If you’ve been following along, you know we don’t just skim the surface—we dig deep into the dirt yogurt. This week, my co-host, Dr. Marcel Green, and I took on one of our favorite topics: psychedelic mushrooms. From their ancient history to their modern resurgence, we explored what makes these fungi so fascinating.
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A History Rooted in Rituals and Science
Psychedelic mushrooms, also known as psilocybin mushrooms, have been around for thousands of years. Indigenous cultures in Mesoamerica, particularly the Aztecs, referred to them as teonanácatl, meaning “flesh of the gods.” Spanish missionaries recorded their ritualistic use as far back as the 1500s, but, like most things that didn’t fit into colonial narratives, they were suppressed.
Fast forward to the 1950s, when amateur mycologist R. Gordon Wasson traveled to Mexico and encountered the sacred mushroom ceremonies firsthand. He wrote about it in Life magazine, sparking Western interest in psychedelics. This research led to figures like Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert (later Ram Dass) promoting their mind-expanding potential—until the counterculture movement prompted governments to crack down in the 1960s.
There are over 200 species of psilocybin mushrooms, but some stand out:
Psilocybe cubensis – The most well-known and widely cultivated.
Liberty Caps (Psilocybe semilanceata) – Small but incredibly potent, found in North America and Europe.
Psilocybe azurescens** – One of the most potent species, native to the Pacific Northwest.
Psilocybe cyanescens (Wavy Caps) – Common in wood chips and gardens.
A simple way to identify psilocybin mushrooms? They bruise blue when handled, a telltale sign of their active compounds.
How They Work: Effects and Experience
When ingested, psilocybin converts to psilocin in the body, interacting with serotonin receptors in the brain. The effects vary based on dose and mindset but generally include:
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