MUSHROOMS

         OUR FASCINATING RELATIONSHIP WITH MUSHROOMS    

Though defined as a "Fungus"-The hundreds of species of 'Mushrooms' have a long and fascinating place in human history, human folklore and ancient mythology!

Often seen as mysterious due to their seemingly magical overnight growth and properties, this is because mushrooms really have been imbued with magical and mythical properties, playing significant roles in the stories and beliefs of dozens of cultures worldwide!!

Let’s delve into some of the most interesting folklore and mythology surrounding these unique organisms.

We will then discuss some of our favorite edible mushrooms for health benefits, Mushrooms for Industrial uses and conclude with our own little educational about the psychedelic varieties . 

          

 

1) MUSHROOM MYTHOLOGY

In many cultures mushrooms have been a key food ingredient as well as used for medicinal uses. Mushrooms have a long and a strong association with the magical realm throughout history. They are often connected with fairies, elves, and other mythical creatures. In particular, the image of a fairy circle—a naturally occurring ring of mushrooms—has a prominent place in European folklore.

                  

                          Profuse ring of Clitocybe Nebularis  

It was believed that these circles were portals to the fairy realm, or places where fairies danced and celebrated. However, humans were warned not to step into these circles, lest they be transported to the fairy realm or become invisible to the human world.

In Ireland, the lore around fairy circles is particularly rich. It was said that the fairies who danced in these circles could be mischievous or even malevolent, and disturbing a fairy circle would bring bad luck or worse. Similarly, in Germanic folklore, mushroom circles were associated with witches' dancing circles.

In Slavic cultures, mushrooms have various roles in folklore. One of the most revered mushrooms in Slavic mythology, as well as one of the most pictured of the mystical mushrooms, is the red and white 'amanita muscaria', or 'fly agaric' as it is also known. This mushroom is often depicted in folk art and is believed to possess magical properties.

                  

This mushroom is tied to the ancient Slavic deity named Veles, the god of earth, waters, forests, and the underworld. Veles, often illustrated as a horned deity, was believed to give the fly agaric mushroom as a gift to humans. In return, people would leave the first mushroom they found in the forest as an offering to Veles.

 In Siberia, the amanita muscaria, and particular their culture of Reindeer herding have a long and deep connection to these species where their spiritual teachers ate the mushrooms... as well as did the Reindeer. For logical purposes it would be safe to assume that the people observed their Reindeer eating these mushrooms then behaving strangely first.. As Reindeer do after they eat the Amanita...    It should be noted that Amanita Mushroom DO exhibit poisonous effects on the human body NOT derived from psilocybin.

Japan has a rich history of mushroom folklore. Certain mushrooms are considered symbols of luck and longevity. The Shiitake mushroom, in particular, is seen as a symbol of longevity and good health. Its name even translates to "Oak Mushroom," hinting at the connection between the strength and longevity of the oak tree and the mushroom itself.

         

              Shiitake                             Shiitake in Japanese Symbolism

The red-capped and white-spotted amanita muscaria, is ALSO associated with a popular figure in Japanese folklore—Tanuki, the raccoon dog. Tanuki is often depicted with a big belly and a wide-brimmed hat, and it's not uncommon to see an amanita muscaria mushroom included in these depictions, adding to the whimsical nature of the character.

Some Chinese beliefs certain fungi and mushrooms are seen as the "flowers of death," sprouting from the decaying bodies of the deceased. Despite these associations, in Chinese culture, Lingzhi, a type of bracket fungus, is seen as a symbol of longevity and health. It's often depicted in art, especially in paintings where deities or immortals are present, symbolizing divine power and immortality.

There's also the fascinating case of the 'Kōhau Rongoā'—the Māori tradition of healing in New Zealand—where certain fungi are used for their therapeutic properties. Although not strictly a mushroom, the mycelium bracket fungus "Piptoporus australiensis" was used to cauterize wounds in traditional Māori medicine.

