How to Dodge the Nausea Train After Taking Magic Mushrooms (and Still Have the Trip of Your Life)
Ah, magic mushrooms! Nature’s way of saying, “Let’s get weird!” But let’s be real for a second. Along with that mind-expanding journey comes the less glamorous sidekick: nausea. Yup, that queasy, ‘oh no, I shouldn’t have eaten that second burrito’ feeling that shows up just as you’re about to blast off to another dimension.
If you’ve ever wondered, “Is the nausea worth it for a mystical, enlightening experience?” the answer is yes—as long as you’ve got some tricks up your sleeve to keep it from ruining your journey. Fortunately for you, this blog is all about making sure the only thing you lose is your ego—not your lunch.
So buckle up, buttercup! Here’s everything you need to know about why nausea happens after taking magic mushrooms and, most importantly, how to avoid it and still have the ride of your life.
Why Do Magic Mushrooms Cause Nausea?
Before we dive into the fixes, let’s start with some science (I promise, it’s fun science). When you take magic mushrooms, you’re consuming psilocybin, the chemical compound responsible for all the woo-woo that happens. Your body quickly converts psilocybin into psilocin, which is the magical molecule that binds to your serotonin receptors and makes the walls breathe, colors pop, and all those deeply buried epiphanies rise to the surface. Psilocybin mushrooms have been used in psychopharmacology for their effects on mental health, anxiety, and treating major depressive disorder.
The problem? Your digestive system is like, “Wait a minute, what’s this foreign stuff?” It sends an alert to your brain, and before you know it, you’re clutching your stomach like you just saw your bank statement after a night of online shopping. Essentially, your body is adjusting to the psilocybin, and while your mind is getting ready to party, your stomach is like, “No thanks, I’ll stay home.”
The Top 10 Reasons You’re Feeling Queasy After Taking Mushrooms
1. The Texture: Mushrooms can be kind of, well, chewy. Not everyone loves feeling like they’re chomping on a rubbery, earthy snack, and that’s enough to make some stomachs turn.
2. Hard-to-Digest Fibers: Mushrooms are full of chitin, a tough fiber that’s like the mushroom’s version of a suit of armor. Your stomach’s working overtime to break it down, causing discomfort, nausea, and even vomiting in some cases. Some might mistake the nausea for mushroom poisoning, but don’t worry; this is just your body working hard.
3. The Psychedelic Rollercoaster: Your brain’s serotonin levels are going haywire when psilocybin hits, and your body isn’t sure whether to feel awesome or awful. This battle often results in nausea.
4. A Full Stomach: Eating a big meal before taking mushrooms can slow down digestion and make you feel heavy, adding to that queasy vibe.
5. Undigested Mushrooms: Sometimes, the mushrooms sit in your stomach too long, meaning you’re trying to trip and digest at the same time. Your stomach gets confused, and you feel sick. This is why some people experience diarrhea or muscle weakness.
6. Fear of the Unknown: Some nausea is psychosomatic. You’re anticipating it, so guess what? You feel it! The power of the mind is strong, especially when it comes to mushrooms and substances that can impact your mental state.
7. Dehydration: Mushrooms can make you a little dry, and dehydration can lead to nausea. So, yeah, skipping that water is a bad call. Hyperthermia can also come into play, and that will only make the nausea worse.
8. Impatience: When you’re waiting for the mushrooms to kick in, nerves can sometimes take over, making you feel a bit off. You may also experience an increase in heart rate or tachycardia.
9. Mixing Substances: Pairing shrooms with alcohol, greasy food, or (gasp) caffeine? Recipe for a queasy disaster. The combination of psilocybin with other substances like opioids, smoking, or alcohol increases the risk of substance abuse and worsens the bad trip experience.
10. Too High of a Dose: Remember, moderation is key. Going full Houdini on your dosage can throw your body into a state of chaos, making nausea a likely (but not inevitable) result. High doses can cause paranoia, hallucinations, and flashbacks, which will take your mushroom experience from magical to manic in no time.
The Nausea-Be-Gone Toolkit: How to Avoid or Ease Nausea When Tripping
1. Mushroom Tea: A Soothing Sipper
If the thought of chewing a dry mushroom sends a shiver down your spine, meet your new best friend: mushroom tea. By brewing your psilocybin mushrooms, you’re making them easier to digest. Plus, it’s way easier on your stomach. Just chop up your shrooms, steep them in hot water for 10-15 minutes, and add some ginger, honey, or lemon to mask the taste. The result? A more enjoyable, nausea-free come-up. Not only does this help with nausea, but it can also help avoid potential vomiting and mood swings.
Bonus: Ginger itself is a nausea-buster. It’s like nature’s Pepto-Bismol but without the weird chalky aftertaste.
