Gwyneth Paltrow's wellness brand Goop has suggested some controversial healing methods in the past. From vaginal steaming to week-long raw goat milk detoxes, Goop readers may think they've heard it all. But The Goop Lab on Netflix is here to change that.
Paltrow's latest venture, which premiered on Netflix Friday, is six-episodes of experimentation in different corners of health and wellness. The first episode takes viewers inside an emotional healing journey when some Goop team members committed to trying magic mushrooms for the first time and were shocked by the emotional results.
Paltrow is far from the first to advocate for the use of hallucinogenics in healing trauma, opening one's mind and more. Some Goop employees claimed the trip, which was documented for the series, changed their lives.
So can you replicate the Goop experience for yourself? And what exactly are shrooms?
Magic mushrooms are a psychedelic drug that often causes hallucinations when ingested. The hallucinogenic is found in "psilocybin," a substance naturally occurring in a handful of mushroom varieties.
Similar to the expected trip from LSD, shrooms are said to prompt changes in the user's vision. This can include hallucinations of things that are not there, or it can simply obstruct how an object normally looks by adding shapes and movement.
While shrooms have historical roots in spiritual use, some argue they have the potential to aid healing from depression, anxiety, trauma and other mental health ailments. Here's Newsweek's guide to everything you need to know about shrooms and how to take them safely.
However, mushrooms are illegal throughout America. That means there's nowhere to buy them legally, or legally trip, even with a guide, as they did on The Goop Lab.
In 2019, Denver, Colorado and Oakland, California, became the only two cities in America to decriminalize the use of magic mushrooms. That doesn't mean they're legal; just that law enforcement funding will not prioritize punishment or investigation of those using them.
Jamaica may be the best bet for consumers looking for a fully-supported experience. Dozens of shroom guided retreats are offered on the island. The full-treatment locations give guided drug sessions, three meals a day, and even access to therapists on site. According to MycoMeditations, a full-service retreat, the goal is for participants to become happier people.
Other places in the world have legalized and decriminalized shrooms, but many in other countries the lines are still blurry. Brazil has legalized the use of shrooms, but there's a legal catch as the country considers psilocybin an illegal substance. However, there's no defined law against selling or consuming shrooms.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Kelly started a career in journalism after completing her education at The New School in New York City. She currently ... Read more
