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What is Psilocybe tampanensis?
The Psilocybe tampanensis is also known as the magic truffle or philosophers stone. It looks and tastes very different from other psychoactive mushrooms, but the range of effects is the same: unusual thoughts, funny ideas, altered perception (with eyes open), inner visions (with eyes closed), deep contemplation of personal issues, emotional breakthroughs, spiritual insights and so on. Whatever experiences regular shrooms give (whether Mexicans, Hawaiians etc.) can also be obtained by using truffles, but the intensity very much depends on the dosage. If you consider the effects too mild, simply increase the dose next time you use them.
History
Psilocybe tampanensis is a magic mushroom whose only natural specimen was collected in the wild by Stephen Pollock, near Tampa, Florida in 1977. All species nowadays are originated from this one specimen. It has never again been seen in Florida but a second sighting was reported from Mississippi. Unfortunately, no cultivable material was obtained. Many years of successive cloning have degenerated all commercially available strains to a point where most of them fruit very poorly or not at all. Yet they form more sclerotia, or truffles, which carry more psychoactive material.
Botanical
This psilocybin-containing mushroom is very rare, and now it is mainly grown by mycologists and amateurs or psychonauts through spores or grow kits. Mushrooms above the ground could be grown but more important is the underground sclerotia which contains psilocybin and psilocin.
These sclerotia are very dense compared to mushrooms and contain 30% dry matter. There could be some white mould all over the truffles. This is not a contamination, but mycelium still growing.
Chemistry
Psilocin (0.32%) and psilocybin (0.68%) are the active compounds found in Tampanensis.
Effects of magic truffles
Truffles will give you a stoned, psychedelic, philosophical, giddy and visual experience. During the first hour of the trip, you might experience some anxiety, but this usually disappears when you have reached the first peak. A trip usually lasts 4 to 6 hours depending on the dosage and your sensitivity.
Effects are actually hard to predict, and very much depend on the dosage, the environment, your personal interests and knowledge, your motivation for taking truffles, the music you're listening to, the people you're with, whether you're outside (in nature) or inside (with the lights turned off) etc.
Medical use
No medical uses have been reported so far. However, psilocybin and psilocin have been successfully used by patients suffering from certain types of migraine and severe cluster headaches. Those interested can read more about this on www.clusterbusters.com, a website that "is dedicated to researching treatments that show promise for reliable, effective and long-term relief, from cluster and related headaches. There's also research going on into the psychological effects of psilocybin when it comes to anxiety experienced by cancer patients. To read about this and other research, visit www.maps.org, the website of the Multidisciplinarian Association for Psychedelic Studies.
Varieties
Aside from tampanensis, there are a few other hallucinogenic mushrooms that are grown and consumed as sclerotia or truffles. Psilocybe Mexicana A is also quite well known. Its place of origin is Colima, Mexico. This is the sacred Teonanacatl or God's Flesh in the Aztec language. It was rediscovered by Roger Heim in 1956 and used by Dr Albert Hoffman in the first isolation of psilocybin and psilocin.
Also, Psilocybe atlantis, which originated in Georgia, USA is one of them. According to Guzman, this is may not be Psilocybe atlantis but yet another species which was inadvertently collected along with Psilocybe atlantis samples. Unfortunately, this has caused some confusion and circulating strains of "Psilocybe atlantis" are entirely this possibly new species. A direct comparison of samples with the published description of P. atlantis is underway. Both species share the nickname 'philosophers stones'.
Usage / Dosage of truffles
Dosage: Take 5 to 9 grams for a normal trip and 10 to 15 grams for a strong trip. The truffles can simply be eaten as they taste not as bad as other magic mushrooms. Best is not to eat about six hours before ingesting.
Warnings
Do not use when pregnant, nursing, depressed, schizophrenic, on medication or under stress, driving motorized vehicles, under 18 years old, in combination with stimulants or alcohol. The first time you use mushrooms make sure someone with more experience is around in case you need help, for example when you feel sick or scared.
Growing
P. tampanensis are quite easily grown in grow kits, available in our online smartshop. The grow kits do not require much attention, the only important note is that the place where you put it is dark and has a temperature of 22-24 degrees Celsius. Try to wait a little bit, the harvest will be larger!
Storage
Fresh truffles like Psilocybe tampanensis and Psilocybe Mexicana contain about 70% of water and can be stored fresh in the fridge up to 3 weeks. Drying is easy. You simply spread out the truffles on a few pieces of paper in a warm room. Speed the process up with a fan. Store the dried ones in a zip lock bag or any other airtight container, in a cool, dark and dry place. After 6 months the strength will decrease.