       Psychoactive Mushrooms in Mythology & Religion.

            

In Siberia and other parts of Russia, the fly agaric mushroom (amanita muscaria) has been used in shamanistic practices. According to Russian locals The shamans consume the mushrooms and then others would drink their urine. This process was believed to purify the toxic elements of the amanita mushroom while maintaining the psychoactive properties.

This practice might have contributed to the association of fly agaric with reindeer, an animal deeply rooted in Siberian mythology, since reindeer also consume these mushrooms and exhibit intoxicated behavior.

  This is the tradition from which 'Santa Claus" originates with his flying reindeer !!

       

In some Native American cultures, mushrooms were seen as powerful medicine or as spiritual tools. Certain tribes used puffball mushrooms (from the genus Lycoperdon) in healing rituals. When burst, these mushrooms release a cloud of spores, which was seen as a way to spread healing power.

  ( Puff Ball Mushrooms) 

Mushrooms have woven their way into the fabric of human culture and belief systems throughout history, taking on roles that reflect our fascination with their unique biological features, their potential for healing or causing harm, and the air of mystery that surrounds their life cycle.

Whether seen as a potent symbol of death and rebirth, a conduit to the divine, or an emblem of good fortune, mushrooms in folklore and mythology continue to captivate our collective imagination.

As we continue to discover and understand the myriad species of fungi in our world we're likely to keep generating stories, beliefs, and mythologies that reflect the wonder and respect of these remarkable organisms inspire.

 

2) MEDICINAL VALUES :

The Top 7 Medicinal Mushrooms

The list of mushrooms that are edible, medicinal and psychedelic is endless.   But we would like to discuss the 7 most researched and documented mushrooms for medicinal and Health uses and their values.  

The healthiest mushrooms to supplement with include:

• Lion's Mane
• Reishi
• Cordyceps
• Chaga
• Turkey Tail
• Shiitake
• Maitake

Lion’s Mane Mushroom: The Mushroom for the Mind

Primary Lion's Mane Mushroom Medicinal Benefits: Supports healthy brain function & neuron generation.

Species name: Hericium erinaceus

Lion’s Mane is full of a multitude of important compounds, such as beta-glucans, which are immuno-modulating antioxidants and neuro-protective phytonutrients.

In vitro research suggests that certain compounds found in Lion’s mane, namely hericenones and erinacines, may help induce Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) synthesis in nerve cells. This dovetails with findings from animal research that Lion’s mane promotes nerve tissue growth and supports motor function. And research in adults with mild memory problems associated with aging found that those taking Lion’s Mane extract had better brain function compared with control participants who did not ingest the mushroom. All of this indicates that Lion’s Mane mushroom is an amazing helper for healthy brain function and may even support neurogenesis.

Historical Uses of Lion's Mane Medicinal Mushrooms

Lion’s Mane, or Hericium erinaceus, is a species of mushroom that is beautiful in appearance; it has long cascading shaggy spines resembling a waterfall. Lion’s Mane grows on the trunks of hardwood trees in Northern forests.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), names Lion’s Mane Hou Tou Gu (monkey head mushroom). Chinese medicine practitioners use this mushroom for the spleen, and its association with digestion, energy, and water regulation. TCM also uses this medicinal mushrooms as a tonic for stress-related disorders (neurasthenia) and for a lack of energy (qi deficiency).

The Japanese call Lion’s Mane Yamabushitake, after the worshipping Buddhist monks known as the Shugendō. These monks used Lion’s Mane tea to increase their ability to concentrate during meditation. Indigenous peoples of pre-colonial US, Canada, and Australia also used Lion’s Mane for medicine and food. This mushroom has become a well-established candidate in promoting cognitive function.

Reishi Mushroom: The Mushroom of Immortality

Primary Reishi Mushroom Medicinal Benefits: Sleep aid and potent immunomodulator.

