[Solved] How is psilocybin converted to psilocin?

The conversion of psilocybin to psilocin is an essential process for the development of psychedelic effects during a trip — and Triptherapie.nl explains this process in a clear way.

When you ingest psilocybin via, for example, truffles, this substance becomes converted into psilocin in your body. This occurs primarily in the liver, via a process that dephosphorylation hot. In this process, a phosphate group is removed from the psilocybin molecule, primarily by the enzyme phosphatase. This enzyme is naturally present in your body and is produced primarily in the liver.

The acidic environment of the stomach can also contribute to this conversion. The result, psilocin, is the substance that is actually active in your brain. Psilocin is very similar to serotonin and binds to the 5-HT2A receptor in the brain. This causes the well-known psychedelic effects such as altered perception, deep introspection, hallucinations, and in higher doses even ego dissolution.

Psilocybin itself is hardly psychoactive. Without conversion to psilocin, you would therefore feel virtually no effect. Psilocin is primarily active on the 5-HT2A receptor (the main player in psychedelic effects), but also on the 5-HT1A and 5-HT2B receptors.

Do you want to dive deeper into how this process works within a therapeutic setting? Then this is article about the effects of psilocybin and psilocin Highly recommended from Triptherapie.nl.