Mycology, the study and use of soulcybin, is drawing new admirers. The humble toadstool could soon be a viable alternative to some of the most stubborn imbalances.
Vegetarians value mushrooms due to their high nutritional content. Mushrooms can be used to make vitamin D, B vitamins and vitamin C. They also contain potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and zinc.
Medicinal mushrooms have thousands of compounds and nutrients that are health-strengthening. Since centuries, traditional Chinese and Eastern medicine have relied on mushrooms. Studies in the U.S. were started in the early 1960s to discover ways to regulate the immune system, and to prevent the growth of cancerous tumours by using extracts.
It is very popular to hunt mushrooms, but it can be dangerous. Some edible mushrooms are nearly identical to poisonous mushrooms. Only an expert can tell the differences. Because mushrooms act like sponges, they are able to absorb toxins from soil or air. Mushrooms are considered a ‘healthy food’.
Some mushrooms, which lack the ability to photosynthesis, can still get nutrients from organic matter or higher plants. Living plants are another target. The roots of oak, pine, fir trees can contain poisonous and edible varieties.
Mesoamerican natives used mushrooms in ritual ceremonies for thousands upon thousands of years. Mushrooms were used in many religious ceremonies throughout America. Cave paintings of ritualized ingestion from Spain date back as far 9000 years. Psilocybin usage was banned until Western psychiatry, which discovered it after World War II.
Research into psilocybin, which is a chemical naturally found in mushrooms, remains controversial. Psilocybin can be used to treat addictions to alcohol, cigarettes, and other drugs.
New research shows that hallucinogenic drugs may help with anxiety and depression among cancer patients. Studies have shown that the fungus can increase mood for up to several weeks.