Magic Mushrooms Species
If you are very familiar with the popular culture or conversations around natural health, you will understand that magic mushrooms are starting to make a comeback into conversations and discussions. Also known as the “favored resting stools of gnomes”, magic mushrooms are very popular for their psychedelic properties, among other health benefits. In this article, we will discuss the concept of magic mushrooms.
Before we start, it is important to note that ‘magic mushrooms are one of the numerous classes of mushrooms with psychedelic properties. There are mushrooms with magical or psychedelic properties.
The Origin of Magic Mushrooms
To review the history of magic mushrooms, we need to go back 6000 years ago to the ancient Aztec civilization. The people that existed in this time used magic mushrooms known as Psilocybin for numerous purposes. However, the knowledge about the use of magic mushrooms was not made public until Robert Wasson and Valentina Pavlovna Wasson, who were exploring Mexico to discover indigenous populations and their culture. The exploring couple, on this yearly expedition, discovered that the natives in Mexico used the plant for sacred rituals. While this couple made public the use of magic mushrooms in Europe, it was another European scientist, Albert Hoffmann, who discovered that the psychedelic properties in the mushroom are due to the presence of psilocybin.
Definition of Magic Mushrooms
The key and most active agent in the magic mushroom is the psilocybin and it can be defined as a naturally occurring psychedelic compound. It is popular for inducing increased introspection, intense emotional experiences, and altering the functioning of human psychology in form of a hypnagogic experience.
A hypnagogic experience can be described as the state of transition between sleep and wakefulness. Thus, magic mushrooms, due to the presence of psilocybin cause visionary illusions in form of changes in shapes, light, and sounds. When people use magic mushrooms, they experience intense feelings of emotions, a sense of openness, peace, and delight.
How Does Magic Mushrooms Affect the Body?
Magic mushrooms have been shown to help with anxiety and depression. These effects are in the face of a federal ban on mushrooms in the United States (although two states have decriminalized the use of the mushrooms). According to medical research, there are indications that magic mushrooms provide a short and long-term solution for cases of depression.
In the words of one of the researchers, the magic mushrooms shake up the brain in the same way that a snow globe does. This could lead to the rebooting of the brain, enabling new connections, and doing away with the connection that caused the depression.
Over the past few years, there has been an increase in the number of FDA-approved clinical trials for the use of magic mushrooms, and these tests are increasing the possibilities of decriminalizing the use of magic mushrooms in the United States.
Other Types of Magic Mushrooms
While Psilocybin has been the most popular form of magic mushrooms, other functional mushrooms have almost the same psychedelic properties that Psilocybin has. And what’s more, these functional mushrooms are legal and safe to use. This class of mushrooms does not only have psychedelic capabilities, they also contain naturally occurring bioactive substances such as beta-glucans and antioxidants that can fight off the effects of free radicals in the body.
These types of mushrooms are;
Reishi
Also known as the mushroom of immortality, this mushroom feature strong beta-glucans that enhance the functions of the immune system, as well as provide adaptogenic functions for the body.
Lion’s Mane
The alias for this mushroom is the smart mushroom and it is full of nutrients that positively affect the neurological and cognitive health of users. These nutrients include hericenones and ericinones.
Cordyceps
This mushroom is known to provide increased endurance, energy, performance, and vitality as well as stamina.
Maitake
This mushroom is known as the dancing mushroom and it contains a huge deposit of beta-glucans and useful minerals in the body. The beta-glucan compounds which include the 6 beta-D, 1, and 3/1 help with the support of the immune system while the available minerals include potassium, copper, and vitamins B and C.
Chaga
Chaga holds the nickname as the king of medicinal mushrooms. This nickname is not surprising as it is discovered that the mushroom contains nutrients such as amino acids, zinc, calcium, biotin, B-vitamins, vitamin D, potassium, and beta-glucans.
Turkey Tail
This mushroom contains prebiotics that aid digestion as well as gut movements. The mushroom also contains nutrients that play an important role in vitalizing the immune system.
These are some of the other types of magic mushrooms and as we have explained, they possess important health benefits. The good thing is that these mushrooms are been processed and made available in different forms, including capsules and powder.
These powders and capsules can be added to drinks and food and can also be taken individually as a supplement. By adding these mushrooms in their various forms into your foods and drinks, you add a new flavor as well as enjoy multiple nutrients.
Conclusion
While many of the other magic mushrooms highlighted in this article may not have as many psychedelic effects as psilocybin does, they sure contain numerous health benefits that will help your body remain healthy, fit, and in optimal working conditions.