Reishi, or Ganoderma lingzhi, has a 2000-year-old written record in medicinal texts. Most notably, Chinese Taoist monks wrote of using it to promote calmness, as well as to enhance their meditative practices. Chinese royalty used reishi to promote longevity and held this “mushroom of immortality,” in high esteem. Reishi was listed as the most cherished among the superior herbs, which are considered to support a long life, support healthy aging, boost qi, and make the body light

The polysaccharides in reishi mushroom are associated with immune function, and if taken over time, reishi can significantly support the immune system. It can also support restful sleep and a calm mind, reduce occasional stress and restlessness, can support lung and respiratory health, and support balanced blood sugar levels. One study has demonstrated that Reishi can decrease symptom scale scores for men experiencing lower urinary tract symptoms (urination difficulty). Reishi can also be used safely in adjunct with certain oncology medications and diagnoses.

Because of its well-rounded capacity to support numerous systems in the body, herbalists call Reishi the 'King of the Medicinal Mushrooms.'

Cordyceps Mushroom: The Caterpillar Fungus 

Species name: Cordyceps Militaris

Primary Cordyceps Mushroom Medicinal Benefits: Improves lung capacity and increases energy.

The cordyceps mushroom is an incredible energy-boosting fungi. Certain studies in rodents have shown that cordyceps can increase the production of ATP, the compound that gives cells energy. This is why Cordyceps is a good mushroom supplement to take for exercise and physical performance. Preliminary research in humans, animals, and test tubes also indicates that cordyceps supports healthy levels of inflammation and immune markers.

Historical Uses of Cordyceps Medicinal Mushrooms

Old Chinese medical books and Tibetan medicine describe cordyceps as a treasure. With hundreds of different species, it is a parasitic fungus that preys on insects. Traditional healers use the fungus as a powerful tonic to improve energy, appetite, stamina, and endurance.

Cordyceps was traditionally used as a tonic because it has the capacity to revitalize and restore symptoms like fatigue, exhaustion, and chronic stress. Out of all the medicinal mushrooms, Cordyceps is the most stimulating, warming, and powerful in a traditional context. It has an affinity to the kidneys and lungs, meaning it supports these organs the most.

 

Chaga Mushroom: The Mushroom that’s not a Mushroom 

Species name: Inonotus Obliquus

Primary Chaga Mushroom Medicinal Benefits: Boosts digestion and clears/protects skin

Chaga has been studied for its use in skin and stomach disorders. Chaga has over 200 pre-clinical animal and cell studies showing promising health benefits including such as being high in antioxidants, supporting digestion, immune support, modulating inflammation, containing key anti-microbial substances, and being adaptogenic.

Historical Uses of Chaga

Chaga or Inonotus obliquus, which is commonly referred to as a mushroom, is actually a highly prized woody canker or conk that grows in the colder regions of the Northern Hemisphere on birch trees.

The first medicinal uses of chaga seems to have come out of Russia around the 16th century when it was used as a tea to enhance stomach health. After 1966, Chaga gained more exposure after its powers were written about in Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s book, Le Pavillon des cancéreux. Many indigenous people continue to use Chaga around the world for varying health-supportive purposes, for these reasons Chaga is known among herbalist as "THE KING HEALER."

How Chaga Grows Is the Key to Its Benefits

As Chaga grows primarily on birch trees and much of the mass itself is actually wood fiber and not mycelium, many medicinal compounds from birch like betulin and betulinic acid end up in the chaga. The outer black layer on the canker contains high amounts of melanin, which can be beneficial for our skin.

Until recently, Chaga could not be cultivated, but now in Finland they are inoculating birch trees with this fungus. Lab-cultivated Chaga does not develop into canker, and as it does not grow on birch but on grain, it does not contain the important medicinal compounds that come from birch. 

