Magic Nanaimo

09/15/2025

09/15/2025

From Double Blind magazine

Was the Life-Extending Psilocybin Study Just Hype?

A recent study on psilocybin set off a wave of longevity headlines, reminding us that hype ages faster than any of us ever could.

In July, a team of researchers published a study suggesting that psilocybin might slow down aging. It set the internet aflame with the longevity bros claiming they knew it all along. News stories proclaimed it a fountain of youth. Headlines said that mushrooms would “extend one’s life” by upwards of 50% and “turn back the biological clock.” One headline boldly declared that mushrooms would “help you live longer.”

But here’s what actually went down in the study: Scientists dosed human lung and skin cells with psilocin (the substance psilocybin metabolizes into), and those cells lived a bit longer in petri dishes — about 50 percent longer, which sounds cool and meaningful until you remember these are cells divorced from the human body in the lab. Then, researchers gave elderly mice heavy monthly doses of psilocybin for nearly a year, and yes, those mice outlived their drug-free peers by a few months and even grew “glossier” fur. But let’s be clear: The mice were getting doses of more than seven grams of mushrooms every month. That’s a f**kton of mushrooms for 95% of people.

But the overwhelming narrative crafted by the media was that humans are one clinical trial away from eternal youth. Are we at DB shocked this happened? No. All of this is emblematic of the psychedelic hype machine, which has been running hot for the past decade. Once relegated to the counterculture fringes of society, psychedelics are now being rebranded as miracle drugs, hailed as panaceas for depression, PTSD, cluster headaches, addiction, weight loss, and everything else. We are not saying psychedelics can’t help these conditions; we know they can. But without fail, as soon as a well-designed study drops, headlines start promising utopia like clockwork. Mikael Palner, a neurobiology professor at the University of Southern Denmark, tells DoubleBlind that this phenomenon might end up hurting the psychedelic field more than helping it.

“Psychedelics and longevity are probably the two most hyped areas of scientific research at the moment,” Mikael tells DoubleBlind via email. “Both are unique in that they have large communities of people who practice or advocate for them even before we have solid scientific proof. That’s why we need to be diligent in our communication and ensure that our claims are backed by strong evidence. Otherwise, we risk doing more harm than good to the cause of making psychedelic therapy accessible to patients.”

Mikael — who penned a story for The Conversation about this study — has been studying psychedelics in rodent models for two decades, long before The New York Times started covering ayahuasca ceremonies with similar zeal it reserves for new fitness trends. And while he’s clearly not anti-psychedelics, he does want the science to survive the hype cycle. “I’ve been studying psychedelics since before the hype began, particularly focusing on dosing in rodent models. I want this treatment to be available to patients, but I also want the field to be respected and not dismissed as pseudoscience. That’s why we, as researchers, need to speak up about false claims, acknowledge side effects, and discuss realistic treatment outcomes.”

Because here’s the uncomfortable truth: What works in mice almost never works the same way in humans. Mice metabolize drugs differently, age faster, and, notably, don’t write think pieces about their mystical revelations. (Crazy, we know.) The psilocybin-treated mice in this study weren’t microdosing; they were taking the equivalent of multiple heroic doses per month. We have zero data on what that would do to a human brain over time, aside from some old, alarming studies from the 1960s suggesting it might induce psychotic-like states in rodents. (These poor animals…)

Yet the media coverage didn’t mention any of these nuances. Outlets largely failed to mention that the study didn’t track how much the mice were eating, which is crucial, because simply eating less food can extend one’s lifespan. It didn’t mention that the researchers themselves cautioned that the study was all very preliminary. Instead, the public got the psychedelic version of clickbait: “Eat mushrooms, live forever.”

The trouble is that hype burns hot and fast. When early trials fail to match the lofty expectations set by giddy coverage, the backlash can be brutal. “We need more scientists to engage with public media, not just publish in scientific journals,” Mikael says. “Scientists carry a level of credibility that politicians and influencers often lack, and we should leverage that to promote scientific truth. Science should never be sidelined or neglected.”

And that’s the crux of the issue: If we want psychedelics to become legitimate therapies rather than a wellness fad, we can’t afford to sensationalize their benefits and label them as miracle drugs when this data simply doesn’t show that yet. Every exaggerated headline chips away at credibility. It makes the whole field seem like snake oil, further distancing it from the role psilocybin can potentially play in future mental health care.

