Psychedelic mushroom
Magic mushrooms or psychedelic mushrooms or Psilocybin mushrooms contain the alkaloid psilocybin, or similar substances.[1]
Psilocybin is a mind-altering chemical. It changes the brain to an altered state of mind, or a different state of consciousness. This can lead to effects like hallucinations or visions. They may be used for medical purposes to treat cluster headaches,[2] obsessive-compulsive disorder,[3] and certain kinds of depression.[4]
Psilocybe semilanceata is the classic example of a magic mushroom, but there are quite a few others. These fungi also have some species with psilocybin: Copelandia, Gymnopilus, Inocybe, Mycena, Panaeolus, Pholiotina, Pluteus.
Psilocybin can kill in extremely high doses. The LD50 of psilocybin is 280 mg/kg for rats, this is about 1.5 times that of caffeine. In normal psychedelic mushrooms, psilocybin makes up about 1% of their weight. Therefore, nearly 1.7 kilograms of dried mushrooms, or 17 kilograms of fresh mushrooms, would be required for a 60 kg person to reach the 280 mg/kg LD50 rate of rats.
Psilocybin mushrooms have probably been used since prehistoric times. They may be seen in rock art.[5] Many cultures have used these mushrooms in religious rites. Psychedelic mushrooms have been used by native peoples of Mesoamerica for religious communion and healing. Catholic missionaries were against the use of magic mushrooms. In Modern society, they are sometimes used recreationally. Their medical use in psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy is studied,[6][7] for example, in the treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer,[8] the treatment of depression[9][10] and to help quit smoking.[11]
The function of compounds like this in nature is they reduce the likelihood of the mushroom being eaten before its spores have been scattered. It is a defence against herbivory.
Psychedelic Mushroom Media
- Sparrige Schüppling (Pholiota squarrosa).jpg
Pholiota squarrosa growing at the base of a tree
Amanita muscaria, the most easily recognised "toadstool", is frequently depicted in fairy stories and on greeting cards. It is often associated with gnomes.
Morphological characteristics of the caps of mushrooms
A mushroom (probably Russula brevipes) parasitized by Hypomyces lactifluorum resulting in a "lobster mushroom"
- Amanita stirps Hemibapha 45069.jpg
Amanita jacksonii buttons emerging from their universal veils
- Lactarius indigo 48568.jpg
The blue gills of Lactarius indigo, a milk-cap mushroom
- Lycoperdon perlatum, Common Puffball, UK , 2.jpg
Lycoperdon perlatum (the "common puffball") has a glebal hymenium; when young, the interior is white, but it becomes brown containing powdery spores as the fungus matures.
- Morelasci.jpg
Morchella elata asci viewed with phase contrast microscopy
- Growing oyster mushrooms - timelapse.webm
Timelapse of oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) growing on a Petri dish
- ChampignonMushroom.jpg
Agaricus bisporus, one of the most widely cultivated and consumed mushrooms
References
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- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities at line 38: bad argument #1 to 'ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ "FDA approves magic mushrooms depression drug trial" (in en). Newsweek. 2018-08-23. https://www.newsweek.com/fda-approves-psychedelic-magic-mushrooms-ingredient-psilocybin-depression-1086759. Retrieved 2018-09-24.
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities at line 38: bad argument #1 to 'ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities at line 38: bad argument #1 to 'ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ (in en-US) The New Science of Psychedelics. https://michaelpollan.com/articles-archive/the-new-science-of-psychedelics/. Retrieved 2018-09-30.
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities at line 38: bad argument #1 to 'ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities at line 38: bad argument #1 to 'ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities at line 38: bad argument #1 to 'ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ "Hallucinogen in 'magic mushrooms' helps longtime smokers quit in Hopkins trial" (in en). The Hub. 2014-09-11. https://hub.jhu.edu/2014/09/11/magic-mushrooms-smoking/. Retrieved 2018-09-30.