1 inch covering of damp perlite inside the fruiting chamber. Some mushroom farmers prefer to wet the perlite with a mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide in order to reduce the possibility of contamination inside the fruiting chamber (1 part 3% hydrogen peroxide to 9 parts water). Perlite is porous material, so it will help the water
evaporate slowly over time. The slowly evaporating water will
provide humidity inside the fruiting chamber. The goal is to get the humidity to reach 90% to 95%. Humidity is sufficient if you can see tiny water droplets condensing on the inside surface of the lid after about a day. Prepare the fruiting chamber ahead of time, before birthing the cakes, to ensure that it will do the job.
To birth the cakes, gently remove them from the jars, brush off the top layer of vermiculite, and place them into the fruiting chamber. The cakes can be placed directly onto the perlite but some farmers prefer to use coasters. After birthing the cakes, the temperature of the fruiting chamber should be maintained at 70 to 75 degrees.
How do I provide the cakes with fresh air?
Fan the cakes 2 times a day for several minutes each time.
If fresh air is not provided, mold contamination will likely become a problem.
How do I provide the cakes with appropriate lighting?
Place the fruiting chamber under a broad spectrum plant light or indirect natural sunlight for about 90 minutes a day. Don't place the cakes in scorching-hot direct sunlight. They don't need very much light to induce fruiting. For the remainder of the time, the cakes can be in a dark place.
How do I know when to harvest mushrooms?
After about 1 or 2 weeks, pinheads will start to develop. Pinheads are baby mushrooms. Once pinheads appear, mushrooms will develop quickly. When the veil of the mushroom cap starts to tear away from the stem the mushroom can
be harvested. Harvest by gently twisting the mushroom at the base of the stem and remove it from the cake. Handle the harvested mushrooms carefully to minimize damage. Start drying fresh mushrooms immediately after harvesting.
(Description assembled by EA, Monique, and Mast)
This description is based upon the methods of the PF tek originally developed by Psilocybe Fanaticus. For a more detailed explanation of this tek please visit:
Simple Cubensis Growing Technique
3.3.7 Storage
Once the mushrooms are harvested, they should be dried quickly for storage. If stored carefully according to these guidelines, the mushrooms should retain most of their potency for at least two years.
Psilocybin and psilocin are fairly fragile organic molecules, and have the same four "enemies" that all fragile organic molecules have moisture, oxygen, light and heat.
a) -- Thoroughly dry the mushrooms. Spread them out and direct a fan on whole mushrooms for a day or so, then put them in a closed container with dessicant, such as silica gel or damprid. Get them "cracker dry." It is a really good idea to include a small packet of fresh desiccant in the longterm storage container in order to soak up any stray moisture in the air trapped in the container. Don't use heat or cut them up to get them to dry faster (see below).
b) -- Keep air away. Store them whole in a small, tightly-sealed glass container (all plastic will "breathe" to some extent) to minimize exposure to oxygen. Empty baby food jars are ideal -- they are small, cheap, obtainable anywhere, and have an excellent seal. You can cram a packet of desiccant and several doses of whole mushrooms into a baby food jar. Don't smash, crumble or chop or dice the shrooms -- this exposes more surface area to air -- until just before you're ready to take them.
c) -- Keep your shrooms in the dark. Light, especially ultraviolet but also visible light, will break down organic chemicals.
d) -- Keep things cool. Lower temperatures mean slower chemical reactions, fewer molecules oxidized.
Storing the glass container in the freezer eliminates both the heat and light problems.
As for dicing before storage -- a VERY big no-no.
It is a good idea to dice them immediately before dosing, though. The few minutes they will be exposed to oxygen before being ingested is not a problem at all, and the psilocybin/psilocin can be extracted much more quickly and completely from tiny pieces than from big chunks, whether you are making a tea or just swallowing them.
