A bit of a Psilocybe story
Currently the genus psilocybe (Psilocybe) has about 20 species. Wherein American and Asian species are poorly studied. Species of this kind are cosmopolitan and widely distributed in almost all continents. Psilocybe mushrooms – saprotrophs. They settle on the soil, dead branches and stems of plants, found on sawdust, many live on sphagnum bogs, peat, manure. Found in the forest on the forest humus. A characteristic feature of many mushrooms is the habitat on boggy soil. Therefore, they belong to helophytic species.
They have a peculiar application. In some manuscripts XVI – XVII centuries., Which describes the disappeared Aztec culture, there is mention of Native American ritual rites in connection with which hallucinated mushrooms. Hallucinogenic the properties of some mushrooms were known to Mayan priests in ancient Mexico, who used them in religious ceremonies. These mushrooms have been consumed in Central America for a very long time. Indians consider them divine mushrooms. Even stone images found mushrooms revered by the Indians as deities.
However, they have a peculiar application. In some manuscripts XVI – XVII centuries., Which describes the disappeared Aztec culture, there is mention of Native American ritual rites in connection with which hallucinated mushrooms. Hallucinogenic the properties of some mushrooms were known to Mayan priests in ancient Mexico, who used them in religious ceremonies. These mushrooms have been consumed in Central America for a very long time. Indians consider them divine mushrooms. Even stone images found mushrooms revered by the Indians as deities. From mushrooms related to the genus psilocybe, a hallucinogenic substance was isolated, called psilocybin. This substance is currently abroad. synthesized and used to treat some mental diseases. However, the psilocybin substance becomes a very dangerous hallucinogenic agent if it is not used in medicinal purposes, without medical supervision.
To date, psilocybin is found in some fungi from the genera paneolus, stroparia, anellaria. TO hallucinogenic mushrooms now include about 25 species, of which 75% are members of the genus psilocybe, for example Psilocybe caerulescens, Psilocybe semilanceata, Psilocybe pelliculosa, Psilocybe cubensis. In addition to psilocybin in hallucinogenic mushrooms there is another substance with also a psychotropic effect, – psilocin, a close by structure to psilocybin. In the fungi of the genera of stropharia and psilocybe, as in the genus paneolus, indole derivatives are found (tryptamine, etc.), which have an anticoagulating effect on fibrinogen solutions.
