Posted by Flash (134.32.125.116) on November 08, 1999 at 05:14:33:
In Reply to: Extracting... posted by Seth Kurtzberg on November 07, 1999 at 19:56:01:
Boiling the mushrooms extract the Psilocybin. ANother method is to picle them in vinegar. It is easy to extract anything from a mushroom, that's why you aren't supposed to wash them prior to cooking - it takes out all the goodness.
I think what you are refering to is the manufacture of synthetic Psilocybin. I don't know much about this but have heard that it is possible.
As far as mushrooms go I would recommend picking your own. The are quite numerous. You will need a good field guide, and I'd advise the help of a friend who knows what they are looking for. In the UK you are completely safe, the only thing that looks remotely like them is a similar species that contains less Psilocybin. Remember though that what you are picking must be a 100% match, if it almost matches then it is the wrong mushroom. Always pick them when they are dry, it is much harder to tell them apart in the wet. There should still be some Liberty Cap available in the UK but they will disappear before the end of the month.
I think that the US has different species of psycadelic mushroom, and some of these may look similar to more dangerous species, so I'd be very wary. A good indicator is that any mushroom contating Psilocilin (that is the stuff you really need) will glow under a UV light. Liberty Cap do not contain Psilocilin, only Psilocybin and therefore do not glow. Psilocybin is metabolised into Psilocilin by your body. It is Psilocilin that is the coloset match to Serotonin.