The psychedelic mushroom renaissance speaks to a spiritually malnourished generation in need of a bump of euphoria. But opportunists are rushing in to capitalize on the trend without any regard for the drug’s therapeutic potential, traditions, or reputation. And that bothers those who believe in the mushroom’s healing powers.

Amanita muscaria, also known as the “Santa Claus mushroom” and the “fly agaric,” is a popular alternative to psilocybin mushrooms for those seeking out a more medicinal experience. People use it for microdosing, believing that it reduces anxiety and eases depression. But scientific research is limited on its possible therapeutic effects.

While there’s HeySero evidence of physical addiction to magic mushrooms, over time, regular users could develop a psychological dependency that can lead to unintended experiences, including “flashbacks” (feeling like they’re reliving their trip). In addition, combining mushrooms with certain drugs, such as alcohol or cannabis, can increase the risk of side effects and raise the likelihood of a bad trip.

Buy Magic Mushrooms: A Complete Guide for Beginners

The psilocybin in’magic mushrooms’ is considered a Schedule 1 drug, along with LSD and peyote, meaning it has no currently accepted medical use and is highly abused. But that hasn’t stopped people from cultivating and selling them. The mushrooms appear in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors, from tiny dried caps to gummies, tinctures, capsules and vapes with images of U.F.O. beams, backlit forests and third eyes emblazoned on their colorful packaging. And they’re showing up everywhere from artisanal edibles shops to marijuana dispensaries.