(PSM as edited by TD)
3.3.8 Weighing and measuring your dose
Once you have decided upon the size of dose you will be using, carefully divide up your supply into equal amounts. It is important to not only divide your dose into the same weight of mushrooms, but each dose should contain equal amounts of each size of the mushrooms. The smaller mushrooms from your harvest will often contain as much psilocybin as the larger ones. The chemicals involved in treating your clusters enter the mushroom in the largest amount in the early stages of growth. Hence, one gram of "aborts" will be considerably more potent than one gram of large full grown mushrooms. To achieve equal effects from dose to dose, and know how to adjust the dose properly, your selection of mushrooms is important.
4. Detoxing
Just as with any other medication, it is essential to refrain from taking medications that interfere with the action of psilocybin. This is not always easy to accomplish. Many "blocking" drugs are known and have been listed here. But there are medications commonly taken by clusterheads whose interaction with psilocybin is still unknown. Some may intensify the effect, others may block it, still others may have no effect one way or the other. As more reports are received, more medications to be avoided will be identified.
Note that the above statements apply to every other preventive medication in the clusterhead arsenal.
[psm]
4.1 Do I need to stop taking my current medications?
Yes. This is one of the most important steps in this treatment. If you want this treatment to have the best chance of success, you MUST detox from your current medications in many cases.
There are some medications which are known to reduce or eliminate entirely the effectiveness of psilocybin (and LSD). There are also medications that can greatly increase the effects and could cause serious problems.
4.1.2 Possible inhibitors
There are some medications which may interfere with psilocybin (and LSD):
1) anti-convulsants or anti-epileptic medications such as Neurontin(gabapentin) and Topamax(topiramate). The exact mechanism by which topiramate works, for example, is
still unknown, so it is impossible to even guess whether or not it will interfere with psilocybin.
2) medications which are either synthetic analogs of certain hormones or which regulate hormone production: Prednisone and Synthroid, for example. There is no direct evidence to suggest that these drugs will interact with psilocybin, but hormones have a very complex and inter-related effect on numerous body systems. We have seen a few reports suggesting that thyroid levels play a part in
cluster headaches.
3) tranquilizers and mood-altering medications such as Xanax, Valium, Prozac and Wellbutrin.
4.1.3 Probable non-effective
There are medications which will probably not interfere with the actions of psilocybin:
1) antibiotics
2) NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as tylenol
(acetaminophen), aspirin, ibuprofen,
Vioxx (rofecoxib), etc.
3) antacids and anti-ulcer medications
4) asthma medications
5) insulin
It must be noted that the above category reflects personal opinions. We have seen no reports of interactions with these medications, and suspect that the mechanisms by which these medications act is too different from the action by which psilocybin and LSD work for there to be any significant interaction.
Finally, there are the Calcium Channel Blockers. The most popular CCB used by clusterheads is verapamil. We have received reports of clusterheads achieving complete
success with psilocybin while taking verapamil. I have also seen reports from chronics whose only medication at the time of their psilocybin trials was verapamil, who failed to get any significant relief.
Was this lack of success due to
interaction with verapamil?
I don't know. I am open to argument on this one.
[psm]
4.1.4 Suspected enhancers
The effects of psilocybin can be potentiated (made stronger) by taking them with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). The potency is roughly doubled, according to most reports. The best known MAOIs are harmine and harmaline from the plant Peganum harmala (Syrian rue). Combining MAOIs and tryptamines is an unsafe activity; not only are there are number of substances you must avoid during use to prevent a serious hypertensive crisis, but the long-term health effects are unknown.
[lycaem]
1) A class of compounds known as MAOIs (monoamine oxydase inhibitors). There are few MAOIs being prescribed today. Most have been replaced by newer-generation compounds, but there are still a few in use, mainly for psychiatric conditions. (editor's note: MAOI's are still used by some doctors to treat migraine and other vascular headaches)
2) Lithium. Lithium has the same effect as an MAOI. It has been reported by several "recreational" users of psilocybin and LSD that Lithium will roughly double the psychoactive effects of a given dose of psilocybin (or LSD). It is unclear whether it will also double the CH-fighting properties, but we have one report from a clusterhead who deliberately took some Lithium immediately before ingesting mushrooms and had a much more intense experience for a few hours than he had bargained for. In his case, the psilocybin also killed the headaches, but it is probable that he would have achieved the same relief with less stress.
