What is the relationship between cholesterol and our behaviour?

Low cholesterol is good for our heart, but if it is too low, less than 150, it may alter the brain chemistry because brain contains a large amount of cholesterol. We have knowledge about the cholesterol in our body but we know only little about brain cholesterol.

Cholesterol does not go from the blood to brain because of the blood-brain barrier but it is synthesized in the brain itself. About 25% of the total cholesterol found in our body is in the brain and its turnover is affected in neuro-degenerating disorders. The capacity for cholesterol transport and recycling in the brain seems to be important for the development of diseases like Alzheimer’s disease. Lot of research is going on but concrete evidence is unfortunately still missing.

The negative consequences of low cholesterol, whether actively reduced or naturally low, are a few according to the recent research reports.

Men with the lowest cholesterol had the highest mortality rate, but it is generally due to cancer and other non-heart related diseases. It may be the lung cancer in the case of smokers with low cholesterol, but the reason is not low cholesterol itself.

Cholesterol may be important in the brain for the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter which at low levels associated with depression. Persons with low cholesterol have also low serotonin values and there is a link between low natural cholesterol levels and negative emotional states, depression, accidents, violence and a higher rate of suicide.

Persons with low cholesterol, but with high blood pressure, may be at the risk for haemorrhagic stroke with bleeding in the brain. But it should be clearly noted that this type of stroke is much less common than ischemic stroke which is caused by artery blockage.

Magic mushrooms

There are several varieties of magic mushrooms that are hallucinogenic and the most popular one is psilocybe semilaneata. Mushrooms are normally eaten raw, cooked, used in teas or dried for future use. These are a strong, naturally occurring hallucinogenic, small doses bring excitement und euphoria, but bigger doses bring hallucinogens.

The main type of magic mushrooms used is liberty cap psilocybe and the most potent variety is amanita muscaria. Psilocybin is the psychedelic chemical responsible for this effect and it is present in this mushrooms.

Psilocybin is rapidly dephosphorylated in the body to psilocin which then acts as a partial agonist at the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor in the brain. There it mimics the effects of serotonin (5-Hydroxy triptamine).

Psilocybin is absorbed in the mouth and stomach. 20 to 45 minutes after the ingestion the effects begin. The effects last from 2 to 6 hours depending on the variety, dose and metabolism. Typical recreational amount is 10 to 50 mg Psilocybin or roughly 2 to 2.5 g magic mushroom.

It has low toxicity, but you must remember always the different mushrooms in the species have different amount of the drug.

What are the effects of Magic Mushrooms?

In low doses the effects include:

• Excitement
• Euphoria
• Often pleasant, ecstatic and makes a deep sense of connections with others

In high doses the effects include:

• Intense spiritual experiences
• Hallucination – breathing walls, enhancement of colours and the animation of different shapes

What are the side effects of magic mushrooms?

The side effects include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Diarrhoea
• Stomach pains
• Confusion

Your good or bad trip is dependent of your mood, environment and persons there. Some report flashbacks also and so a safe place is always important because of panic attacks and confusion. It is very difficult to say about the doses, drug content of the mushrooms are not known exactly, moreover, your physical and mental health, tolerance levels and bodyweight play also a vital role here.

It is not good to use magic mushrooms with other drugs like alcohol, amphetamine, cannabis, ecstasy, diazepam and LSD.

What are the street names of magic mushrooms?

They include:

• Shrooms
• Mushies
• Liberty
• Caps
• Magics
• Liberty cap
• Amani
• Fly agaric
• Agaric

Abuse of plants which contain drugs are as bad as synthetic drugs. Many accidents in the industries or traffic accidents are not only from alcohol but also from these drugs.