Emma Wilson
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin-containing mushrooms, are a type of hallucinogenic mushroom that contains the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion. They have been used by humans for thousands of years, with some of the earliest depictions of their use coming from a 4000 BCE cave painting in Spain and Stone Age rock art in Africa and Europe. In the 20th century, magic mushrooms were introduced to popular culture in the United States by Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert. Since then, they have been studied by researchers for their potential medicinal and therapeutic benefits, such as treating PTSD, depression, and anxiety.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common names | Magic mushrooms, Shrooms, Psilocybin mushrooms |
| Scientific name | Psilocybe |
| Species | P. azurescens, P. semilanceata, P. cyanescens, P. cubensis, P. mexicana, P. hispanica, P. maluti, P. ingeli |
| Active ingredient | Psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion |
| Other compounds | β-carbolines such as harmine, harmane, tetrahydroharmine (THH), and harmaline |
| History of use | Rock art from c. 9000–7000 BCE from Tassili, Algeria, is believed to depict psychedelic mushrooms. Prehistoric rock art near Villar del Humo in Spain suggests that Psilocybe hispanica was used in religious rituals 6,000 years ago. |
| Use in Mesoamerica | The native peoples of Mesoamerica have used psilocybin mushrooms for religious communion, divination, and healing, from pre-Columbian times to the present day. |
| Use in the United States | Magic mushrooms became popular in the United States in the 1960s. |
| Legality | Magic mushrooms were made illegal in the United States in 1970. In 2019, they were decriminalized in Denver, Colorado. |
| Medicinal uses | Research suggests that magic mushrooms may be able to treat conditions such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety. They may also help people quit smoking. |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Magic mushrooms in ancient art
The use of magic mushrooms dates back thousands of years, with evidence of their consumption by ancient peoples found in various forms of art and artefacts. Stone paintings suggest that the Saharan aboriginal tribes of North Africa may have been using mushrooms as far back as 9000 BC. Rock paintings in Spain, dating back around 6,000 years, indicate that the mushroom Psilocybe hispanica was used in religious rituals near Villar del Humo.
One of the oldest known cave paintings to feature mushrooms is an Algerian painting from around 4700 BC. This artwork depicts mushrooms merging with a human-like entity, with a body covered in a fractal-like pattern that may represent the effects of magic mushrooms. This interpretation was popularised by Terence McKenna in his 1992 book, "Food of the Gods".
The Tassili n'Ajjer site in Algeria, where the aforementioned cave painting was discovered, is believed to be the first site to contain representations of the genus Psilocybe. However, interpretations of these images remain disputed, with some suggesting they may represent sheep or arrowheads rather than mushrooms.
In East Asian art, the lingzhi mushroom, also known as the "divine mushroom", is a common motif. In ancient China, mushrooms were believed to bestow physical and spiritual strength, and they were often depicted in art and literature. Mountains were considered sacred sites, and consuming the mushrooms that grew on them was thought to lead to spiritual strength and even immortality.
Native American cultures, such as the Mayas and Aztecs, also incorporated mushrooms into their art and rituals. Statues and paintings indicate that they consumed psilocybin mushrooms, especially during religious rituals, as a way to communicate with deities.
Mushrooms: Uppers or Downers? The Surprising Truth
You may want to see also
Mesoamerican history
The use of hallucinogenic mushrooms in Mesoamerica dates back thousands of years. "Mushroom stones" discovered in Chiapas and Guatemala, as well as other archaeological evidence, suggest that the consumption of psychedelic mushrooms was a part of Mayan and Aztec cultures. These stones, often decorated with figures, are believed to be associated with religious rituals, human decapitation, warfare, and the Mesoamerican ball game. They are thought to be at least 3000 years old, with some dating back to 1000 BC.
The ancient peoples of Mesoamerica considered certain mushrooms sacred before they were later labelled as magic by Spanish colonizers in the 16th century. The Aztec name for these mushrooms, "teonanacatl", translates to "the flesh of God" in the Nahuatl language. The Maya also referred to these mushrooms as "k'aizalaj okox". The use of these mushrooms was documented by 16th-century chroniclers such as Fray Bernardino de Sahagún and Spanish vicar Diego Durán, who wrote about the Mexican psychedelic fungi ceremonies in honour of the gods.
