James' Passion Blog

 

Take a moment, sit down, maybe take a deep breath. Now, imagine going into the woods, taking care to look at the leaf litter and fallen branches at your feet. On a fallen, decaying log, you may find a reishi mushroom, a saprophytic (feeding on decaying or dead matter) member of the Lucidum family. While this organism isn’t quite a fruit, vegetable or plant, it still contains awesome powers beyond what you may think upon seeing it; these being ability to boost immune response and possibly a way to suppress cancer. The positive impacts of the reishi mushroom on cancer and the immune system have been thoroughly documented and researched throughout the years, and it has proven to be effective in many use cases. 

Like the previously discussed psilocybe, the reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) has been used, worshiped, and ingrained into human culture for thousands of years. The earliest recorded mention of its usage hails from India and Korea, approximately four thousand years ago. The first big popularization event was thanks to China’s first emperor, Emperor Yan. From his love of natural supplements and foods, the reishi mushroom was propelled into fame and glory in China, and later in other eastern cultures; however, due its rare nature, only the nobility were able to consume it regularly. Evidence for its relevance can be found in many artifacts that exist from ancient times depicting some important person who just so happens to have a reishi mushroom near or on them; it was a symbol of wealth and power. However, farming techniques changed all of that, leveling the buying field on the once rare and coveted reishi mushroom and opening the gates to research and free use.

 

 

(Reishi farm)

With the dawn of effective farming methods, such as climate controlled environments and spore isolation, the reishi mushroom became open to consumers. Now, over 4000 tons of reishi are being harvested and shipped out every year, with the market ever-expanding. The logistics of mushroom farming is generally easy, as all one needs is decaying matter and an environment with consistent temperature and moisture; space is really the only limiting factor for the cultivation of mushrooms. But why continue using resources to create a large amount of fungus? Thanks to many research papers, we know that the long and glorious history of using the reishi mushroom as a natural healing mechanism isn’t without scientific reasoning. 

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Numerous research papers have been created documenting the effectiveness of the reishi mushroom on improving the immune system and suppressing cancer cells. One paper from the NIH suggested reishi is an effective viral suppressant and immune system booster, while another suggested that reishi may be able to suppress and negate invasive cancer cells in the body. While the science behind reishi and a stronger immune system are rock solid, the cancer argument isn’t as strong. The problem is that not enough human trials have been completed with reishi as a variable to make a 100% statement regarding its viability as a cancer treatment aid. However, based on studies done on other animals and preliminary data from human trials, reishi can greatly aid in reducing the severity of cancer in the body, leading to a longer and more comfortable life for those affected. Like many other medicines based on natural ingredients, the healing properties of mushrooms will most likely be disregarded or ignored until researched enough times to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are more than just fungus.

As a closing note, if you are ever buying mushrooms to take as a supplement, make sure to use a reputable company! It’s easy to put a smelly brown powder in a capsule and fool customers with high prices. 

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Psilocybin. When you hear that word, what do you think? Probably a vibrant scene sent in the 60’s, with a bunch of long haired hippies laid out on the floor and the Beatles playing in the background. This image isn’t that far off from the majority of use cases; many used “Magic mushrooms” solely for their ability to produce vivid hallucinations. Psilocybin rose to popularity a little bit later than LSD, and quickly spread due to its perception as a more natural alternative to LSD; the ease of access was another factor. Rather than lab connections and a good deal of money, people could attain magic mushrooms in their backyards and propagate colonies in compost heaps. 

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Before exploring the history of psilocybin, it’s important to understand what it is. The family psilocybe describes a range of mushrooms containing psilocybin, a hallucinogenic compound. Often called little brown mushrooms, psilocybe can be found coast to coast, north to south, spring to autumn. Ingestion can cause auditory and visual hallucinations, synesthesia, and other such experiences. It is impossible to overdose on psilocybe, as the body rapidly builds immunity to the effects of psilocybin after ingestion. The only real danger comes from misidentification of the mushroom. For example, the deadly death cap is often confused for other mushrooms by novices.

Now, to the history. The phenomenon of eating hallucinogenic mushrooms isn’t something new. Psychedelics have been used by humans for tens of thousands of years! The first recorded mention of psilocybin was a painting on a rock wall, dating back to 10,000 BCE, in Australia. Ancient peoples all around the globe had access to the psilocybe mushroom, and plenty of time to connect it to religious and cultural ceremonies. The result of widespread mushroom worship was that knowledge of its properties were kept alive in enough cultures for it to make a comeback later in the ages. While the majority of American and Europeans were unaware a psychoactive mushroom existed, Mexican doctors and native peoples were actively using psilocybin to treat medical conditions and perform ceremonies.

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 It wouldn’t be until 1957 when Americans would learn about the properties of magic mushrooms; Gordon Wasson, upon reading about the use of mushrooms in Mexico, went to try them himself. His findings were published in 1957, and resulted in many following his footsteps. From there, the mushroom spread into the hippie movement and proliferated in American culture. A brief, 10 year long period of cultural acceptance and scientific growth followed… then Nixon’s war on drugs shut all research and commerce down.

 In the time that mushrooms were legal to have and consume, they contributed to great works of art. One noteworthy example is Frank Herbert’s Dune; Herbert was an active cultivator of psilocybin, and would often watch sand dunes shift in the wind and write while high. If you’ve read it, maybe you can see some of the connections. The sand worms were the worms in his compost heap, the spice psilocybin; the list goes on. The genre of science fiction was partially defined by Herbert’s work, so it’s safe to say that psilocybin is responsible for the great range and diversity of modern science fiction.

 It wasn’t until recently that interest in psilocybin popped back up. Initially limited to end of life anxiety cases, solving drinking problems, and aiding in mental illnesses. These studies are still very new and many haven’t been replicated, but the data is already very promising. Those with ADHD, obesity, alcoholism and drug addictions have seen a great improvement in the quality of life through psilocybin.