sulfur head- inedible hallucinogenic mushroom.

What are hallucinogenic mushrooms? What do hallucinogenic mushrooms look like?

Psychopharmacology and ethnomycology study the properties of hallucinogenic mushrooms and their effect on the human body. All mushrooms are divided into several groups according to their suitability for food: edible, conditionally edible, inedible and poisonous.

TO edible include mushrooms that can be safely eaten even raw.

conditionally edible consider mushrooms that contain toxic substances that, when cooked or cooked, become harmless. However, there is still a risk, therefore, without the appropriate knowledge and experience, it is better not to collect such mushrooms. But it is worth noting that you can also get poisoned by mushrooms, which initially did not carry any danger, did not contain toxic substances and were edible, for example, porcini mushrooms or the same mushrooms. If they have lain in heat for a long time, then the proteins contained in them will begin to decompose, forming toxins. Also, do not collect overripe, slightly spoiled or worm mushrooms, despite the myth that mushrooms that have been eaten by insects can be safely eaten. After all, many poisonous substances that are deadly to humans will not cause absolutely no harm to insects.

inedible Mushrooms are mushrooms that are unsuitable for food because of their palatability. However, they do not contain toxins or other hazardous substances.

Poisonous Mushrooms are fungi that contain toxic substances and which can lead to severe food poisoning and even death.

Mushroom sulfur head - description and photo

TO inedible mushrooms applies sulfur head mushroom. In this group, he fell because of the psilocybin and psilocin contained in it. To date, these fungi are little studied. The size of the cap of the sulfur head is from 25 to 50 millimeters in diameter. The stem grows up to 100 millimeters in height and 6 millimeters in diameter. The shape of the mushroom is very variable. Young representatives are distinguished by a cone-shaped cap, which eventually takes on the shape of a bell, and by the end of maturation becomes flat, slightly curved towards the top and with a small tubercle in the center. The stem of the chamois head is always slightly curved, almost uniform in thickness, only thickenings are observed at the base of the fungus, due to the accumulation of peel residues. The color of the cap varies from yellow to brown, depending on environment. Stipe white color, more amber towards the base. If you press on the mushroom or injure it, then in this place the surface will acquire a bluish tint. In dry weather, the mushrooms are lighter, and in wet weather they darken, becoming chestnut. Accordingly, the structure of the fungus also changes. Most often, these mushrooms have a strong smooth leg, slightly sticky, but in dry weather or in old age they become brittle.

The spore-bearing layer has a brown color with black-brown spots due to ripe spores. The location of the spores is loose. Hallucinogenic mushrooms sulfur head grow mainly in damp areas, singly or not. large groups, prefer the trunks of fallen trees or rotten stumps, thickets of grass, shrubs or heaps of damp fallen leaves. Meets sulfur head mushroom until about the beginning of December, starting in August and ending with the first cold weather.

Systematics:
  • Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
  • Subdivision: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
  • Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
  • Subclass: Agaricomycetidae (Agaricomycetes)
  • Order: Agaricales (Agaric or Lamellar)
  • Family: Hymenogastraceae (Hymenogaster)
  • Genus: Psilocybe (Psilocybe)
  • View: Psilocybe mairei (Sulphur head)

Synonyms:

  • Hypholoma cyanescens

  • Geophila cyanescens

Collection time: August - end of December.
Location: singly or in small groups, fallen trees, logs and in damp grass.

Hat
Dimensions: 25-50 mm ∅.
Form: in a very young age- cone-shaped, then in the form of a bell or chest, at the end flat or concave upwards.
Color: yellow if dry, chestnut if wet. Blue spots on damaged areas.
Surface: smooth and firm when dry, slightly tacky when damp, brittle in old age.
Edge: after the hat is already flat, the edge grows further and curls.

leg
Dimensions: 25-100 mm high, 3 - 6 mm in ∅.
Form: uniformly thick and slightly bent, marked thickening in the lower quarter, often remnants of the skin of the shell.
Color: almost white above, amber below, with a light blue tint when dry.
Surface: fragile with silky fibers.

spore layer
Color: first cinnamon, then reddish-brown with black-purple spots (from ripe spores that fall).
Location: not tight, adnat.

ACTIVITY: very high .

Irina Kamshilina

Cooking for someone is much more pleasant than for yourself))

Content

The plant is also known under the name of hallucinogenic mushrooms, mentions of such substances were already 6-9 thousand years ago. African shamans, Aztec priests, Mayans, Indians, others southern countries used them in rituals. Now mushrooms of this species are recognized as a drug, which are similar in effect to LSD and are prohibited for storage and cultivation in Russia.