Turkey Tail Mushroom: The Mushroom of Multiple Colors

Species name: Trametes Versicolor

Primary Turkey Tail Mushroom Medicinal Benefit: Boosts immune system function by stimulating cytokine production, 

Protein-bound polysaccharides (PBP)  found in Turkey Tail have the most research-backed immune-supportive effects. These PBP compounds can enhance key types of immune cells, like T-cells, when used alone or in combination with synergistic herbs. Turkey Tail is a safe mushroom to use long-term within the context of proper medical treatment.

Historical Uses of Turkey Tail Medicinal Mushrooms

Turkey Tail mushroom, or Trametes Versicolor, is one of the most common and local mushrooms to many peoples around the world. It grows on dead logs worldwide and received its name because its rings of brown and tan look like the tail feathers of a turkey.

In TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) turkey tail has been used for supporting digestion, lung health, body fluid regulation, and supporting vitality. In Japan and China, a derivative of turkey tail has been used to strengthen the immune system. Turkey tail contains one of the highest amounts of beta-glucans of all mushrooms, which can help keep our immune systems healthy when used over an extended period of time.

Shiitake Mushroom: The Fragrant Mushroom 

Species name: Lentinula edodes

Primary Shiitake Mushroom Medicinal Benefit: Supports cardiovascular health.

Shiitake mushroom is great for immunity and liver health, and it supports the cardiovascular system. Lentinan, a polysaccharide in shiitake mushrooms, has shown great promise as an immune system-boosting agent. Research has also discovered a compound in shiitake, eritadenine, that can help maintain cholesterol already within a healthy range. The mushrooms are great to cook with and are also loaded with B-vitamins, helping to modulate blood sugar levels in the body and support a healthy inflammation response.

Shiitake mushrooms have been shown to increase igA, a key immune cell (immunoglobulin) associated with our first line of defense when it comes to immunity. Shiitake mushrooms can decrease C-Reactive Protein (CRP), a blood marker that detects inflammation.

Historical Uses of Shiitake Medicinal Mushrooms

Shiitake mushrooms are the most popular mushrooms in the world and have a meaty and versatile flavor, which is why they’ve been used as a food source in Asia for hundreds of years.

In China, shiitake is called Xiang gu (香菇), which translates to "fragrant mushroom." During the Ming Dynasty in China, shiitake was deemed “the elixir of life”.

Shiitake mushrooms have been cultivated in Japan for centuries and received their name from the shii trees (related to beech and oak) they’re found growing on. Shiitake has long been used as both a food and a supplement in TCM, as it is thought to support a long healthy life and support healthy circulation*.

Maitake Mushroom: The Dancing Mushroom

Species name: Grifola frondosa

Primary Maitake Mushroom Medicinal Benefits: Helps to maintain healthy blood pressure and supports immune function

Maitake mushrooms support immune function by stimulating the immune system’s lymphocytes, natural killer cells, monocytes, and T-helper cells. 

Historical Uses of Maitake Medicinal Mushrooms

Maitake, Grifola frondosa is commonly known as Hen of the Woods or the Dancing Mushroom. It is plentiful in the deciduous forests of North America and Japan. It is an edible mushroom with an earthy flavour. Traditional Chinese Medicine has used this mushroom for its support of the spleen, and for benefiting qi. The mushroom (fruiting body) contains polysaccharides such as beta-glucans, which have been linked to healthy cell growth and turnover   According to a 2021 UCLA HEALTH Report

• https://www.uclahealth.org/news/7-health-benefits-of-mushrooms  these mushrooms used in a blend have been scientifically proven to:

1. decrease the risk of cancer

2. produces anti-inflammatory properties

3. promotes lower cholesterol

4. brain and cognitive Health

5. comprehensive anti-oxidant protection

6. stimulates a healthier gut

7. enhanced immune system support

 

 Shivas Garden has partnered with 'The Byrd Tribe' to make our own 7 blend powder mix available here

 https://shivasgarden.org/products/sacred-7-mushroom-blend

 

 

Biosorption

The second important process of removal of metals/pollutants from the environment by mushrooms is - biosorption. Biosorption is considered as an alternative to the remediation of industrial effluents as well as the recovery of metals present in those effluents. Biosorption is a process based on the sorption of metallic ions/pollutants/xenobiotics from effluent by live or dried biomass which often exhibits a marked tolerance towards metals and other adverse conditions. Biosorbents can be prepared from mushroom mycelium and spent mushroom compost.

