A glance at the mushroom handbook is likely to reveal a section on 'hallucinogenic mushrooms', which describes mushrooms that contain psychedelic substances in their fruiting bodies. The most common of these are psilocin and psilocybin, which alter consciousness and the perception of reality. Psilocybin mushrooms were widely used by sorcerers and shamans in ancient times, and in our short article we'll look at some of these mushrooms, as well as their danger to human life and health.
Into the depths of centuries.
Archaeological excavations confirm that mushrooms with "magical", truly "magical" properties were known to mankind in ancient times.
They were actively used by nomadic peoples for religious rituals, as well as for initiation to enter a trance. The Vikings used them to get closer to the gods.
They were also known to the Indian tribes of pre-Columbian America. Drawings of hallucinogenic mushrooms were found in Africa, and murals of "mushroom trees" were found in early Christian churches in the Middle East and Europe.
It was not until the twentieth century that a specific chemical substance was isolated from the mushrooms, called psilocybin.
Interesting facts
Indian shamans kept the magical properties of these mushrooms secret from Europeans for a long time, and it was not until the mid-20th century that Valentina and Robert Watson became the first Europeans to take part in a shamanic ritual.
In the 1960s, volunteers who had never used psilocybin-containing mushrooms took part in an unusual experiment in the United States. They later said they had the most intense experiences and emotions of their lives.
The substance greatly expands consciousness, but how this happens is still unknown to scientists. In the late 1960s, programmes were cut back and it wasn't until the early 21st century that scientists began to study psilocybin and its mysterious properties again.
How it works
When you eat mushrooms containing psilocybin, there comes the effect of stupefying the mind, a person enters a state called in science psychedelia or trip.
Uncontrolled consumption of these mushrooms can cause irreversible changes in the human body and, above all, in the psyche.
Euphoria, more like schizophrenia, occurs within 15 minutes of consuming mushrooms. A person begins to have a strong tremor, a person begins to feel anxiety. There is a distortion of sound, vision and temporal and spatial perception.
The effects last for 5-7 hours.
A little chemistry.
It's time to find out what this substance is chemically. Well, psilocybin is an alkaloid of the tryptamine family. The substance found in mushrooms is a compound based on the chemical structure of the amino acid tryptophan.
Its effect on the human body is similar to that of dimethyltryptamine, which is produced endogenously in humans. Hallucinogens are not highly toxic, so many mushrooms are not fatally poisonous, but have an effect on the human psyche.
Types of mushrooms
Let's take a look at some of the mushrooms with such extraordinary properties.
Psilocybe mexicana
The Aztecs, who used this mushroom extensively in religious ceremonies and rituals, called it theonanacatl, which literally means "flesh of the god".
The small convex cap grows from 1 to 3 cm on a thin stem. Occurs in pine and oak woods, choosing mossy places. It can colonise meadows, clearings and horse pastures.
Panaeolus cyanescens
The cap mushroom is not consumed as its body contains hallucinogenic substances. Actively fruiting during the period from June to October.
On the territory of Russia grows in the Far East. It grows in meadows and pastures abundantly fertilized by animals, as a large amount of manure is necessary for their development.
It is considered one of the most powerful psychedelics, so it is better to avoid it. Although some peoples, after a long boil eat them.
By the way, on TopCafe there is a very interesting article about the most bizarre and rare mushrooms of our planet.
Psilocybe bohemica
This mushroom has a brittle bell-shaped cap that grows to 4 cm in size. The stalk is thin and the color varies from cream-colored to light ochre, reddish.
They settle on rotting branches in pine and deciduous forests. It is not recommended for consumption as it causes severe hallucinations.
Already in 15 minutes after use a person begins the strongest attack of panic, fainting, loss of coordination. Prolonged use leads to personality degradation and brain cell death.
Troischling semicircular / Stropharia semiglobata
The second name of this mushroom is Stropharia semiglobata, and already these two names have a deterrent effect.
The cap is spherical in shape, reaching a diameter of 1-3 cm. It is easy to recognize them by their distinctive bright yellow color. The stem is thin, often uneven and has a barely discernible ring.
Grows in moist fertilized places, and sometimes directly on manure. Not much in the way of toxins, but not recommended for consumption, as the mushroom can be harmful to health.
Psilocybe cyanescens
This small mushroom, barely visible in the grass, has in its fruiting body of substances that affect the psyche.
These mushrooms settle in damp places on forest edges, pastures and meadows, usually not far from roads. They bear fruit in the fall and in small groups, joining together by their stems.
They are listed as poisonous because they contain toxins. Consumption of these mushrooms in food impairs auditory and visual perception. Immediately after ingestion one suffers from chills and stomach pains.
Sulfur Head / Hyphaloma cyanescens
This tiny mushroom, which cap is no more than 25 mm in diameter, when used, changes the human consciousness, and its effect is compared with the strongest drug LSD,
It grows on trunks of fallen trees, rotting branches, and among damp grass. The cap is yellowish in color, but in rainy weather takes on a characteristic chestnut color.
The mushroom is very toxic and therefore classified as poisonous. In addition, it causes the strongest hallucinations, mental changes, and the person simply loses touch with reality.
Psilocybe aeruginosa (a copperhead mushroom).
This hallucinogenic mushroom of the Stropharius family is also called Psilocybe aeruginosa, after the substance it contains.
It has a small hallucinogenic effect, but it is not forbidden to eat because it can have a detrimental effect on the human subconscious.
It grows in damp places on the edges of forest roads, and therefore often come across by the eyes of mushroom hunters. It has a characteristic greenish color, and the body of the mushroom turns pale with age.
Panaeolus papilionaceus
This bell-shaped mushroom grows on decomposed grass and pastures. Most often settles in groups directly on horse or cow manure.
The cap is up to 4 cm in diameter and olive-brown in color. The stalk is thin, and slightly lighter in color than the cap and plates. The plates attach to the stalk, but sometimes separate and grow freely.
It is easy to distinguish among its congeners, as the common dung beetles are slightly larger than the paneolus moth.
Psilocybe Montana / Deconica montana
Produces psychoactive mushroom among thickets of ferns, on mosses and lichens. Occurs high above sea level, because of which has a second name - Psilocybe mountain.
Its cap is semicircular and elongated, and grows to 2.5 cm in diameter, but the stalk is thin, 7-8 cm. Grows in small groups, and bears fruit from midsummer to early December.
It has a strong hallucinogenic property, and during medical experiments, most people tested simply could not describe their sensations. People lost complete connection with the real world.
Application and legal status
Some countries have lifted the ban on scientific research in recent decades. For example, medics have proven that psilocybin extracted from mushrooms can be used in the treatment of depression. Such patients get rid of anxiety, mental disorders. That is, it turns out that in a healthy person, when used, the opposite effect is observed, but people with mental disorders, on the contrary, are cured.
In experiments, it was found that its use reduces fear, and it is used to improve the quality of life of cancer patients in the last stages of the disease. It is used to treat severe headaches and to prevent alcoholism.