3) Dissociative anesthetics such as ketamine, PCP (phencyclidine) and DXM (dextromethorphan).
4.1.5 What can I use to treat my attacks while I'm waiting out the detox period?
It can be rough withdrawing from other medications to use psilocybin therapy.
Here we offer some of the classic, and some not-so-classic, ways some clusterheads have learned to deal with the Beast when medications are not available.
Oxygen - Technically, a prescription drug, but there should be no interaction problem using this popular and effective abortive. Breath pure oxygen for 10 to 15 minutes at 7 to 12 liters per minute. A rebreather mask must be used. Be careful not to fall asleep with the mask on; breathing oxygen for long periods can damage the lungs.
Ice, cold water, cold air -- Clusterheads have thousands of preferred methods of using cold to help ease attacks: Ice packs, cold towels, sticking your head in the freezer, standing with a cold shower blasting on your head, pressing your eye against air-conditioning ducts, going out in subfreezing weather in your pajamas...
Heat -- On the other hand, some cluseterhead need heat. Hot packs, hot towels, hot showers, heating ducts...but please don't stick your head in the oven.
Water -- Instead of pouring cold water over your head, you can try drinking it. Some have successfully broken cycles by drinking large amounts of water throughout the day. Drink at least X..... This writer swears he has aborted two out of three attacks by drinking at least a quart of cold water in two minutes at the first sign of an attack. Drinking large amounts of water over time may deplete vitamins and minerals, and supplements may be needed.
Exercise - Some have reported that 10 to 20 minutes of intense aerobic exercise can abort an attack. Clusterheads have been seen sprinting around the block in otherwise respectable neighborhoods in the middle of the night. Carry identification; you may meet the police. An exercise bike will do the trick, but you have to pedal hard...
[TD]
Also see Cluster Headache FAQ under conventional and alternative treatments
4.2 How long do I have to wait after starting my detox and how long do I wait between psilocybin doses if I need more than one?
There is one more interaction that must be taken into consideration... the self-limiting factor of psilocybin and LSD themselves. This well-documented but still unexplained property of these substances is the reason why consecutive doses must be taken at well-spaced intervals, rather than day after day. It is also why psilocybin and LSD are classified as "counter-addictive". Flash calls this self-limiting process "shutting the door".
One of the first things that a molecule of psilocin (psilocybin is converted into psilocin as soon as it enters the bloodstream. It is actually psilocin that produces the effect, not psilocybin) will do when it nestles snuggly into its chosen synaptic cleft is to trigger a reaction in the receptor site that "shuts the door" behind it. Not only does the door shut on the sites that contain psilocin molecules already, but on all other sites anywhere in the brain that are capable of accepting similar molecules. This process is not instantaneous, but it does take place fairly rapidly... maybe over twenty minutes or half an hour or so.
This is why dosing with mushrooms or LSD is an "all or nothing" thing. With alcohol or marijuana, if you think you are not yet where you want to be, you can have another beer or another joint, and another and another. But psilocybin and LSD take time to produce their full effect... sometimes as much as an hour or even longer from the time you take them till the time they start to work. By the time you discover that you have underdosed, it is too late to do anything about it. You will have to wait until next time around to adjust the dose. If you take some more immediately, it is a complete waste of medicine, since by the time the new batch of molecules make it to your brain, all the doors are firmly shut.
These doors remain shut until all the molecules of psilocin or LSD have broken down (around 12 to 20 hours) and then the doors gradually start to re-open. This is why veteran "acidheads" back in the 1960s would only dose once a week or so. Some individuals can dose with only a three day break, others need as much as week. A good compromise for clusterheads is about five days.