Types of psilocybin mushrooms

This is a group of inedible specimens that contain two main alkaloids - psilocybin, psilocin. The first is destroyed in the intestines, turning into psilocin, which has a 2-fold lower level of toxicity. There are such varieties all over the world, but most types of psilocybin mushrooms are found in America. Of those that grow in Europe, the Sulfur Head species can be distinguished. The following are popular:

  • Panaeolus cyanescens;
  • Hyphaloma cyanescens;
  • Psilocybe semilanceata;
  • Conocybe tenera;
  • Panaeolus subbalteatus.

Psilocybin mushroom - how to identify

Every person who is going to the forest should know how to identify the psilocybin mushroom. This will protect you from the negative effect and help to avoid unpleasant consequences from the use. There are no edible mushrooms in this group. Appearance, usually easily recognizable:

  1. The hat of psilocybin mushrooms is yellow, olive, red.
  2. The surface is dry or watery. This characteristic depends on the place of growth, microclimate.
  3. The upper plate grows to the leg or descends along it.
  4. Psilocybin mushrooms have granular, ellipsoidal spores, usually brown-violet with different shades.
  5. The leg has a cartilaginous structure.

Psilocybin mushrooms - where they grow

As a rule, hallucinogenic mushrooms grow everywhere. You can meet them in meadows, pastures, fields, wastelands or parks, sometimes along the edges of roads among the grass. As a rule, they meet large groups in one place. If you are wondering where psilocybin mushrooms grow, you can find them in good soil, but they rarely grow on manure. On well-irrigated land, they are found in large groups. The season for magic mushrooms begins in late August, lasts until January (if there is no snow), but more often until late November.

psilocybin mushroom effect

A relatively complete picture of the effects of psychedelic mushrooms has been obtained by scientists at Imperial College London. A study was conducted there, which revealed that the alkaloid from the composition, when it enters the bloodstream, immediately tries to get to the brain, purposefully attacks the neurons of 3 areas of the organ, which causes tangible, irreparable harm to a person. The action of psilocybin mushrooms is directed to the following departments:

  • lumbar curve ( rear end);
  • lumbar gyrus (anterior part);
  • medial prefrontal area.

The last point is a special part of the brain. It always works, even when a person is resting or not thinking about anything, it functions 20% faster than the rest of the body. All information, news flows are collected by the MPZ, combined into a single whole, forming a unique picture of the world for each person. Under the influence of psilocin, the neurons of this part of the brain are almost completely switched off, metabolic, mental processes are slowing down. Because of this, the worldview changes dramatically, there is a strong shift in reality:

  • hallucinations;
  • depersonalization;
  • fits of rage;
  • loss of consciousness;
  • panic attacks;
  • the perception of color, illumination changes;
  • there may be a tendency to violence;
  • impaired speech coordination;
  • visual susceptibility;
  • distortions of space and time;
  • impaired perception of speed;
  • negative emotions;
  • unusual visions;
  • increased auditory sensitivity.

On formation depression wags the anterior part of the lumbar gyrus, with bad mood this area is in a state of flux. Magic mushrooms inhibit the neurons in this area. For this reason, their reception improves mood, helps to get rid of anxious, negative thoughts, but this effect does not always work. Psychedelic mushrooms are closest in feel to LSD, but the latter has twice the duration of exposure. Psilocybin mushrooms affect everyone differently.

Psilocybin mushrooms - consequences of use

Addiction after the first use of psilocybin mushrooms or irreparable changes do not occur. The exit from the psychedelic trip is painless, there is no severe withdrawal syndrome. Sometimes an unusual "afterglow" is observed - for several days a person experiences, is guided by the emotions that dominated during the use of psychedelics.

The harm of psilocybin mushrooms is noticeable with a systematic long-term intake. There are tangible changes in the human psyche, paranoia, behavioral disorders appear, which can lead to the destruction of the personality. Serious damage is done to the kidneys, cardiovascular system, intestines, stomach. It develops only mental dependence, there is no physical dependence. Treatment is carried out according to the traditional complex together with a psychotherapist.

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Psilocybin mushroom - consequences of use and hallucinogenic properties. How to Identify Psilocybin Mushroom

"Nature is cruel to her children?"

Harmful mushrooms are divided into poisonous, poisonous-hallucinogenic and predominantly hallucinogenic:

Ⅰ POISONOUS

Deadly poisonous species:

Bordered galerina, poisonous cap, coniferous russula (galerina marginata) - the pulp of the leg is brownish, the caps are yellowish, with a mealy smell.

Umbrellas (Lepiota ) - strongly and inexplicably venomous. Silverfish comb (Lepiota cristata) - pulp thin, white, blushing when broken and touched, with an unpleasant taste and a sharp rare smell.



