This article was originally published on Psychedelic Spotlight and appears here with permission.
In this day and age of spiritual tourism, traveling to a psychedelic retreat in Mexico, Jamaica or Peru has become a trendy new habit for explorers of altered states or those in deep need of a health restoration mental.
While the media continues to report on the groundbreaking studies demonstrating psilocybin’s ability to create neuroplasticity, interrupt maladaptive behaviors and patterns, and treat a range of psychiatric conditions, not much is said about some rather destabilizing side effects that can occur during peak psychedelic effect. experience. Encountering complications can definitely make diving into the subconscious more challenging and quite unpleasant. One of these adverse reactions is tetany.
What is tetany?
Tetany, also known as involuntary cramps or muscle twitching, is a very common symptom when peripheral nerves are overstimulated due to an electrolyte imbalance and low blood calcium levels.
What does tetany feel like?
A person who has experienced tetany will likely describe the sensation that his or her hands suddenly twitch and tense uncontrollably, as if a force beyond his or her control is squeezing the muscles in an invisible vice. The sensation of your fingers involuntarily curling into an uncomfortable grip, resisting your commands, can be quite unsettling. The muscles become tense, creating an uncomfortable sensation of stiffness and contractions.
The spasms intensify, causing a series of rapid, repetitive contractions that interrupt the natural flow of movement, making the hands feel momentarily frozen in an unnatural position. If you’ve seen Edward Scissorhands, he might even look like that, but with fingers instead of shiny blades.
The experience can be disconcerting and sometimes even painful without any substance hitting the brain’s receptors. However, being acutely aware of having lost muscle control during a psychedelic experience can make us feel vulnerable and can definitely contribute to the common anxiety that many experience during the initial period. This loss of muscle control can easily turn into fear and resistance, particularly against the ego death experience, which is a key factor in the decision-making process for many people seeking to embark on a psychedelic journey.
Common symptoms of tetany
Some common symptoms of tetany may include:
Serious signs of tetany include:
- Laryngospasm (vocal cords freeze, jam, or close during inspiration).
- Bronchospasms (when the muscles lining the airways contract).
- Painful, generalized muscle cramps.
- Vomit.
- Convulsions.
- Arrhythmia.
How to prevent tetany during a psychedelic trip?
Preventing tetany during a psychedelic trip is not difficult, and a facilitator or trip sitter can easily prepare for potential complications should the individual for whom they are reserving the space exhibit early symptoms.
Although many psychonauts and Redditors choose to fast before a psychedelic trip to increase the intensity of their experience, it may not be wise to deplete one’s glucose stores right before consuming a moderate or heroic dose of magic mushrooms since glucose is the body’s main source of energy. In other words, those planning to maintain an intermittent fasting regimen on the day of a psychedelic experience should avoid doing so without preparation, as our bodies and brains require essential nutrients and minerals to function properly. This is why those on an experienced keto diet or intermittent fasting will often drink plenty of water, include sugar-free electrolyte additives, and supplement their routine with a significant amount of magnesium and calcium supplements.
To prevent potential symptoms of tetany, you may consider:
- A health check before a psychedelic trip: Blood tests can be very helpful in indicating whether there are calcium and magnesium deficiencies before a trip, which can help address these deficiencies and avoid unpleasant complications.
- Appropriate nutrition: Many retreats prepare healthy meals that include a balanced diet of nuts, seeds, dairy products, and leafy green vegetables that would provide the necessary levels of calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D for proper bodily functions.
- Supplement compliance: Continue taking prescribed supplements if you have been diagnosed with any of the deficiencies mentioned above.
- Hydration: Proper hydration is a key factor in maintaining electrolyte balance. The general agreement among the psychedelic community is to avoid consuming caffeine or alcohol before a psychedelic trip as they can prevent the body from absorbing minerals and vitamins. If coffee is something you can’t exclude from your diet, follow the general rule: for every cup of coffee you should drink at least two cups of water to rebalance your bodily functions.
- Dealing with stress levels: Most retreats will often include yoga and massage therapy sessions before giving participants their dose. This is not a simple added value. Stress can affect hormone levels which can indirectly affect a person’s calcium storage. Pre-trip preparation tips such as yoga, exercise and meditation can help reduce stress and anxiety levels.
In case you start to experience signs of tetany while traveling and a simple bottle of water isn’t enough to reduce the symptoms, you should consider:
- Replenish your electrolytes immediately: The simplest solution, although not the healthiest, will be a bottle or two of Gatorade. However, in case you forgot to bring electrolytes with you, you can opt to add ¼ tablespoon of salt and 1-2 tablespoons of honey to a cup of water, coconut water, and lemon juice.
- Stay calm: Anxiety will only make the symptoms worse. Consider breathing exercises and changing settings.
- Massage and stretch the extremities: This will help blood circulation.
- Ask your trip sitter to check your heart rate: Most psychedelic retreats have an ear, nose and throat doctor on standby who can diagnose the need for medical assistance. This is often not necessary if you are able to restore electrolyte levels.
We often find that the biggest clichés contain some truth. “You are what you eat” – and possibly drink – is a perfect example of this, highlighting how the nutrients in your system before and during a psychedelic trip can influence the quality of your experience. Psychedelics like psilocybin, DMT, MDMA, and LSD can drain the body’s nutrient reserves, especially when you’re on a challenging journey and experiencing intense emotions. If your body is lacking essential vitamins and minerals, you may increase your likelihood of experiencing ego-dissolving anxiety, or in this case, tetany. To avoid an unpleasant psychedelic experience, please consult Psychedelic spotlight‘S Guide to your diet before, during and after your psychedelic journey.
This article comes from an unpaid freelancer. It does not represent Benzinga’s reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.