This door-shutting mechanism precludes the use of any other hallucinogen for that given period of time. That is to say, if you take some mushrooms Friday night, then take some LSD on Saturday night, the LSD will have no effect at all. Methysergide (Sansert) and other ergot compounds such as ergotamine and di-hydro ergotamine (DHE) will also shut the door. Due to the marked similarity between the various triptans (Imitrex, Amerge, etc.) and psilocybin, it is likely that they will also shut the door for at least as long as they remain in the body, and probably for some period of time after that.
Bottom line... it is essential to wait 4 or 5 days between mushroom doses, and to avoid all other known "blocking" medications during that time as well.
4.3 If we aren't sure that there will be any interaction, do I *really* need to detox from *everything?
If the existing meds aren't helping then stop taking the meds for a week then ingest the hallucinogen. Otherwise it is best to ride out the current episode and then ingest shrooms prior to the next episode.
Don't get sucked into does or doesn't it react... the bottom line is that we don't know, and probably never will. In most cases it probably does react in some way.
Also, it is important to understand that hallucinogens are not a complementary therapy. People will stick with pred or O2 for weeks or months on end even though they aren't working. By the same token those people will make a single half assed attempt at hallucinogens then coming back moaning that they didn't work!
Anyone planning to take hallucinogens:
- READ EVERYTHING
- Ask questions regarding anything that isn't clear. The advice we give now differs from what we would have said 4 years ago because we are better informed.
- Prior planning. Get hold of enough shrooms for 5 clear goes.
- Detox from everything. OR wait until your next episode.
- Do them exactly as described - do not restart any other medication during this period, be warned the process may take anything up to a month especially for chronics, although most people get relief from a single dose.
- Be aware that things occasionally get worse before they get better.
[Flash]
5. Dosing
After reading some of the spectacular success stories that many have reported from a single small dose of psilocybin (or LSD), it is easy to lose sight of the fact that psilocybin is just another medication, and in order to successfully treat cluster headaches with psilocybin certain rules must be followed, just as is the case with all medications.
According to the reports, the majority of those who have had success with psilocybin mushrooms obtained complete and lasting relief from a single small dose. But that doesn't guarantee that every clusterhead on the planet will get the same results from a single dose. Some required more than one dose to achieve complete remission.
[PSM]
5.1 Sizes of initial dose
Many have gotten complete relief with very low amounts, barely enough to notice any effects at all, much less any psychoactive effects. But others have required larger amounts, sometimes bordering on what is considered a "recreational" dose.
It is impossible to determine precisely how large the first dose of mushrooms should be for any given individual. It's not as if psilocybin is available in pill form containing a known number of milligrams... we are dealing with a natural substance that is subject to the vagaries of nature. The psilocybin content of each batch of mushrooms will vary, sometimes substantially. And, just as with Verapamil or Lithium or Topamax or any other medication, the sensitivity to psilocybin varies from one individual to another. The amount required for subsequent doses becomes much easier to determine, but for the first dose many individuals are (understandably) choosing to underdose.
Clusterheads who grow their own are all growing Psilocybe cubensis, so I will discuss dosage levels for that species only.
Even when discussing a single species, there are many factors that determine the potency of a given batch of a mushrooms, not all of which are under the control of the cultivator, so bear in mind that the figures given below are only guidelines, and not cast in stone. Your mileage may vary.
All the doses given below are expressed by weight, in grams (1.0 gram = 1000 milligrams) because it is impossible to correctly measure a dose of Psilocybe cubensis in terms of the number of mushrooms. Individual dried mushrooms can weigh as little as 20 milligrams, and as much as 2.5 grams. The only way to accurately measure a dose is by weight. The numbers given are also for thoroughly dried mushrooms -- "cracker-dry" is the term most often used. They should be crisp and will snap and crumble easily. If they are leathery and "bendable", they must be further dried before weighing, or the dose will be effectively smaller than it should be due to excess water content.
For the average individual who is completely free of all other medications which may interfere with the action of psilocybin, it will be necessary to take 1.0 to 1.5 grams of thoroughly dried Psilocybe cubensis of average potency in order to achieve a Level 1 experience.