Entoloma (pink) poisonous (Rhodophyllus sinuatus) - the pulp is white, thick, dense. When broken, does not change color. The taste is described as slurred or unpleasant; odor musty or rancid. If a significant amount of mushrooms is consumed, a fatal outcome is possible.

Morel(Gyromitra)- Raw lines contain gyromitrins - strong toxins, often with fatal. By the nature of the effect on the body, gyromitrin resembles the toxin of the pale toadstool.



Orange-red cobweb (Cortinarius orellanus) - pulp yellowish or brownish, odorless, tasteless. Contains the poisonous substance orellanin, which causes pathological changes in the kidneys. Signs of poisoning appear 3-14 days after eating the fungus and can be fatal.



Beautiful cobweb (Cortinarius speciosissimus) - pulp orange-buff, tasteless, with a rare smell or without it. Its effect on the body is the same as the orange-red cobweb.



Line, blade (Helvella) - All representatives of the genus in the fruiting bodies contain the toxin gyromitrin, which causes fatal poisoning.

Mushrooms of this genus are saprophytes on the soil, they develop abundantly in spring. Gyromitrin is now found in the common line and the giant line (Gyromitra gigas), as well as in the apothecia of some gelwells.

Poisonous poisonous:

satanic mushroom ( Boletus satanas) - in its raw form, the mushroom is highly poisonous. It is claimed that even a piece of pulp weighing no more than 1 gram can cause severe digestive upset.



Tiger Row (Iricholoma pardinum), dark and sulphur-yellow (Tricholoma sulphureum) - pulp whitish, under the skin of the cap is grayish, the taste and smell of flour. After eating, after 1.5-4 hours, it causes an upset of the gastrointestinal tract and vomiting.



Sulphur-yellow false foam (Hypholoma fasciculare) - pulp light yellow or whitish, very bitter, with an unpleasant odor. When eaten, after 1-6 hours nausea, vomiting, sweating appear, the person loses consciousness.



Swine thin, dunka (Paxillus involutus) - pulp yellowish, soft, friable, without a special smell and taste.



Red mushroom (Agaricus xanthoderma) - pulp not very thick, white, turning yellow on fracture, unpleasant taste, smell of carbolic acid. The mushroom is poisonous, with an undetermined nature of the poison. If eaten, it can cause poisoning, although not life-threatening. It differs from other champignons in a specific smell.

Ⅱ POISONOUS-HALLUCINOGENIC

Mushrooms , included in this group (mainly a manita , Inocybe and litocybe), contain as active substance ibotenic acid, muscimol, muscazone and hyoscyamine, psilocin, psilocybin and muscarine. Effective dose for ibotenic acid: 70 mg for an adult (1 mg/kg), for muscimol 7.5 mg for an adult (1 mg/kg). Muscimol and ibotenic acid can cause neuronal death and destruction of brain tissue. Symptoms of fly agaric poisoning (red, panther, royal, etc.) begin to appear after 0.5-4 hours. Influence at nervous system manifests itself in the form of psychomimetic symptoms, sometimes accompanied by hallucinations. When falling asleep, there may be an intensification of dreams. Many types of fibers contain a significant amount of muscarine, 7 types also contain psilocybin. The risk of death in most species is very high.

Pale grebe (Amanita phalloides) - pulpwhite, thin, odorless and tasteless (Most of all, it is interesting how information about taste was obtained). Signs of poisoning appear after 8-12, sometimes 20-40 hours after eating.



Fly agaric royal ( Amanita regalis) - refers to a number of hallucinogens.



Fly agaric white, spring (Amanita verna), smelly fly agaric (Amanita virosa) - pulp white, with an unpleasant taste and smell. More poisonous than usual.



Red fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) - pulp white, yellowish under the skin, soft, odorless. Symptoms of poisoning appear after 20 minutes and up to 2 hours after eating accompanied by hallucinations (look who has not seen the old Mexican movie "mushroom man", it's just about that).



Panther fly agaric (Amanita pantherina) - pulp white, with an unpleasant odor, does not turn red at the break. Its symptoms resemble acute alcohol intoxication, which then turns into deep dream but may result in death.



Fly agaric (Amanita citrina) - pulp white, yellowish under the skin, unpleasant smell and taste, contains, among others, psychotropic substances tryptamine series - bufotenin, DMT and 5-MeO-DMT.



Fly agaric gray, porphyry (Amanita porphyria) - pulp white, with a sharp unpleasant odor. Weakly poisonous, but a lot of hallucinogenic, like pagankovidny.



