Cacao + Mushrooms?

[Tokapelli]

is this a good idea or no? Ive been looking into cacao alot for the past few days after reading the recent thread about cacao and its synergy with other plants. Im thinking that eating some cacao nibs before hand might help alleviate some pre-trip anxiety and/or potentiate the mushrooms.

 

[benzyme]

there's no evidence to suggest any direct synergy occuring, theobromine is a CYP1A2 ligand (it's a substrate, not an inhibitor), which has no relation to psilocybin metabolism.

doesn't hurt though, either

 

[Vodsel]

TMK helped to extend the rumor of cacao acting as a mild MAOI. He speculated that might be the reason for ancient mesoamericans mixing mushrooms with chocolate, but there's no actual evidence for that.

However, psilocybin is known to increase blood pressure briefly, and theobromine reduces blood pressure by dilating blood vessels, so that might be one reason for the combination. But that doesn't make the mushrooms stronger, it just might make the bodyload more bearable in some cases. That and the yummy taste of chocolate.

 

[dreamer042]

That's really interesting, I was fully under the impression cacao had maoi properties, I guess I'm guilty of spreading the myth as well

 

[Tokapelli]

very cool. thats ideal actually mushrooms are stong enough for me as is. I havnt tried raw cacao yet but i hear it makes you feel very euphoric and uplifted. Im thinking it might be the perfect thing to get me in the right headspace before i take the journey. Seems like it would just make the whole thing more comfortable mentally and physically.

 

[Beelzebozo]

I've never done this personally, but I have a friend who once took an eighth of cubensis and used some cacao beans to test old Terry's hypothesis. He doesn't really think it did much to alter the experience. It didn't hurt either as far as I know.