The uptake of pollutants/xenobiotics by mushrooms involves a combination of two processes: (1) bioaccumulation i.e. an active metabolism-dependent process, which includes both transport into the cell and partitioning into intracellular components; and (2) biosorption i.e. the binding of pollutants to the biomass without requiring metabolic energy.

Biological approaches based on industrial and environmental biotechnology is focusing on the development of “clean technologies" which emphasizes on the maximum production, reduced waste generation, treatment and conversion of waste in some useful form. Further, these clean technologies focus on the use of biological methods for the remediation of waste.  The mushrooms and other fungi possess enzymatic machinery for the degradation of waste/pollutants and therefore, can be applied for a wide variety of pollutants. 

Many reports have been published to emphasize the role of mushroom in bioremediation of wastes by the process of biodegradation and biosorption . Many scientists have studied the role of different enzymes in the degradation process; degradation products formed by it and conditions affecting the degradation process. Mycoremediation of waste from the environment by mushroom has many advantages but at the same time it is a challenge for the researchers and engineers. Mycoremediation of wastes can be done in in situ and ex situ conditions. When it is carried out on site, it eliminates the need to transport the toxic materials to treatment sites. It is an environmentally friendly approach and needs only a small space, low cost, less skilled persons and can be applied easily in the field. In contrast to above, there are some disadvantages in applying this mycoremediation tool. Mushrooms require time to adapt to the environment and cleanup wastes. Mushroom cultivated on industrial wastes may possess toxicity/genotoxicity. Genotoxicity of mushrooms is influenced by genotoxicants that are present in waste used for their cultivation. Therefore, it is necessary to assess toxicity/genotoxicity of mushrooms if used for bioremediation purpose...

 

 PSYCHEDELIC-(capable of producing abnormal psychological effects)  

 

 

 Psychoactive Mushrooms, notably the psilocybin species, have been used in religious and shamanistic rituals by various cultures, with their effects seen as divine or otherworldly.

 

 

 

Among the indigenous peoples of Central and South America, these mushrooms played a significant role in religious and divinatory ceremonies. Both the ancient Maya and Aztec civilizations held these "flesh of the gods" in high regard, and their use was tightly regulated by religious authorities.

 

             

                             ( Stone Aztec Mushroom Art) 

In Aztec culture, the divine mushroom was called "teonanácatl," and depictions of mushroom gods can be found in the region's archaeological record.

 

                              'Inca Stargazers' (psychedelic) 

 Psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms, are a  polyphyletic informal group of fungi that contain psilocybin, which turns into psilocin upon ingestion. Psilocybin mushrooms have been and continue to be used in indigenous South American cultures in religious,  Psilocybin mushrooms may be depicted in Stone Age rock art in Africa and Europe, but are more certainly represented in pre-Columbian sculptures and glyphs seen throughout the Americas.

            

Rock art from c. 9000–7000 BCE from Tassili, Algeria, is believed to depict psycehelic mushrooms and the transformation of the user under their influence.

               

The first mention of hallucinogenic mushrooms in European medicinal literature was in the London Medical and Physical Journal in 1799: A man served Psilocybe semilanceata mushrooms he had picked for breakfast in London's Green Park for his family. The apothecary who treated them later described how the youngest child "was attacked with fits of immoderate laughter, nor could the threats of his father or mother refrain him.