2. The Lemon Tek: Pucker Up
The Lemon Tek method is like turning your mushrooms into a fast-pass to your trip. When you soak your shrooms in lemon juice before consuming them, the acid helps break down the psilocybin. This process mimics what your stomach does, so by the time the mushrooms reach your gut, they’re already halfway there. Many users swear that Lemon Tek not only shortens the onset but also drastically reduces nausea. Plus, who doesn’t love a bit of citrus before a mind-melting trip? Plus, it’s easier for the health professional to suggest smaller doses.
3. Grind ‘Em Up and Mix ‘Em In
If you don’t have time to brew tea or wait for lemon juice to work its magic, try grinding your mushrooms into a fine powder and mixing it with something light like applesauce, yogurt, or peanut butter. The smaller mushroom particles make it easier on your stomach to digest, reducing the chance of that “why did I do this?” feeling. Reducing digestion times can also help prevent any psychosis or lingering nausea.
4. Don’t Be a Hero: Start Small
Want to avoid the trip turning into a bad episode of Fear Factor? Don’t take too much! If you’re new to mushrooms, start with a lower dose (1-2 grams) and see how your body reacts. Even if you’re a seasoned psychonaut, sometimes your body has an “off” day. Start small, and you can always level up later. This is also the advice given by health professionals and experts in psychopharmacology.
5. Eat Light, Eat Smart
Here’s a pro tip: don’t take mushrooms right after you’ve had a three-course meal. Think of it like going on a rollercoaster after eating a buffet—it’s not going to end well. Stick to a light meal before your trip, something easy to digest, like fruits, veggies, or soup. Your stomach will thank you. Plus, it minimizes the risk of a bad trip due to food interaction.
6. Stay Hydrated, Hydrated, Hydrated
Dehydration is a sneaky nausea trigger, and mushrooms can leave you a bit parched. Sip water or herbal tea throughout the trip to keep yourself balanced. Just avoid guzzling too much water at once, as that could actually make you feel worse and increase blood pressure.
7. Ginger: The OG Nausea Remedy
Before Big Pharma existed, ginger was curing nausea left, right, and center. Whether you’re drinking ginger tea, chewing on ginger candies, or swallowing ginger capsules, this root is your go-to. It’s the Old Faithful of nausea solutions, especially when combined with the other techniques here.
8. Peppermint: A Minty Fresh Fix
Just like ginger, peppermint has a knack for settling your stomach. Drink peppermint tea or suck on peppermint candies during your trip to keep nausea at bay. And hey, bonus points for that minty-fresh breath!
9. Keep Calm and Breathe
Sometimes nausea comes from anxiety. When you’re on the come-up and the waves start to hit, your mind might start racing. Take slow, deep breaths. Center yourself. Remind yourself that it’s just the mushrooms doing their thing. A calm mind equals a calmer stomach.
10. Find Your Happy Place
Lie down, close your eyes, and listen to some calming music or nature sounds. Changing your physical environment can help distract your mind and body from focusing too much on the nausea. If you’re tripping in nature, take a walk and breathe in the fresh air—there’s nothing like a bit of greenery and nature’s soundtrack to settle the soul (and stomach). Walking can help release tension and reduce feelings of unease, allowing you to immerse yourself in the experience without worrying too much about your physical discomfort.
11. Avoid Alcohol, Caffeine, and Fatty Foods
Mixing mushrooms with alcohol, greasy food, or caffeinated drinks is a surefire way to amplify nausea. Caffeine can spike your heart rate and worsen anxiety, while fatty or greasy foods slow digestion, keeping that mushroom smoothie hanging out in your gut far longer than necessary. Alcohol can dry you out, leading to dehydration, which is an invitation for nausea to crash the party. Stick to light, easy-to-digest foods and drinks that won’t trigger your stomach.
12. Break the Cycle with Lemon Balm
Lemon balm is another great natural remedy that can soothe the digestive system and calm nerves. Some people use lemon balm tea alongside their mushroom experiences to minimize nausea and promote relaxation. It’s like giving your body a gentle reminder that everything is fine—no need to sound the nausea alarm.
13. Don’t Stress the Come-Up
One of the most common mistakes people make is overthinking the come-up phase of the trip. That initial period, where the effects of the psilocybin and psilocin start to kick in, can feel unsettling for some, leading to a mental battle with nausea. But stressing out only worsens things. Remember, what you’re feeling is normal, and it’s just the start of an epic journey. Reassure yourself that your body is doing its thing, and soon enough, the nausea will pass.
14. Microdosing: Less Is More
If nausea is a consistent problem for you, consider microdosing instead of going all-in with a full dose. Microdosing involves taking very small amounts of psilocybin (typically around 0.1-0.3 grams) which doesn’t usually result in nausea and still provides subtle benefits. You won’t get full-blown hallucinations, but it can offer mood enhancement, stress relief, and better focus without the side effects that higher doses might bring. It’s an excellent way to avoid the discomfort of nausea while still tapping into the mushroom’s benefits for mental health, anxiety, and therapy for conditions like major depressive disorder.