No one can take away the profound implications of this study. But it’s not a ticket to immortality, and pretending it is only sets everyone up for disappointment in a field that is showing real promise. The last thing the psychedelic movement needs is bu****it fairy tales perpetuated by the media. It needs patience, nuance, and better reporting instead.

If nothing changes, we’ll wake up decades from now disillusioned about this entire era… and we’ll probably be out of mushrooms, too.

09/14/2025

We are thrilled to announce our second MAPS Canada Research Grant recipient, Anne Wagner!

Remedy Institute’s “A Randomized Trial of M**A-Assisted Cognitive-Behavioural Conjoint Therapy (CBCT) versus CBCT in Dyads in Which One Member has Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)”.

With a grant of $10,000, MAPS Canada will support the enrolment of 2 dyads of participants into this important clinical trial.

Support Canadian Psychedelics Research!

🧠 Open your mind.
💸 Open a door.



Donate today: https://www.mapscanada.org/donate/

09/14/2025

Is It Safe to Use M**A and Vi**ra at the Same Time?

The short answer is yes, but like all things drug-related, it requires a more nuanced explanation.

By Joe Dolce
Double Blind Magazine

First, an obligatory cautionary warning. Using any untested, unlicensed, or unapproved substance, especially in combination with another non-prescribed drug or alcohol, is always som**hing to be wary of. This is a wise and attentive way to live one's life, and it is the basis upon which almost any doctor will offer advice. Remember, the medical profession shoulders the burden of alerting the public to possible harms, so it is by definition, conservative. Making psychedelics illegal doesn’t help either. “Prohibition doesn’t stop use, but it does stop research,” notes Erica Zelfand, ND, and the executive director of Right to Heal nonprofit in Portland, Oregon.

The Pharmacology of M**A
A standard dose of M**A (80-120 mg) increases the levels of feel-good chemicals – serotonin, norepinephrine, oxytocin, and dopamine – in the brain, which generally leads to amazing sensations of euphoria, increased sociability, and tactility. The amphetamine effects of M**A constrict blood vessels, which can speed up heart rate, raise blood pressure, and lead to overheating for the 4-6 hours the drug is in the body. If you have hypertension or arrhythmia, this could be a concern.

On its own, M**A is a relatively safe substance. For 40 years, M**A has been used by hundreds of thousands of people weekly at clubs, raves, and at home, yet there have been few reported Emergency Room, drug treatment center, or addiction service visits. While research shows that M**A can bring on short-lived side effects, such as jaw clenching, nausea, sweating, chills, and blurred vision, they are typically mild and quickly fade, leaving no clear signal of increased cardiac risk. M**A deaths are rare and often the result of ingesting a pill that has been tainted with fentanyl, m**h, or another toxic contaminant. Other dangers include the fatal dehydration that occurs when people spend hours on overheated dance floors and fail to drink water, as well as overhydration, which has killed many more than heatstroke.

Research also shows M**A isn’t considered addictive. Clinical trials have found no signs of abuse or diversion, and it carries far less risk of dependence than classic stimulants. Nor is it known to cause drug-seeking behavior. Instead, M**A is self-limiting: The more you take, the less magic you feel. Repeated use builds a tolerance, which is why experienced users tend to space out M**A sessions to just a few times a year.

Some researchers have pointed to an increase in promiscuous behavior and unprotected s*x, but that’s not a pharmacological harm. It’s a behavioral issue.

Vi**ra and Cialis
Standard doses of Vi**ra (sildenafil; 25-100 mg) and Cialis (tadalafil; 5-20 mg) work by relaxing (or dilating) blood vessels in the p***s, increasing blood flow, which makes erections more possible when s*xually stimulated. (Fun fact: Vi**ra was first developed as a medication to lower blood pressure. It wasn’t great at doing that, but men kept noticing one other pesky side effect. Pharma companies noticed it too, and gleefully rebranded it as a fix for erectile dysfunction.)

So What About Combining the Two?
While M**A raises heart rate and blood pressure, sildenafil lowers blood pressure. The two do not act synergistically, which is a good thing because the two substances don’t potentiate each other.

But they don’t have equal and opposite effects across the entire cardiovascular system.

