Welcome to this week’s edition of The Guide ⚡️ 

Today’s newsletter takes about 5 minutes to read—so if you’ve only got 60 seconds, here’s what you need to know:

• Psilocybin → Psilocin → New Connections. Your body converts psilocybin to psilocin, which hits 5-HT2A serotonin receptors, the brain’s “gain dial”, which can open a short window of cognitive flexibility and promote new connections.

• Physical safety profile = Low acute toxicity. Serious organ damage from psilocybin alone is exceedingly rare, with common effects being brief nausea, yawning, dizziness, and mild bumps in heart rate/BP.

• Psychiatric risks are low & can be prevented. Anxiety or panic can happen, especially with poor set/setting or mixing substances, which is why starting low, avoiding alcohol/drugs, having a sober sitter, and planning integration within 24–72 hours is recommended.

• Medical history is essential for risk mitigation: Individuals with a history of psychosis or bipolar I, heart disease/uncontrolled hypertension, seizure disorders, or those on SSRIs/SNRIs, antipsychotics, lithium, stimulants, or MAOIs should avoid psilocybin.

• 🎙️ On the pod: Scott Mason talks with Katie Pickard (Unlimited Sciences) about curiosity, integration, and how place and story shape healing.

👉️ There’s only so much that we can throw into these every week, so be sure to check out the links to get the full story!

🧠 The Webdelics Team

👋 New here? We do this every week… Join Us!

🎧️ The Webdelics Podcast

🎙️ Homecoming, Curiosity, and Change — with Katie Pickard (Unlimited Sciences)

🍄 Scott Mason sits down with Katie Pickard, Executive Director at Unlimited Sciences, for a raw, personal look at how an unexpected psilocybin experience inside her historic Colorado cabin reshaped her relationship with home and opened a path to healing.

🫶 They explore psilocybin and ayahuasca research, why integration turns insight into action, how plant medicine can shift our sense of self and place, stories of refugees finding new hope, and the magic that unfolds when curiosity leads the way.

📜 The “Must Read” For The Week

The Safety Profile of Psilocybin Mushrooms 🍄 

Psilocybin mushrooms are one of the most popular psychedelics out there, and yet, very few truly understand the ins and outs of these coveted psychedelics, which can be found all throughout the world...

Psilocybin is the primary psychoactive ingredient found in an array of mushroom species. After ingestion, your body converts it to psilocin, which binds mainly to the 5‑HT2A serotonin receptor in the cortex.

This unique compound is linked to vivid imagery, new associations, and a flexible sense of self (sometimes called “ego dissolution”).

Its ability to alter our senses and perceptions stems from 5‑HT2A serotonin receptors acting as a gain dial on how the brain processes information, allowing areas of the brain to interact that don’t often communicate with each other.

Turning it up for a few hours can make the brain more open and plastic (neuroplasticity = new connections; change), which is part of why insights can feel potent and be life-changing.

🧪 Physical Safety & Toxicity Profile

• Low acute toxicity: Animal and human data suggest a wide safety margin for psilocybin itself. The human lethal dose isn’t established, and documented fatalities from psilocybin alone are exceedingly rare.

• Common short‑term effects: transient nausea, yawning, dizziness, mild increases in heart rate and blood pressure. In supervised settings, cardiovascular changes are typically brief and manageable.

• Organ damage & addiction: There’s no evidence that psilocybin causes organ damage when used acutely, and classic psychedelics are not considered physically addictive.

🧠 Psychological Risks & How to Reduce Them

• Adverse reactions: A small portion of users seek medical help for anxiety, panic, paranoia, or confusion, often tied to poor mindset, environment, or mixing substances.

• Set & setting matter: Intentional preparation, a safe, comfortable space, and trusted, trained support can reduce risk and vastly improve outcomes.

• Practical harm‑reduction: Start low; avoid mixing with alcohol or other drugs; have a trusted, sober sitter; and plan integration (journaling, therapy, or peer support) within 24–72 hours.

  • *Note: Always check your local laws and abide by all governing advice!

🛑 Who Should Avoid or Get Medical Advice First

• Psychiatric history: personal or family history of psychosis, bipolar I, or certain personality disorders may raise risk for destabilizing experiences.

• Cardiovascular & seizure disorders: elevated BP/HR can be risky for some; people with heart disease, uncontrolled hypertension, or seizure disorders should seek medical guidance prior to engaging in an experience with psilocybin.

• Medications: interactions and blunted effects are reported with SSRIs/SNRIs, antipsychotics, lithium, stimulants, and MAOIs. Always review meds with a clinician before use!

💭 Legal Status & Ethics in The US

• Federal: Psilocybin is Schedule I (illegal).

• State/Local exceptions: Oregon runs a licensed psilocybin services program for adults in supervised settings. Colorado has decriminalized certain natural medicines and is rolling out licensing for facilitators. Some religious groups seek exemptions; these are limited and case‑specific. Always check current local rules.

• Ethics: prioritize informed consent, screening, safety, and respect for Indigenous lineages that steward these practices.

🕳️ What We Know vs. What We Want to Know

• Known: Low acute physical toxicity; main risks are psychological and context‑dependent. Early trials show potential for depression, PTSD, and other mental health conditions when paired with structured therapy.

• Unknowns: Long‑term outcomes across diverse populations; best‑practice protocols outside of clinical trials; medication interactions at scale; real‑world standards for training and safety.

If you choose to engage with psilocybin, focus on screening, set/setting, dose discipline, and integration, because the boring basics are often the ones that keep people safe!

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💬 Our Why…

👉 Knowledge only helps when you use it safely… And use it wisely.

Psilocybin can open doors, but its outcomes hinge on intentional screening, set/setting, dose & discipline, and proper integration.

If today’s issue helped, take this information and:

• 🔍 Get Oriented: Revisit our primers on classic psychedelics to understand where psilocybin fits.

• 🧭 Safe Starts: Grab our Beginner’s Guide to MDMA to learn more about how to safely integrate.

• 🎧 Listen In: This week’s pod with Katie Pickard (Unlimited Sciences) has a ton of information about curiosity, integration, and how “home” shapes healing.

• 🗺️ Know the Rules: Check your local laws, because policies change by city/state and are quickly being updated!

At Webdelics, we’re here to make plant-medicine info clear, evidence-based, and practical, so you can make safer, more informed choices.

📩 If this landed, forward it to someone curious about changing their brain!
💬 Questions, corrections, or a topic for us to unpack next? Reply and tell us.

🧠 The Guide - by Webdelics

Disclaimer: Webdelics does not support or promote any illegal activities, including the use of substances that may be mentioned in this newsletter. We encourage all readers to familiarize themselves with and adhere to the laws in their region. Please note that Webdelics does not offer mental health, medical, or clinical services and should not be used as a replacement for professional medical, psychological, or psychiatric care, diagnosis, or treatment.