15. Check Your Species
Not all mushrooms are created equal, and some species of magic mushrooms are harder to digest than others. Psilocybe cubensis is one of the most common varieties, but depending on where you source your mushrooms, you might end up with different types like psilocybe semilanceata (also known as liberty caps). Some species may be more prone to causing nausea or muscle weakness than others. If you find that one type of mushroom gives you particularly bad nausea, try experimenting with a different variety. And as always, be sure you’re not accidentally consuming mushrooms that could cause mushroom poisoning—if in doubt, consult with a health professional before consuming wild-harvested fungi.
The Psychedelic Nausea Icebreaker: What If It Still Happens?
Okay, so you’ve followed all the steps, but you’re still hit with a wave of nausea. Don’t panic! Even the most seasoned psychonauts experience this now and then. Here’s what to do if it hits:
• Focus on Your Breathing: Slow, deep breaths can help calm both the mind and stomach. Inhale through your nose, hold it for a few seconds, then exhale through your mouth.
• Distract Yourself: Sometimes, focusing too much on your discomfort can amplify it. Turn your attention to something else—music, a comforting visual, or simply the feel of the earth beneath you.
• Rest in a Safe Space: Find a comfy spot where you can lie down, relax, and let your body adjust. If you’re indoors, create a peaceful environment with dim lighting, soft music, and plenty of pillows. Outdoors? Lay on a blanket and stare at the sky. Time perception can be a little warped during a trip, so just remind yourself that this moment will pass.
• Keep Hydrated: Continue sipping water or herbal teas like ginger or peppermint. It can help flush the nausea and restore balance.
• Remind Yourself You’re in Control: Even when things feel intense, you’re the captain of your mind. Bad trips can lead to panic, but keeping a grounded mindset will prevent nausea from spiraling into something worse, like full-on vomiting.
When Nausea Signals Something More Serious
While nausea is a pretty common side effect of taking mushrooms, it’s important to note that in rare cases, nausea can signal something more serious, like mushroom poisoning. Always make sure you’re consuming mushrooms that are safe and properly identified—because not all mushrooms are friendly, and some can cause serious illness. If you’re foraging, be absolutely certain you’re picking the right species, and when in doubt, get a second opinion from a health professional or a local mycologist.
Also, nausea coupled with other intense physical symptoms like severe diarrhea, extreme vomiting, muscle weakness, or intense sweating could indicate an adverse reaction. While magic mushrooms themselves are non-toxic in typical doses, consuming large amounts or mixing them with other substances can lead to dangerous side effects. If you suspect mushroom poisoning, get medical help right away.
A Journey of the Mind (Not the Stomach)
In the end, the goal of taking magic mushrooms is to embark on a transformative, mind-expanding experience, not to turn your trip into a stomach-churning ordeal. Understanding your body’s reactions, listening to how it responds to psilocybin, and taking preventive measures can ensure that your journey is more about euphoria and introspection than nausea and bathroom sprints.
With all the research going into mushrooms and their effects on mental health, substance abuse, and addiction, it’s exciting to see how these little fungi might transform therapy in the future. From being explored as a tool for helping people with opioid addiction and alcohol dependence to showing promise in treating major depressive disorder and cancer patients dealing with terminal illness, magic mushrooms are reshaping the conversation around mental health.
Next time you’re prepping for a trip, whether for a psychedelic experience or even just a microdose to enhance your day, remember to take these nausea-busting tips with you. The key to an enjoyable experience is preparation—whether it’s by brewing a calming cup of mushroom tea, grinding them into something easier to digest, or keeping your body hydrated and rested throughout. With a little planning, the only thing you’ll be tripping over is the meaning of life—not your stomach.
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In Conclusion: Keep the Magic, Skip the Nausea
With the right preparation, you can enjoy the many benefits of psilocybin mushrooms—from the wild trips to the deeply therapeutic effects on mental health—without the nausea overshadowing the fun. Whether you’re using mushrooms to explore your inner world or just looking for a bit of mental clarity, keeping your body happy should be as much a priority as your mind.
So, the next time you plan to take a journey with magic mushrooms, refer back to this blog. With these tips and tricks, you’ll avoid the nausea trap and set yourself up for a safe, enjoyable trip full of positive vibes and unforgettable insights. After all, the goal is to expand your consciousness—not your stomach contents. Safe travels! 🌈🍄
By following these steps, you’ll ensure a smooth, nausea-free mushroom experience, whether you’re exploring for fun or diving into the therapeutic potential of psilocybin.