For a Level 2 experience, somewhere around 1.5 to 2.5 grams is normally required. For Level 3, a dose of roughly 3.5 grams or more will be required. From the reports we have seen so far from numerous clusterheads, it does not seem that reaching levels higher than Level 3 gives any additional benefit.
It bears repeating that there may be the occasional individual who is exceptionally susceptible to psilocybin who has obtained an exceptionally potent batch of mushrooms and takes 1.0 gram, yet reaches as much as a Level 2 experience. On the other hand, there may be another individual who is exceptionally resistant to psilocybin who has obtained an exceptionally weak batch of mushrooms and takes 3.5 grams, only to barely reach Level 1. Neither case is the norm, but neither case is unheard of, either, particularly the latter.
[psm]
If you have been particularly sensitive to other similarly structured medications, such as Imitrex, sansert, or DHE, we would suggest starting with a very small amount and working up from there. Most people start with approximately one (1) to one and one-half (1 1/2) gram, of dried mushrooms and have little or no "disagreeable" side effects. You may want to start with less than this amount.
[bw]
5.1.1 Safety of Mushrooms
As a good psychedelic should, psilocybin, psilocin and psilocybian mushrooms have low toxicity -- in tests with mice, doses up to 200 mg of psilocybin/kg of body (in average human terms (65 kg) 13 grams) have been injected intravenously without lethal effects. The ED50 : LD50 ratio is 641 according to the NIOSH Registry of Toxic Effects; compare this with 9637 for vitamin A, 4816 for LSD, 199 for aspirin and 21 for nicotine. Poisoning, at least physically, is thus not a problem.
[lycaeum]
5.2 What can you expect
The effects vary from individual to individual but in most cases, if you follow the suggested dosing, "trip levels" 1 and 2 will be the effects you will experience. The most glaring effect for most people will be the total elimination of the headache symptoms. Not only does the pain seemingly "drain away" but your head just might feel more clear than it has in years. This elimination of pain and related symptoms is by far the most dramatic effect you will encounter, in this writers opinion.
I experienced fewer bad effects with psilocybin than I normally did with Imitrex, DHE injections or opiods. Most of the *my* effects were actually enjoyable (guess that's why it's illegal)....I don't remember the effects of DHE injections being enjoyable at all.
5.2.1 The Five "trip"levels
Don't let levels 3, 4 and 5 scare you......we aren't trying to get there. Consider the differences between going out and having a beer or two and deciding to have a case of beer to wash down a dozen shots of tequila.
Level 1
This level produces a mild "stoning" effect, with some visual enhancement (i.e. brighter colors, etc). Some short term memory anomalies. Left/right brain communication changes causing music to sound "wider".
Level 2
Brighter colors, and some subtle visual anomalies (i.e. objects appear to slightly shift position or "breathe"), some 2 dimensional patterns become apparent upon shutting eyes. Confused or reminiscent thoughts. Change of short term memory leads to distractive thought patterns. Vast increase in creativity becomes apparent as the natural brain filter is bypassed.
Level 3
Very obvious visual distortions: everything looking curved and/or warped, patterns and kaleidoscopes seen on walls, faces etc. Some mild hallucinations such as rivers flowing in wood grained or "mother of pearl" surfaces. Closed eye images become 3 dimensional. There is some confusion of the senses (i.e. seeing sounds as colors, etc). Time distortions and "moments of eternity".
Level 4
Strong hallucinations, i.e. objects morphing into other objects. Destruction or multiple splitting of the ego. (Things start talking to you, or you find that you are feeling contradictory things simultaneously). Some loss of reality. Time becomes meaningless. Out of body experiences and e.s.p. type phenomena. Blending of the senses.
Level 5
Total loss of visual connection with reality. The senses cease to function in the normal way. Total loss of ego. Merging with space, other objects, or the universe. The loss of reality becomes so severe that it defies explanation. The earlier levels are relatively easy to explain in terms of measureable changes in perception and thought patterns. This level is different in that the actual universe within which things are normally perceived ceases to exist. Satori enlightenment (and other such labels).
