Laura Smith
Mushrooms are a type of fungus that grows in a wide range of environments, including the wild and cultivated settings. They have been used by humans for thousands of years for various purposes, including food, medicine, and recreational drugs. Mushrooms are also used for dyeing textiles and creating spiritual art. Some mushrooms, such as psilocybin mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms or shrooms, contain the psychedelic compound psilocybin, which can induce hallucinations and altered states of consciousness. While some people use psilocybin mushrooms for recreational purposes, they have also been traditionally used by indigenous peoples for spiritual and medicinal purposes. The natural occurrence and growth of psilocybin mushrooms have played a role in the movement to decriminalize and normalize psychedelic therapy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Mushrooms are the fruit bodies of members of the order Agaricales. |
| Types | Typical mushrooms, Psilocybin mushrooms (magic mushrooms), and psychedelic mushrooms. |
| Uses | Mushrooms are used extensively in cooking, in many cuisines (notably Chinese, Korean, European, and Japanese). They are also used in folk medicine, as dyes for wool and other natural fibers, and as recreational drugs. |
| Health Risks | Poisoning, nausea, nervousness, paranoia, muscle spasms, confusion, delirium, disturbing hallucinations, anxiety, panic, and psychosis. |
| Health Benefits | Vitamin D content, treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder, reduction of cluster and migraine headaches, facilitation of profound and life-changing insights, and spiritual experiences. |
| Natural Occurrence | Mushrooms are naturally occurring and grow in the wild. They can be found in the San Francisco Bay Area, along the Pacific Coast, and in urban and peri-urban areas. |
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What You'll Learn
- Mushrooms are used in folk medicine and as a recreational drug
- Mushrooms are used for dyeing wool and other natural fibres
- Mushrooms are used extensively in cooking, in many cuisines
- Mushrooms are used in religious, spiritual, and medicinal contexts
- Mushrooms can be poisonous and cause mushroom poisoning
Mushrooms are used in folk medicine and as a recreational drug
Mushrooms are used extensively in cooking, featuring in many cuisines, including Chinese, Korean, European, and Japanese food. They are also used in folk medicine and as a recreational drug.
Some mushrooms, such as Psilocybe cubensis, contain the hallucinogenic chemical psilocybin, which is broken down by the liver into psilocin, the compound responsible for the psychedelic effects. These mushrooms are commonly known as "magic mushrooms" or "shrooms". They have been used in Mexican and Central American cultures in religious, divinatory, or spiritual contexts, with evidence of their use in prehistoric rock art near Villar del Humo in Spain, and in Stone Age rock art in Africa and Europe.
Psilocybin mushrooms are used as a recreational drug and are available in smart shops in many parts of the world or on the black market in countries where their sale is outlawed. They can induce euphoria, hallucinations, and sensory distortion, and are also being studied for their potential to treat mental illnesses, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addiction, pain, and neurodegenerative disorders. However, they can also cause negative side effects such as nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, drowsiness, lack of coordination, anxiety, panic, and disturbing hallucinations.
In terms of folk medicine, some mushrooms or their extracts are consumed for their therapeutic effects, although they are generally considered dietary supplements rather than prescription drugs due to a lack of clinical evidence for their efficacy and safety. For example, Inonotus obliquus was used in folk medicine for tumor treatment in Russia and Northern Europe during the 16th century, and some mushroom extracts, such as polysaccharide-K and schizophyllan, are government-registered adjuvant cancer therapies in a few countries. Additionally, minute amounts of psilocybin have been reported to stop cluster and migraine headaches, and it is being studied for its ability to help people with psychological disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder.
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Mushrooms are used for dyeing wool and other natural fibres
Mushrooms are the fruit bodies of members of the order Agaricales, whose type genus is Agaricus, and type species is the field mushroom, Agaricus campestris. They have been used for dyeing wool and other natural fibres for centuries. In her book, Natural Dyes, Sources, Tradition, Technology and Science, Dominique Cardon traces the use of mushrooms for dyeing back to the 15th century.
Mushrooms produce strong and vivid colours, and all colours of the spectrum can be achieved with mushroom dyes. Before the invention of synthetic dyes, mushrooms were the primary source of textile dyes. The chromophores of mushroom dyes are organic compounds. The most important feature for the identification of mushrooms for dyeing is their spores—their colour, shape, size, attachment, ornamentation, and reaction to chemical tests.
Fibres that can be dyed with mushrooms include wool, silk, cellulose fibres such as cotton, linen, and hemp, and other natural fibres. When dyeing wool, it is important to soak it in lukewarm water for at least one hour before adding it to the dye bath. The temperature of the wool when added to the dye bath should be the same as the temperature of the bath. The bath and wool should then be slowly brought up to 170–180 degrees Fahrenheit and held for one hour. Silk should be dyed at a lower temperature, and some mushrooms, such as toothed fungi, lose their colour at temperatures above 170 degrees Fahrenheit.
Mordanting is an important step in the dyeing process, as it allows the colour from the mushroom dye to bind with the material. Common mordants include aluminium potassium sulfate, aluminium acetate, iron, copper, and alum. The mordant used can also affect the colour of the dyed fibre. For example, alum mordant will make the brightest, clearest colours, while iron will darken or dull the colours, and copper will shift the colours towards blue and green.
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Mushrooms are used extensively in cooking, in many cuisines
Mushrooms are used extensively in cooking, featuring in many different cuisines. They are popular worldwide due to their versatility and meat-like texture. They can be used in anything from soups and stews to stir-fries and salads.
