Hallucinogenic mushrooms are known on all continents. Historically, they are part of the culture of mankind since ancient times, being introduced in semi-religious rituals even before 1500 BC. In 1957, Albert Hofmann (the discoverer of LSD), isolated and identified psilocybin and psilocin in his laboratory, in Switzerland. The medicinal use of mushrooms of the genus Psilocybe dates back to the Indians of Central America, before history was accurately recorded. Shamans used to ingest these “sacred mushrooms” to achieve extrasensory perception effects that helped them better appreciate the problems in their society. The observed psychoactive effects, induced by the alkaloids present in these mushrooms, have led to medical research in the field of psychiatry.
The most well-known species belong to the genera Psilocybe, Stropharia and Conocybe.
- Guzman, J. Allen and J. Gartz list 216 hallucinogenic mushrooms that exist in nature.
Are you asking yourself where do mushroom spores come from naturally? Mexico and Central America are the cradle of “mystical-religious cultures” that involve the use (and consumption) in rituals of mushrooms of the genus “Psilocybe”. Mexican P. (holy mushroom, divine fungus, meat of the gods) grows in Mexico and Guatemala, but there are many other magic mushroom species that grow on different types of soils, in various areas of the world (Europe, America, Australia, Africa). There are over 140 species from the genus Psilocybe that have been identified, of which 80 contain psychotropic principles.