The consumption of hallucinogenic mushrooms was often associated with religious and therapeutic rituals. They were used to induce altered states of consciousness, achieve intoxication, and facilitate communication with the spirit world. Other psychoactive substances were also used, such as peyote, the seeds of ololiuhqui, and the poison from the skin of the cane toad. The Maya also consumed wild tobacco by smoking it, making tea, and combining it with balché (a mixture of honey and extracts of Lonchocarpus) during group ceremonies.
The ritual use of hallucinogenic mushrooms continued among the Mazatecs into the 20th century. In the 1950s, three scientists, including Robert Gordon Wasson and Roger Heim, explored the Sierra Mazatec and discovered the continued use of these mushrooms among the Mazatec people. There, Wasson met the shaman María Sabina in the village of Huautla de Jímenez. Today, the consumption of hallucinogenic mushrooms still survives in small villages in the central highlands of Mexico, and they are being popularized and institutionalized amid a growing "shroom boom".
Mushrooms: An Asexual Wonder of Nature
You may want to see also
Medicinal uses
While mushrooms have been consumed and used for their hallucinogenic properties for centuries, they have also been used as medicine. Medicinal mushrooms are used to treat infections, lung diseases, and cancer. They have been approved as an addition to standard cancer treatments in Japan and China for over 30 years.
Mushrooms have been found to have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antidiabetic, cytotoxic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anticancer, antiallergic, antihyperlipidemic, and prebiotic properties. They are also a powerful source of ergothioneine, an amino acid and antioxidant that prevents or slows cellular damage.
In a study in Singapore, participants who ate more than two cups of mushrooms a week had a 50% lower risk of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which is often a precursor to Alzheimer's disease. Mushrooms are also being studied for their ability to affect the immune system and stop or slow the growth of tumors or kill tumor cells.
In 2018, researchers at Johns Hopkins University confirmed that magic mushrooms can be used medicinally to treat PTSD, depression, and anxiety. They can also help people quit smoking.
Portabella Mushrooms: Nutritional Powerhouses?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Legal status
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin mushrooms, are hallucinogenic mushrooms that contain the drug psilocybin. They are considered a recreational drug and have been used for centuries in various cultures for religious, divinatory, spiritual, and healing purposes.
The legal status of psilocybin mushrooms varies internationally and is subject to change over time. Currently, in the United States, psilocybin mushrooms are listed as a Schedule I controlled substance, meaning they have no accepted medical use. This classification was established in 1970 when magic mushrooms were officially made illegal in the country. However, there have been recent efforts to decriminalize and legalize their use due to their potential medicinal benefits. For example, in 2018, researchers at Johns Hopkins University confirmed that psilocybin mushrooms could be used medicinally to treat PTSD, depression, and anxiety. As a result, in 2019, Denver, Colorado, took a significant step by decriminalizing magic mushrooms, removing the possibility of jail time for possession, though they remain illegal under state and federal law.
In other parts of the world, the legal status of psilocybin mushrooms differs. For instance, some jurisdictions allow the purchase of psilocybin-containing mushrooms and products at specialised shops, such as psychedelic mushroom stores. It is important to note that the legality of these substances can vary across regions within a country, and it is the responsibility of individuals to stay informed about the specific laws in their area.
The history of psilocybin mushroom use in the United States is worth noting. In the 1960s, they gained popularity due to their perceived healing properties and medical applications. Timothy Leary, a counterculture and psychedelia icon, played a significant role in introducing magic mushrooms to popular culture. After reading an article about R. Gordon Wasson's experience with magic mushrooms in Mexico, Leary became interested and decided to try them himself. He then started the Harvard Psilocybin Project to conduct experiments based on psychedelic drugs, believing they could lead to a higher state of consciousness. This led to the "hippie movement" of the 1960s, which further popularised the use of magic mushrooms. Despite the historical and cultural significance of psilocybin mushrooms and ongoing research into their potential benefits, their legal status remains complex and evolving.
