Psilocybin Mushroom Revealed
Psilocybin(psilocybe cubensis)
The most common colloquial terms used for identifying psilocybin are magic mushrooms, psychedelic mushrooms, or shrooms. The usage of psychedelic mushrooms are well known through out human history, both theoretically and verifiable through archeological evidence. Depictions of mushrooms believed to be psilocybin show up in many rock paintings dating between the paleolithic and neolithic era. The Stoned Ape Theory was constructed by Terrence McKenna to hypothetically explain the evolutionary progression of primates into upright humanoids based on the dietary use of visionary plants, specifically psilocybe cubensis. This is a fairly well accepted concept in the field of ethnomycology and one I resonated with in contrast to the more religiously upheld doctrines of human evolutionary studies.
The study of medicinal mushrooms(reishi, chaga, cordyceps, shiiatake, etc.) brought forth by the leading herbal systems and publicly acknowledged by mycologist Paul Stamets has taught me the fungi kingdom seeks to pair up with other intelligent life forms, as a symbiotic host of sorts with the intention of transferring information in exchange for life hosting privileges (mushrooms growing on living trees for example). This leads me to consider all members of the fungi family deserve objective research and respect, especially those that alter our perceptual awareness.
The combined usage of magic mushrooms and cacao date back to pre-columbian Central America, and very likely much further than that, some say over 2,000 years ago. The most reputable documentations of this practice comes from Maya descendants known as the pochteca, considered to be merchants involved in cacao commerce. The psychedelic mushroom is known to native mexico as psilocybe mexicana. The Aztecs would have known it by the Nahuatl tongue as teonanacatl; teotl meaning “god” and nanacatl meaning “mushroom” or “gods flesh”. Indigenous Central American peoples who were reported to pair psilocybin mushroom and cacao were the Aztecs, Toltecs, Mixtecs, Zapotecs, Maya, and Olmecs. These are the quintessential cacao alchemists of the new world.
There is an estimated 200 species of mushrooms containing varying concentrations of the psilocybin molecule, most of which are found in Mexico. Psilocybin is the active alkaloid responsible for the mushrooms hallucinogenic effects. When ingested psilocybin is broken down into it’s direct metabolite psilocin creating a 2-6 hour altered experience. Psilocin is one octave away from DMT in it’s chemical effects in human physiology by acting on the brains serotonin receptors. In the last two decades a renewal of scientific research has been actively conducted on the treatment use of psilocybin for various conditions, most notably for individuals suffering from obsessive-compulsive-disorders(OCD) and anxiety related issues for those enduring cancer or other life threatening conditions. Clinics in Europe have used a form of psychotherapy called psycholytic therapy which includes the controlled use of psychedelic substances.
One of the methodologies the psychedelic community utilizes for psycho-naught exploration is magic mushrooms baked in chocolate. Raw food and super food enthusiasts that entertain psychedelic travels commonly administer mushroom via alchemical raw chocolate concoctions, sometimes mixed with tonic herbs for enhanced potency and modulation of effect.
