Psilocin Guide: Effects, Benefits, Risks, and Legality

• What Is Psilocin?
• Psilocybin vs. Psilocin
• Psilocin Chemistry and Active Mechanisms
• Psilocin vs. Psilocybin Bioavailability
• Psilocybin and Psilocin Dosing
• Psilocin Strength and Effects
• Psilocin vs Psilocybin Potency in Magic Mushrooms
• Psilocin Benefits
• Psilocin Risks
• Psilocin Legality
• Bottom Line

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Psilocybin has been the shining star to-date in the new wave of psychedelic research, making headlines as studies prove its ability to revolutionize mental health. 

What many don’t realize is that psilocybin owes its notoriety and mind-altering properties to a related but much lesser-known compound called psilocin (sounds like "sil-loh-sin.")

This guide compares psilocin to psilocybin, highlighting differences and similarities in how they work in the body, their effects, strength, benefits, lab testing, and legality.

What Is Psilocin?

Psilocin (also spelled psilocine, psilocyn, or psilotsin) and psilocybin are both naturally occurring active compounds belonging to a class called tryptamine alkaloids, mostly found in plants and fungi. 

Psilocin is the pharmacologically active version of psilocybin, responsible for most of the hallucinogenic properties of psilocybe mushrooms, also called magic mushrooms or “shrooms.” For this reason, psilocybin is characterized as a prodrug of psilocin.

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In other words, when people consume magic mushrooms, the body converts psilocybin (the prodrug) into psilocin (the bioactive compound) through metabolic processes. Specifically, psilocybin undergoes enzymatic dephosphorylation, a biochemical reaction in which the phosphate group is removed, resulting in the formation of psilocin. 

This transformation is crucial for people to experience the psychoactive effects, as psilocin interacts directly with serotonin receptors in the brain, leading to altered perception, mood, and consciousness. 

Psilocybin vs. Psilocin

Psilocin and psilocybin share many characteristics. Both psilocybin and psilocin are compounds, and more than 200 fungi species produce them naturally. However, the natural levels of psilocybin in psychedelic mushrooms are much higher, with most mushroom subspecies containing only trace amounts of psilocin.  

Despite occurring in much smaller amounts, psilocin is primarily responsible for the psychedelic effects of magic mushrooms. This fact results from the differences in psilocin vs. psilocybin, which come down to their chemistry, bioavailability, and stability. These differences significantly affect how they interact with the human body and their applications in scientific research.

Psilocin Chemistry and Active Mechanisms

Psilocin (also known as 4-HO-DMT, 4-hydroxy DMT, 4-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine) and psilocybin (4-phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine) are similar forms of tryptamine alkaloids. 

Structurally, they are both serotonin analogs, making them serotonin “agonists”—substances that can bind and interact with serotonin receptors. Specifically, they interact with 5-HT2A, 5-HT2C, and 5-HT1A receptors, neurotransmitters claimed to regulate visuals, decision-making, and mood.

The difference between psilocin and psilocybin is their chemical structure and binding affinities. 

• Psilocin contains hydroxyl, while psilocybin contains phosphate. The phosphate in psilocybin’s structure makes it more stable, explaining why most lab research uses psilocybin rather than psilocin. 

At the same time, psilocin’s lack of phosphate gives it a higher binding affinity as an agonist for the 5-HT2A receptor than psilocybin. The difference is striking, with psilocin binding at rates almost 100 times higher. 

That's because when psilocybin passes through the liver, it loses its phosphorous chain and becomes psilocin, allowing it to bind more effectively. Interestingly, this metabolization process also contributes to nausea that some people report after consuming Psilocybe mushrooms.

Psilocin vs. Psilocybin Bioavailability

Psilocin is unstable, but only outside the human body. Once ingested, its bioavailability is strong. Psilocin’s lack of phosphate makes it metabolically available in the body and more easily absorbed in the intestines.

On the other hand, psilocybin is not bioactive due to its phosphate chain. As a result, it won’t cause hallucinogenic effects on its own after orally ingesting (eating) mushrooms, the most common consumption method. Psilocybin becomes psychoactive in humans through dephosphorylation, which removes the phosphate group on psilocybin, creating psilocin.

Dephosphorylation occurs when an alkaline phosphate enzyme breaks down psilocybin in the digestive tract, turning it into psilocin and distributing it all over the body via the bloodstream. Researchers can detect psilocybin and psilocin in human blood plasma 20-40 minutes after someone takes psilocybin. They find maximum levels in the blood 80-105 minutes after administration.

In pharmacology, a substance that converts into an active substance in this way is called a prodrug. Psilocybin is a prodrug to the drug psilocin. 

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Sources of Psilocin

Mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms or “shrooms,” are the principal source of psilocin. Psilocin levels are much lower than psilocybin, but more than 180 species of mushrooms contain both substances.

Mushroom species

The most consumed psychedelic mushroom species, containing psilocin and psilocybin, include:

• Psilocybe cubensis (Gold Caps, Golden Teachers): The most well-known and widely cultivated psilocybin mushroom
• Psilocybe azurescens (Flying Saucer Mushrooms): Noted as the most potent psilocybin mushroom in the world
• Psilocybe cyanescens (Wavy Caps)
• Psilocybe natalensis (Natal Super Strength)
• Psilocybe baeocystis (Bottle Caps, Knobby Tops, Blue Bells, and Olive Caps)
• Psilocybe semilanceata (Liberty Caps)
• Psilocybe mexicana (Conical Caps)
• Copelandia cyanescens (Panaeolus cyanescens, Blue Meanies)

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