Amanita Mushrooms: Safe or Not?
You may want to see also
Evolution of psilocybin
Psilocybin is an indole-based secondary metabolite produced by numerous species of mushrooms. It is the prodrug found in psilocybin mushrooms that, when ingested, turns into the psychedelic psilocin. The hallucinogenic species of the Psilocybe genus have a long history of use among the native peoples of Mesoamerica for religious communion, divination, and healing.
Ancient History
The use of psilocybin mushrooms may date back to prehistoric times, as suggested by Stone Age rock art in Africa and Europe, and archaeological evidence of mushrooms used "spiritually" as early as 10,000 BCE. In a North African cave painting from around 9,000 BCE, there is a depiction of what appears to be Psilocybe hispanica, a hallucinogenic mushroom species. Similarly, rock art from Tassili, Algeria, dating to around 9000-7000 BCE, is believed to depict psychedelic mushrooms and the transformation of the user under their influence.
Mesoamerican History
In Mesoamerica, psilocybin mushrooms were consumed in spiritual and divinatory ceremonies long before their use was first documented by Spanish chroniclers in the 16th century. The South American Aztec Indians referred to these mushrooms as "teonanacatl," meaning "god's flesh," and they were used in religious and healing rituals. Bernardino de Sahagún reported the ritualistic use of teonanácatl by the Aztecs when he travelled to Central America after the expedition of Hernán Cortés. A Psilocybe species, known as teōnanācatl by the Aztecs, was reportedly served at the coronation of the Aztec ruler Moctezuma II in 1502.
Modern History
In 1957, R. Gordon Wasson, a successful banker and fan of magic mushrooms, travelled to Mexico and participated in a Mazatec ceremony featuring 'shrooms. He wrote about his experience in Life magazine, in an article titled "Seeking the Magic Mushroom," which is credited with popularizing magic mushrooms in the Western world. Around the same time, Swiss scientist Albert Hofmann became the first person to extract and isolate psilocybin from the mushrooms. Hofmann's employer, Sandoz, marketed and sold pure psilocybin to physicians and clinicians worldwide for use in psychedelic therapy.
Contemporary Times
In the 1960s and 1970s, increasingly restrictive drug laws curbed scientific research into the effects of psilocybin. However, its popularity as an entheogen grew in the following decades due to increased access to information on cultivating psilocybin mushrooms. In 1976, writer and ethnobotanist Terence McKenna's book, "Psilocybin: Magic Mushroom Grower's Guide," further contributed to the popularity of 'shrooms. Today, psilocybin is primarily used recreationally, spiritually, and medically. It is being studied as a potential treatment for various psychiatric disorders, and has been approved for treating treatment-resistant depression in Australia.
Mushrooms: Hydrating the World
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin mushrooms, have been known to ancient cultures, including the Aztecs, the Ancient Greeks, the Mayans, and the Vikings. Rock art from c. 9000–7000 BCE from Tassili, Algeria, is believed to depict psychedelic mushrooms. However, R. Gordon Wasson is credited with naming magic mushrooms and making folks more aware of them after participating in a magic mushroom ceremony in Southern Mexico in 1957.
Psilocybin mushrooms 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.
Neurotoxicity-induced fatal events are uncommon with psilocybin mushroom overdose. However, fatal events related to emotional distress and trip-induced psychosis can occur as a result of over-consumption of psilocybin mushrooms.
Yes, the most potent species are members of the genus Psilocybe, such as P. azurescens, P. semilanceata, and P. cyanescens. However, psilocybin has also been isolated from approximately a dozen other genera, including Panaeolus (including Copelandia), Inocybe, Pluteus, Gymnopilus, and Pholiotina.
In 2018, researchers at Johns Hopkins University confirmed that magic mushrooms could be used medicinally to treat things like PTSD, depression, and anxiety. However, magic mushrooms are listed as a Schedule I controlled substance by the U.S. government, meaning they have no accepted medical use.