White button mushrooms, criminis, and portobellos are all the same variety of mushroom. They are the most common mushroom variety found in grocery stores and are very versatile. They can be eaten raw or cooked and are great stuffed, sautéed, or on pizzas and quesadillas.
Chanterelles are another popular species of mushroom, known for their trumpet-like shape and apricot-like scent. They are commonly used in European cuisines, including French and Austrian. However, they are difficult to cultivate, so they are usually foraged in the wild.
King oyster mushrooms, also known as "king trumpet," are a different species from regular oyster mushrooms. They have a meaty texture and an earthy flavor and are perfect for grilling, sautéing, or roasting. They are very popular in Italy and France.
Enoki mushrooms are popular in Japanese, Korean, and Chinese cuisines. They have long stems, small caps, a chewy texture, and a mild flavor. They can be eaten raw or cooked and are often used in soups, stews, stir-fries, and salads.
Wood ear mushrooms, named for their resemblance to an ear, are popular in Chinese cuisine. Black trumpet mushrooms, named for their distinctive color and shape, are cone-shaped with hollow stems and can be black, gray, or tan.
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Mushrooms are used in religious, spiritual, and medicinal contexts
Mushrooms are a type of fungus that has been consumed by humans for thousands of years. They are used extensively in cooking, featuring heavily in Chinese, Korean, European, and Japanese cuisines. They are also used in religious, spiritual, and medicinal contexts.
Psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as "magic mushrooms" or "shrooms", are hallucinogenic and have been used in Mexican and Central American cultures in religious, divinatory, or spiritual contexts. They are also used in contemporary religions as a sacrament. Archaeological evidence suggests that the ritual use of psilocybin mushrooms dates back 6,000 years, with rock art from c. 9000–7000 BCE in Algeria believed to depict psychedelic mushrooms. In addition, psilocybin mushrooms feature in pre-Columbian sculptures and glyphs seen throughout the Americas.
Psilocybin and its counterpart, psilocin, are chemical compounds that are thought to have the potential to treat depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and addiction. They can also be beneficial in palliative care. When ingested, psilocybin is broken down by the liver and converted into psilocin, which is responsible for the psychedelic effects. These effects include hallucinations, hilarity, lack of concentration, muscular relaxation, and an inability to discern fantasy from reality.
In addition to their spiritual and medicinal uses, mushrooms are also used for their health benefits. They are a source of vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium to maintain and build strong bones. Mushrooms are also low in sodium, which can help lower blood pressure. They are a powerful source of ergothioneine, an amino acid and antioxidant that prevents or slows cellular damage. Research has shown that eating just 18 grams of mushrooms per day may lower the risk of cancer by up to 45%.
Medicinal mushrooms have been found to have a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antidiabetic, cytotoxic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anticancer, antiallergic, antihyperlipidemic, and prebiotic properties. They are also used in folk medicine, with some mushroom extracts registered as adjuvant cancer therapies in several countries.
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Mushrooms can be poisonous and cause mushroom poisoning
Mushrooms are a type of fungus that can be found growing in the wild. While some mushrooms are edible, others are poisonous and can cause mushroom poisoning if ingested. Mushroom poisoning occurs when someone ingests a mushroom that contains toxic substances. While the majority of mushroom poisonings are not fatal, they can cause a range of symptoms, from slight gastrointestinal discomfort to organ failure and death. The most common symptom of mushroom poisoning is gastrointestinal upset, including vomiting and diarrhea, which can sometimes require urgent medical care. Other symptoms may include abdominal pain, nausea, headaches, vertigo, palpitations, and cramping.
The toxins found in poisonous mushrooms can vary in terms of toxicity and the specific effects they have on the body. Some recognized mushroom toxins include α-amanitin, amatoxin, psilocybin, muscarine, coprine, allenic norleucine, and gyromitrin. Amatoxins are thermostable toxins found in the deadly Amanita species, including the death cap mushroom (Amanita phalloides), which can cause liver and kidney failure and even death within 48 hours of ingestion. Other mushrooms that have similar effects to the death cap include some species of Galerina, Lepiota, and Conocybe.
Mushroom poisoning can occur due to the misidentification of a poisonous mushroom as an edible species, often due to their close resemblance in terms of color and general morphology. To prevent mushroom poisoning, it is important to familiarize oneself with both edible and toxic mushroom species before consuming wild mushrooms. It is recommended to only eat mushrooms purchased from a reputable source, such as a supermarket or greengrocer, unless one is an expert in mushroom identification. If mushroom poisoning is suspected, it is important to seek medical attention immediately, even if symptoms have not yet appeared. In Australia, people can contact the Victorian Poisons Information Centre for advice and mushroom identification.
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Frequently asked questions
Psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms or shrooms, are a type of hallucinogenic mushroom and a polyphyletic informal group of fungi that contain the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion.
Yes, psilocybin mushrooms are naturally occurring organisms. They can be found growing wild in the San Francisco Bay Area and along the Pacific coast. They have been used for thousands of years for spiritual and medicinal purposes.
The effects of magic mushrooms vary from person to person and can range from euphoria, hallucinations, and sensory distortion to anxiety, paranoia, and nausea. The effects usually occur within 30 minutes of ingestion and can last between four to six hours.
No, magic mushrooms are not a harmless high. While they are not considered physically addictive, they can cause disturbing hallucinations, anxiety, and panic. There is also a risk of poisoning if the wrong type of mushroom is consumed.
