"The Mystery In The Magic"

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The mushrooms described as ‘magic mushrooms’, or psychedelic mushrooms, are from several branches of the fungi kingdom’s family tree. The effects they have when consumed are due to naturally produced psychoactive compounds that interact with the brain’s serotonin system. 

 

Numerous psychoactive compounds are produced by various mushrooms. However, the most common compounds that are used by humans presently are psilocybin and psilocin. Psilocybin is  a chemical precursor to psilocin which gets converted to psilocin inside the body when consumed. It is psilocin which has a psychoactive effect. 

 

Over 200 species of mushrooms have been reported to contain psilocybin. The majority are from a genus Psilocybe. The most commonly cultivated species are also from this genus

 

Psychedelic mushrooms gained negative stigma in the mid 20th century due to  increased recreational use and association with a prominent counter culture movement at the time. This led to government restrictions being imposed in some countries. The legal restrictions impacted research into the medical and therapeutic use of psychedelic mushrooms in mental health. Nonetheless research was continued at private labs and universities. Between 1970 and 1990 more than 300 medical research papers were published each year looking into the health benefits of psychedelic compounds including psilocybin.

 

In the latter part of the 20th century there was renewed interest and research into the use of psilocybin. Studies have shown that psilocybin can occasion mystical experiences that have  positive effects on mood, attitude and behavior. One study reported that an advantage of psilocybin over other synthetic medications is that it helped persons move from disconnection from themselves, the world and others to a state of connection, and that it helped persons to stop avoiding perceived problems and move to being more accepting of their circumstances. These effects help persons address the causes of mental ailments as opposed to other medicines that only treat symptoms. Other studies reported specific benefits with regard to  therapeutic application in the treatment of various mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety and addiction. 

 

Ongoing research is shedding light on the importance of putting continued focus on the potential medical and therapeutic uses of the natural compounds produced by psychedelic mushrooms. Much still needs to be done to raise awareness of their health benefits and to break through the stigma associated with these fantastic fungi. 

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Schneider, J. Zelner, B. Beltran, K. The Role of Psychedelics in Medicine: Historical Context and Current Clinical Applications. White Paper, Avalon Health Economics, Morrisontown, NJ (2021)

 

Rosalind Watts et al., "Patients’ Accounts of Increased “Connectedness” and “Acceptance” After

Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression," Journal of Humanistic Psychology 57, no. 5 (2017).

R. R. Griffiths et al., "Psilocybin occasioned mystical-type experiences: immediate and

persisting dose-related effects," Psychopharmacology (Berl) 218, no. 4 (2011).

Psychiatric symptoms are associated with dose, environment, previous hallucinogenic experiences, emotions and personality 

 

Beug, M.W.; Bigwood, J. Quantitive analysis of psilocybin and psilocin in Psilocybe baeocystis by HPLC and TLC. J. Chromatogr. 1981, 207, 379–385.

 

Griffiths, R.R. Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance. Psychopharmacology 2006, 187, 268–283.

 

Hajicek-Dobberstein, S. Soma siddhas and alchemical enlightenment: psychedelic mushrooms in Buddhist tradition. Journal of Ethnopharmacology Volume 48, Issue 2, October 1995, Pages 99-118

 

Ibid.; F. X. Vollenweider and M. Kometer, "The neurobiology of psychedelic drugs: implications for the

treatment of mood disorders," Nat Rev Neurosci 11, no. 9 (2010); J. W. Muschamp et al., "Lysergic acid

diethylamide and [-]-2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine increase extracellular glutamate in rat

prefrontal cortex," Brain Res 1023, no. 1 (2004)