“I view risk on a spectrum,” says Seth Mehr, MD and founder of Cascade Psychedelic Medicine in Portland, OR. “If you are a healthy man who can tolerate moderate exercise and you have no heart disease or other risk factors, then taking an average dose of M**A is relatively safe. But, if you're 80 and have had a heart attack or arrhythmia and you’re on another stimulant like Ritalin or Vivance, that’s riskier. Knowing your body and the rare side effects of both drugs will enable you to make a more informed decision. That’s the definition of informed consent.”

There’s one other factor to consider: M**A is called the “love drug” or the “hug drug,” but it’s not called the “s*x drug.” And for a good reason: It enhances emotional connection, but it doesn’t enhance erections. 40% of men report they can’t get hard on M**A. And of those who do get erections, a large percentage can’t ej*****te. So, while M**A is great for cuddle puddling, it’s less great when it comes to squelching. Personally speaking, M**A makes my p***s feel uniquely irrelevant – it’s easier to just enjoy the waves of warm, unconditional love and save the s*x for the day after.

Or, as Dr. Zelfand puts it: “There are so many other ways to share love and deepen intimacy on M**A. Do you really need an erection?”

Wait! What About Women? How Does Molly Affect Their Sexual Response?
There is almost no information about women's s*xual response to M**A (and other drugs) because most clinical studies have small sample sizes, underrepresent women, and rarely include s*xual function as a primary outcome. The scant existing data suggest that while M**A can increase s*xual desire and satisfaction, it may also delay or**sm or impair lubrication and doesn’t reliably enhance s*xual arousal in controlled settings.

According to Stephanie Karzon-Abrams, a neuropharmacologist based in Los Angeles, women may experience M**A differently than men due to a constellation of factors, including metabolism, hormonal fluctuations, body composition and genetics, and a dangerous drop in blood sodium levels, known as hyponatremia.

Metabolism: Women generally metabolize more slowly than men, which means they process and eliminate M**A at a slower rate. This can result in the drug staying in the system longer, leading to more intense effects or prolonged side effects.

Hormonal Fluctuations: Women’s hormones oscillate throughout their menstrual cycles, and estrogen can influence the levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain. This is why during certain phases of the cycle like ovulation, women might be more sensitive to M**A and feel bigger emotional responses.

Body Composition: Women tend to have a higher percentage of body fat than men. Since M**A is lipophilic, or fat-soluble, it may accumulate in fat cells and be released more slowly. This can result in delayed onset or longer-lasting effects, making women more susceptible to both M**A’s positive and negative effects.

Genetics: Specific genes, like 5-HTTLPR (which influences serotonin transport) and COMT (which affects dopamine metabolism), may differ between the s*xes, influencing how M**A interacts with serotonin and dopamine systems in the brain. Genetic differences could explain why women have stronger emotional and physiological responses to M**A, including anxiety or more pronounced mood changes.

Hyponatremia: M**A can cause the body to retain water, leading to a dangerous drop in blood sodium levels. Young women ages 15-35 are at a significantly higher risk of experiencing severe hyponatremia, which can cause brain swelling, seizures, and death.

While Vi**ra or Cialis are not prescribed for women, it’s important to remember that M**A affects everyone differently, and not least of those differences have to do with gender. The takeaway here is simple: M**A isn’t a one-size-fits-all experience. Whether combined with a pharmaceutical like Vi**ra or taken on its own, the safest path lies in knowing your body, respecting its limits, and remembering that intimacy on M**A is about more than just erections and or**sms.

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Joe is the author of Modern Psychedelics, The Handbook of Mindful Exploration.

09/08/2025

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09/04/2025

We've been carrying Blue lotus for a few months now if you want to give it a try. Great for lucid dreaming and for a good night's sleep, as well as a mild aphrodisiac. $7 for 10 g.

Just steep one or two flowers in boiling water, and drink before bedtime.

09/04/2025

Am**hyst deceiver is a small, striking mushroom with a deep violet to purple cap, thin fibrous stem, and white spore print. Its vibrant color fades as it dries, making older specimens paler and thus much harder to identify. It grows mycorrhizally in deciduous and coniferous forests, often near beech, oak, or pine, from late summer to early winter. Edible with a mild taste, it retains some color when cooked, but can accumulate heavy metals in polluted soils.

🆔 Laccaria am**hystina / Am**hyst Deceiver / Lakovka ametystová

#️⃣ **hystina **hystdeceiver

08/05/2025

08/04/2025

08/04/2025

08/04/2025