Fiberglass patouillard (Inocybe patouillardii) - pulp first white, then reddish, with an alcoholic smell and an unpleasant taste. Muscarine poison in it is 20 times more than in the red fly agaric. It affects the autonomic nervous system. Symptoms of poisoning appear 20-25 minutes after ingestion. Lethal dose fresh mushroom 10-80



Waxy talker (Clitocybe serussata) - pulp white, dense, smell and taste pleasant. Signs of poisoning are the same as in case of poisoning with fiber Patuillard.



Fiber torn (Inocybe lacera) - pulp the caps are white, the flesh of the stem is reddish, the smell is very weak, the taste is sweetish at first, then bitter. Symptoms of poisoning, as with the use of Patuillard fiber.



Fibrous fiber (Inocybe fastigiata) - pulp white, with an unpleasant smell, tasteless. Symptoms of poisoning are the same as with the use of Patuillard fiber.



Earth fiber (Inocybe geophylla) - pulpwhite, with an unpleasant earthy smell and spicy taste. Signs of poisoning are similar to those of Patuillard fiber poisoning.



Ⅲ MOSTLY HALLUCINOGENIC

To date, psilocybin has been found in some fungi from the genera Panaeolus, Stropharia, and Anellaria. About 25 species are now classified as hallucinogenic mushrooms, of which 75% are representatives of the genus Psilocybe.

Synonyms - Nize (Mazatek), pajaritos (Spanish), Quahtlananacatl, Lol-lu "um, Nios, Nanacatl (Aztec), teyhuinti-nanacatl (Aztec. "Intoxicating mushrooms"), pajaritos (Spanish "birds") , angelitos (Spanish for "angels"), piule de churis, chamaquillos (Spanish for "little people").

Their use in certain doses causes pseudo-hallucinations and a psychopathic state, which may be accompanied by euphoria, emotional highs, or severe conditions, sometimes with a craving for suicide, depending on the mood. The lethal dose is about 14 g, which is much higher than the effective dose that causes hallucinations (1-14 mg). To obtain fatal poisoning Psilocybe semilanceolate needs to eat approximately 4-5 buckets (10-12l) of raw mushrooms.

Scale mushrooms ( Strophariaceae ):

San Isidro, Cuban psilocybe ( Strophariacubensis) - the flesh is very thin, creamy or light yellow, the taste is absent or unpleasant, the smell is weak, grassy or moldy. Psilocybin and psilocin in a fairly large amount, about 0.2 - 0.4% of the dry weight of the mushroom.



Sharp conical bald head, Phrygian cap, freedom cap, jolly ( Psilocybesemilanceata) - the flesh is very thin, creamy or light yellow, the taste is absent or unpleasant, the smell is weak, grassy or moldy.

Psilocybe mexican, teonanacatl ( Psilocybe mexicana) - among the Aztecs, it was considered a particularly sacred mushroom and was used during festivities, religious ceremonies and in healing rituals.

Montana (PsilocybeMontana) - moderate hallucinogenicity.

Stropharia blue-green, verdigris troyshling ( Stropharia( Psilocybe) aeruginosa) - the pulp of the mushrooms is thin, soft in the cap, bluish, dense in the stem, yellowish, with a pungent odor. The Psilocybe Aeruginos mushroom is considered edible mushroom The fourth category, although it belongs to psychotropic, and in the USA - poisonous, is used both fresh and after boiling for 15 minutes, in second courses, salted and pickled.

Semicircular troishling ( Strophariasemiglobata) - the content of psychoactive substances in it is much less than in the traditional "Freedom Caps".

Dung bald head ( Psilocybe( Stropharia) corpophilia), Stropharia(Psilocybe)merdaria - minor psychoactive effect.

hay dung beetle ( Psilocybefoenisecii), (Panaeolus foenisecii)- contains psilocybin and psilocin, but less than Psilocybe semilanceata, sometimes you can find some other tryptamine derivatives, especially serotonin, but not toxic.



Psilocybe azurences (Psilocybe cyanescens (azurescens)) - recognizable by a chestnut-brown, banded, wavy cap that quickly fades to yellow-brown or dark yellow, and bluish fruiting body. The pulp is bitter in taste. Odor or absent. Harvesting this fungus from the wild is a potentially dangerous practice due to its toxic appearance in the genera Galerina, Conocybe and Inocybe. Hallucinogenicity ranges from moderate to very high.

Philosopher's Stone (Psilocybe tampanensis) - hallucinogenicity is moderate to very high. There are almost no visual hallucinations, but very interesting sensations and thoughts appear.



Stropharia Gornemann (Stropharia hornemanii) - the pulp is light, dense, pleasant to the taste. Could be dangerous.