Most episodic clusterheads will need to achieve somewhere around a Level 1 or Level 1.5 experience in order to terminate their cycle. A few episodics have had success at even lower levels, but a few have had to reach Level 2.
Most chronic clusterheads will need to take enough to achieve a Level 1.5 or Level 2 experience. In particularly stubborn cases, even higher doses may be required. CarlD, for example, reported a few months of painfree time after reaching (from his brief description) Level 3.
5.2.2 Consuming
There are a few different ways to consume your dose. Anything from eating the dried mushrooms whole, grinding them up and adding to a drink or food, to brewing up a liquid and not partaking of the "flesh" of the mushroom. Some people have reported some gastric distress from the mushrooms themselves. Here are a few options:
5.2.2.1 Tea
Potential advantages of tea: the biggest advantage of using tea is that is can greatly reduce possible stomach upset.
Tea also masks the taste (Some
people find the taste of shrooms to be unpleasant).
Potential disadvantages of tea (or advantage depending on your
perspective): Psychedelic effects may occur more rapidly (according
to posts on The Shroomery).
5.2.2.2 eating dried shrooms
They can be chewed whole although most people find the taste ummmmm...objectionable.
Chew them into a "mush" before swallowing.
You can grind them (coffee grinders work well) or chop them into fine pieces and sprinkle them onto anythng from pizza to peanut butter. Food generally detracts from the effectivness so you may see an increase in effects if eating whole mushrooms alone, versus eating them with food.
5.2.2.3 Side effects
Before deciding whether to treat cluster headaches using mushrooms, it is important to consider and understand potential side effects of the treatment.
It is probably in the best interests of the patient to start with a low dose in order to gauge the individual's response to psilocybin/psilocin. Also keep in mind that for many episodic
sufferers, a low dose may be all that is required in order to be therapeutic. It is important that the patient be of sound mind before dosing because psilocybin/psilocin can magnify thoughts and feelings. A patient who is irresponsible should not partake of the mushroom therapy.
The following are some of the low dose effects that may be experienced:
- Nausea or gas - This may be greatly lessened or eliminated by using tea to dose.
- Hints of visual patterns with eyes closed.
- Sharpening of senses - Colors may seem brighter and sense of smell may seem more keen.
- Slight stoning effect - usually manifest as a propensity to giggle.
- Animated visual `halo effect' - Objects may appear to `breathe' or become a bit `fluid'.
It is not unusual to feel lethargic the day after dosing.
Higher doses are often not needed. However a more moderate strength dose may produce some of the following effects:
- Twitching - especially arms and legs.
- Lethargy - body may feel heavier.
- Mental confusion - thoughts may become confused or exaggerated.
- Hallucinations - common hallucinations include faces and distortion of objects
- Altered sense of time - Time seems to slow down.
Currently there is no anecdotal evidence to suggest that an
especially strong dose is beneficial for treating clusterheadaches.
In addition, the side effects will undoubtedly become exponentially more extreme and more bizarre. Strong doses will often result in some loss of reality and out-of-body experiences. A strong dose also greatly increases the risk of having a `bad trip'.
Beware: `Bad trips' are bad.When beginning this treatment, always error on the side of safety......better too little than too much.
5.2.2.3.1 What steps can I take to avoid some side effects
Many have found that drinking a BUNCH of Orange Juice the day after really helped the hangover feeling go away. Another option is to take about 2000 mg of vitamin C
[j.i.m]
Baby yourself. Sleep well, eat well, do whatever you need to do to keep yourself feeling comfortable in a sense that your body feels as good as it possibly can. A good stretching routine helped my body out considerably since I couldn't get away with any serious exercise since it brought on attacks for me. I felt like HELL on the day after the first few doses, but that feeling subsided a little bit at a time after each
dose. I definitely felt best when taking smaller doses (trip level 1-2 from 1-1.5 grams), although I still feel that taking larger doses (2-3 grams) would have helped me out quicker.