 

In 1955, Valentina Pavlova Wasson and R. Gordon Wasson became the first known European Americans to actively participate in an indigenous mushroom ceremony. The Wassons did much to publicize their experience, even publishing an article on their experiences in Life Magazine on May 13, 1957.

  In 1956, Roger Heim identified the psychoactive mushroom the Wassons brought back from Mexico as Psilocybe Mexican, and in 1958, Dr. Albert Hoffman aka "Saint Albert" the scientist to discover LSD, also first identified psilocybin and psilocin as the active compounds in these mushroom.

                

                                      Dr. Albert Hoffman 

Inspired by the Wassons' Life article, Harvard Professor Timothy Leary traveled to Mexico to experience psilocybin mushrooms himself. When he returned to Harvard in 1960, he and Richard Alpert a.k.a 'Ram Das' started the Harvard Psilocybin Project, promoting psychological and religious studies of psilocybin and other psychedelic drugs

      

                                   Prof. Timothy Leary 

 

              

                              Richard Alpert aka "Ram Das" 

. Alpert and Leary sought to conduct research with psilocybin on prisoners in the 1960s, testing its effects on recidivism. This experiment reviewed the subjects six months later, and found that the recidivism rate had decreased beyond their expectation, below 40%. This, and another experiment administering psilocybin to graduate divinity students, showed controversy. Shortly after Leary and Alpert were dismissed from their jobs by Harvard in 1963, they turned their attention toward promoting the psychedelic experience to the growing counter culture. 

The popularization of entheogen by the Wassons, Leary, Terence McKenna and many others led to an explosion in the use of psilocybin mushrooms throughout the world. By the early 1970s, many psilocybin mushroom species were described from temperate North America, Europe, and Asia and were widely collected.  There influence and the "Spores" they spread are beyond explanation. 

At present, psilocybin mushroom use has been reported among some groups spanning from central Mexico to Oaxaca, including groups of Nahua, Mixtecs, Mice, Mazatecs, Zapotecs, and others.

 An important figure of mushroom usage in Mexico was Maria Sabina, who used native mushrooms such as Psilocybe Mexican in her practice.

           

 A Psilocybe species known to the Aztecs as teōnanācatl (literally "divine mushroom": the agglutinative form of teōtl (god, sacred) and nanācatl (mushroom) was reportedly served at the coronation of the Aztec ruler Moctezuma II in 1502. Bernardino de Saharan reported the ritualistic use of teonanácatl by the Aztecs when he traveled to Central America after the expedition of Hernan Cortes.  

Aztecs and Mazatecas referred to psilocybin mushrooms as genius mushrooms, divinatory mushrooms, and wondrous mushrooms when translated into English. 

“Mushrooms are very ripe in terms of pushing creative thinking,” notes Rae La Cerva. “The diversity of art and recipes you can make with mushrooms is so incredible. We’ve been looking at this black-and-white world, but really it’s full of colors and shapes. We can’t capture the complex, stunning quality of the natural world, but we can express the deep unknowable beauty of being alive. Mushrooms are a way to find that inspiration.”

    

In short, MUSHROOMS REALLY ARE MAGIC, these seemingly insignificant organisms have a unifying quality that spans both time and space, their root-like structure a genesis story for human creativity — and perhaps even the earth itself. “Mushrooms are on the roots in all plants, doing a job that’s making everything work, even yeasts in algae go up into the sky and make clouds. Yeasts in our stomachs help us digest. Without fungi, life lacks complexity. We’d probably be on a two-dimensional plane.”

 It can be said that Mushrooms are a CONDUIT FOR CONSCIOUSNESS. 

Our obsession with mushrooms, as it turns out, is only natural. They help us reconnect with the world around us in a purer, more innocent way. They blend a trippy, technicolor nostalgia for the past with an optimistic blueprint for the future. Most of all, they prove that hope blooms in dark places. Today’s shroom boom confirms that spores are here to stay!

                                         OM NAMAH SHIVAYA