Mushroom Fungi Benefits and the History of Magic Mushrooms Fungi
Amateur microscopists interested in working with mushroom spores quickly find out that there’s a lot they need to learn about mushroom fungi benefits, particularly if the spores they want to work with are from psilocybin-containing species. The history of magic mushrooms and mushroom fungi is fascinating.
Fortunately, medicinal mushroom research has shown that mushroom spores do not contain psilocybin, no matter how potent the mature form of the fungi may be. This is the reasoning behind the fact that psilocybin mushroom spores are legal in all but three states in the USA currently. Learn about psychedelic mushroom spores legality in your state and about shrooms legal information, and about all aspects of psilocybe cubensis legality in the psilocybe cubensis mushroom classification.
There are mushroom supplements created from many different types of edible mushroom species and fungi with medicinal mushroom properties used in the field of mental health challenges and therapies. Edible mushrooms are beneficial due to containing valuable protein, fiber, antioxidants, and low calorie benefits.
Psilocybin is the focus of much interest in the history of mushrooms, and not just from folks looking for a natural pathway to spiritual awakening. Far from it, in fact in the history of fungi the compound of psilocybin as well as psilocin has attracted the attention of the scientific and medical communities, psychologists, therapists, and, of course, law enforcement.
Proponents of medicinal mushroom spores were recently vindicated in several groundbreaking ballot initiatives.
Questions on Mushroom Fungi Benefits and What is Fungi?
With all the talk about psilocybin and about various mushroom fungi benefits in the media lately, people have a lot of questions about fungi with medicinal properties and about whether fungi has importance in medicine. Are magic mushrooms safe and are there fungi benefits to humans? What is fungi? What are the different types of fungi species? Can the psilocybe cubensis mushrooms species help treat depression? What about PTSD? Addiction? Advocates of the compound would tell you that yes, it can do all of those things and more.
However, there’s one question that people never seem to ask. Why does psilocybin exist in the first place? Could it be for the use for magic mushrooms for the brain or for magic mushroom brain neuroplasty purposes?
Why Magic Mushrooms Are Magical for Humans
Scientists estimate that the different types of fungi species have been around on planet Earth for some 1.5 billion years or so. That’s roughly 5-10 times longer than us humans have been here… and that’s a long time.
Some mycologists even believe that mushrooms—including the kinds with psilocybin—may have had an integral part to play in our own evolution as humans. Notable proponents of the theory include its creator, the late, great psychedelic Guru Terence McKenna, and more recently, mycologist Paul Stamets.
Scientists also suspect that humans have been interacting with psychoactive mushroom strains for at least 11,000 years. This, no doubt, is because psilocybin has such a profound effect on us as people.
“Psychonauts” who have explored this state of consciousness report experiencing a feeling of oneness with the world and people around them, and many believe that psilocybin mushrooms can offer a spiritual experience. In other words, the mushroom has something to teach them. This is why popular psilocybin mushroom spore strains have names like Golden Teacher Mushrooms.
Psilocybin and Spirituality: What Does Psilocybin Do?
Interestingly, the reason psilocybin causes these spiritual experiences in humans isn’t fully understood. We know that as a compound, psilocybin is similar to serotonin, a neurotransmitter responsible for regulating our perception and emotional states.
Psilocybin activates serotonin receptors in the prefrontal cortex. Recent research published by Johns Hopkins suggests that psilocybin influences the claustrum, a poorly understood region of the brain scientists believe controls the ego and our sense of awareness.
There is also scientific study on the topic of using magic mushrooms for brain neuroplastity and for other psychedelic therapy purposes.
With as little as we know, one would be forgiven for putting on their metaphysical cap and asking if there’s more to it than meets the eye. After all, ancient Mesoamerican cultures referred to psilocybin mushrooms as the divine flesh or flesh of the gods, and in future posts on the The Psilocybe Philosophy we’ll explore the not-as-crazy-as-it-sounds theory that mushrooms might literally be aliens from outer space (seriously).
But aside from all this, the question still remains: what’s the benefit of containing psilocybin for the fungi itself? Like most other evolutionary traits, the reason psilocybin exists is for the survival of the magic mushroom species. And as we learned a moment ago, mushrooms have been here for a very long time indeed for plenty of time to perfect their methods of doing so.
Certain Species of Mushrooms Evolved to Contain Psilocybin For Their Own Survival
As it turns out, humans aren’t the only creatures that can be neurologically influenced by psilocybin—insects can too.
However, unlike us, insects don’t have a hallucinogenic response. Instead, they experience an appetite suppressing effect. If you’re a mushroom, that’s actually pretty convenient.
So, here’s how mycologists think it works: since psilocybin containing fungi in hallucinogenic mushrooms typically grow on things like mulch, decaying grass, leaves, and wood, and animal waste (feces), they have some competition for the nutrients in those places. Can you guess who?
Right, insects. Specifically, invertebrates that eat wood and plant life, and some that even like to eat mushrooms. Basically, bugs are just as much of a pest to mushrooms as they are to us, if not more so—the insects want to eat the same food the fungi wants, and in some cases, to eat the fungi itself.
Except when one of these insects consumes a portion of a psilocybin-containing mushroom, it’s likely to find itself feeling less hungry, because psilocybin can suppress the neurotransmitter responsible for hunger. Not only does the insect stop eating the mushroom, it’s no longer interested in eating the surrounding nutrients the fungi needs to survive.
Having said all this, there’s still some mystery to be found. We might understand why certain fungi contain psilocybin, the question still remains as to how so many species of fungi contain it. Scientists currently theorize that it must have to do with horizontal gene transfer between psilocybe cubensis mushroom species, even though this process is very uncommon.
There are still so many questions to be answered about psilocybin as a compound as well as psilocybin-containing fungi—which is why psilocybin mushroom spores are so fun to study for amateur microscopists.
Interested in Researching Psilocybin Mushroom Spores for Yourself? Here’s How to Get Started
If this post introduced more questions than answers, that’s because psilocybin research is still pretty much in its early stages. There are plenty of discoveries to be made, and a great way to start is by studying psilocybin mushroom spores.
If you’re interested in learning about becoming an amateur microscopist read our guide all about this fascinating hobby. You can also get started right away by browsing our wide selection of exotic mushroom spores in our psilocybe cubensis mushrooms spores store.