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Does psiloc(yb)in cause any physical damage, particularly to the cerebral spinal fluid?
Q: I am trying to find references in your vault to the actual effects on body chemistry of psilocybin. I've heard a good one about supposed alteration of cerebro-spinal fluid!!!
Where do I look, or should I be satisfied that I've just got a bad back?

A: It is highly unlikely that psilocin or psilocybin cause physical damage to your nervous system or its supporting systems. If anything, it may be possible that it would cause liver damage in high or repetitive doses, but this is unlikely as well. The similarity in structure between psiloc(yb)in and serotonin would indicate that they are likely processed by the same enzymes and yield similar, water soluble, non-toxic metabolites (though this is a gross generalization, and there are many exceptions to this rule; simple changes to a structure can have drastic changes on effect, metabolization, and toxicity).



The rumor of spinal fluid alteration from the use of psilocybin sounds like a bastardization of a similar rumor about MDMA which most likely stemmed from MDMA research which involved taking spinal taps of MDMA users in order to check for metabolite levels in the body.



It is most likely that your bad back is due to more common causes such as stress, injury (improper lifting), lack of exercise (not an insult, strong abdomenals are key to a healthy back), or nutritional imbalances. I would suggest seeing a doctor, acupuncturist, chiropractor, or massage therapist.


Asked By : greg
Answered By : psilo
Published Date : 9 / 17 / 1999
Last Edited Date : 7 / 10 / 2005
Question ID : 59

Categories: [ Mushrooms (Psilocybin) ] [ Health ] [ Psilocybin & Psilocin ]



Ask Erowid v1.7 - Jul, 2005

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