Ink mushrooms (Coprinaceae):

Bell dung beetle (Panaeolus ( Copelandia) campanulatus)contains psilocybin and psilocin, although not to the same extent as Psilocybe. Mushrooms of the species Panaeolus campanulatus rarely contain pantherine and other poisons.



Sphinx dung beetle (Panaeolus sphinctrinus) - often identified with Panaolus campanulatus, however, it differs from the latter in a striped hat, which is always turned inside out.


Sulfur heads (Hyphaloma), 0.5 - 0.6% psilocybin and psilocin + a large number of beosiktin and norbeosiktin. in a dry substance, several times more quantity, common to Psylocibe semilanceata. Strong hallucinogen.




Psatirella (Psathyrella) - the pulp is thin-meaty, fragile, moderate hallucinogenicity.


Gymnopil, ognevka ( Gymnopilus) - the pulp is whitish, yellow, or brown, bitter taste. A number of species have been found to contain a known hallucinogenic substance. In several other species, the presence of bis-noryangonin and hispidin, substances similar to the alpha-pyrones of the kava-kava plant (intoxicating pepper), were found.



Historical and medical information:

Among the Celts, their use was part of the national culture. The Scandinavians used such mushrooms to bring "berserk" warriors into a state of uncontrollable rage. In the Rigveda, about a thousand hymns are dedicated to the sacred intoxicating drink "soma", which, according to researchers (R. G. Wasson, 1968), was prepared from red fly agaric. The ancient Indians believed that soma allows you to maintain health, prolongs life, and the person who drinks the drink merges with the deity. On the Chinese stone reliefs of the Han era there are images of a mythical hare living on the moon and mixing the elixir of immortality there. The hare holds in its paws a magic mushroom zhi, which has not yet been definitely identified.

In the early Christian and medieval churches of Tunisia and Western Europe frescoes depicting "mushroom trees" entwined with snakes were discovered, which indicates the presence of a cult of mushrooms in early Christian traditions. Indian and Siberian shamans traditionally could not perform rituals of communication with spirits without them. The Aztecs called these mushrooms "teonanácatl" - "the body of God", and only the elect and initiates used it.

A dose of about 1 mg causes a state of intoxication in a person already 20-30 minutes after ingestion. A dose of up to 4 mg causes a state of detachment from reality, and with more high doses(up to 12 mg) deep changes in the psyche occur, hallucinations appear. Currently, this substance is synthesized abroad and used to treat some mental illness. The effect of psilocybin on patients suffering from memory loss is very interesting. Almost 50% of patients have memories, revival, timidity and restraint disappear. Patients remember what they have forgotten, and help doctors better understand the causes of the disease. However, the substance psilocybin becomes a very dangerous hallucinogenic drug if it is not used in medicinal purposes without medical supervision.

Mushrooms containing psilocybin and/or psilocin are considered narcotic.

The fresh or dried form is eaten raw or otherwise cooked. Fresh or dried forms are added to omelettes, pancakes, stews. They can also be brewed with boiling water, sometimes the dried form of the fungus is mixed with tobacco or hemp and smoked in hand-rolled cigarettes or pipes.

The psychedelic action of mushrooms is also called a trip. During the first hour of the action, some people sometimes have a "transition", the so-called "entry", during which the trip itself has not yet unfolded into full force, but moderate side effects are felt, such as discomfort in the stomach, cold and tremors, suffocation, visual impairment, along with this, the person is covered with ek-static delight, the pupils dilate, the body shudders in convulsions, while sexual arousal increases , requiring a discharge. Apparently, this explains the uncontrollable dances of the shaman, accompanied by inarticulate cries, laughter and singing. Subjective sensations are formed by an extraordinary sharpness of feelings: perception is distorted, the world moves rapidly and slips away, unexpected fits of anger arise, scolding, cursing, sometimes sobs come out of the mouth. Excitation is quickly replaced by depression and numbness. According to the stories of shamans, it is at this moment that they leave their bodies and are transported to heaven, renouncing themselves for a while.

After the psychedelic effects have gradually subsided, the consequences of taking the drug appear within 6-12 hours: "a special, incomparable state of acute perception and intuition", but, at the same time, due to a decrease in the content of serotonin in the brain tissues , drowsiness, mood deterioration, irritability are possible.
When taking psilocin and psilocycin more than once every 10 days, it settles quickly a certain habit. To cause the same effect, the next day you need 1.5 - 2 times more mushrooms. Many cases are known when regular users of hallucinogenic mushrooms became patients in a psychiatric hospital. Main danger when using hallucinogenic mushrooms, it consists in consuming a poisonous variety.