[ctr]
5.3 Set and Setting
Two known essential elements are 'set,' which involves the personality and expectations of the patient, and 'setting,' which has to do with the environment of the session.
Your mind should be in the best possible relaxed and confident state and you should do everything possible to make sure the setting you are in, is one of relaxation and condusive of peace of mind.......and will stay that way for several hours.
This treatment will most probably not only make your good thoughts more intense, but any bad thoughts, seem more intense.
5.3.1 Coping with trips:
a. Plan ahead.
Get comfortable. Pillows are good. Take a pee first. Arrange to have ambient music or video images... nothing with a 'heavy', deep, or intense storyline. Set aside time where you will have no responsibilities.
b. Check your mind.
Realize and convince yourself that what you are about to do will cause perceptual distortions.
c. Have confidence.
While tripping, trust in the preparations you have made. According to a fellow clusterhead: "Sometimes I have thought: 'do I have to go to work soon?', but then I tell myself that I have planned well and that it shouldn't be a concern."
d. Remain passive.
During the trip, don't make any important decisions, don't perform any weighty actions. If you start getting agitated, dismiss negative thoughts and surrender to the trip.
Enjoy, it will soon end anyway and everything will be normal.
e. Consider having a 'babysitter'
or someone to keep you company during the trip. It should definitely be somebody you trust and preferably someone who won't easily freak out. This 'babysitter' can answer doors and phones and help ensure that the trip remains positive.
f. If you fear, then don't partake. Shrooms amplify emotions and perceptions during the trip.
[EA]
RELAX. Go with the flow. Accept that this reality is different from the usual one, but its really, really interesting! Adopt an explorer's attitude.
BANISH bad thoughts as soon as they arise, by focussing on something pleasant until they pass, cos they WILL.
Always remember (write it down where you'll see it) that" in 12 hours, I'll be straight and exactly the same person I was b4 I started, just a little more aware."
[FB]
GTARMAN'S 10 TOP REALLY BAD PLACES TO DOSE:
#10 - dinnertime at your new girlfriend/boyfriend's parent's house
#9 - the mall
#8 - in line at the driver's license renewal office
#7 - the Police Benevolent Society's annual ball
#6 - your boss's wedding
#5 - your sanity hearing
#4 - your probation and parole office
#3 - the employment office
#2 - while a contestant on "So You Want To Be A Millionaire"
AND THE NUMBER ONE REALLY BAD PLACE TO DOSE:
#1 - Your Audience with the Pope
6. Chronic vs. Episodic
Episodic clusters indicate that the sufferer has extended
(weeks/months/years) periods of time between cycles.
When a cycle reaches a full year in length, the sufferer is
considered to be experiencing a chronic phase.
This one year period is an arbitrary period of time selected
by researchers and headache treatment experts to have some point at which to be able to differentiate between the two. There is no magic number where once you've passed the one year anniversary, you're destined to remain in that cycle forever.
Chronic cycles have been broken (mine after 5 long years and not even with shrooms) and will continue to be broken.
[bw]
Once a cycle is firmly established, it may be necessary to take higher initial doses, and more than one dose may be required to terminate the cycle. This is the case with many chronic clusterheads, and with some episodics. These are also the cases where the factor of interactions with other medications become problematical. It is a rare chronic indeed who is completely free of preventive medications, and any episodic who has made it to this stage of a cycle with no medication at all has my utmost respect.
[psm]
7. Breaking the Cycle
Anyone who is considering this treatment must accept the possibility that two or even more doses may be required. It is also possible that some individuals may have to put up with some short-lived (a few hours) psychoactive side effects in order to achieve success.
Most episodic clusterheads will need to achieve somewhere around a Level 1 or Level 1.5 experience in order to terminate their cycle. A few episodics have had success at even lower levels, but a few have had to reach Level 2.
Most chronic clusterheads will need to take enough to achieve a Level 1.5 or Level 2 experience. In particularly stubborn cases, even higher doses may be required. CarlD, for example, reported a few months of painfree time after reaching (from his brief description) Level 3.
[psm]
