gymnopilus sp. identification
JOCHEN GARTZ
MAGIC MUSHROOMS
Around the World
A Scientific Journey Across Cultures and
Time
The Case for Challenging Research
and Value Systems
* LIS PUBLICATIONS * LOS ANGELES, CA*
Figure 1 - Water Color Painting of Psilocybe semilanceata
(Germany, 1927)
TABLE OF CONTENT (With Active Links' Just Click On A Subject To Go To The Page)
"Who Was the First Magician?" - Foreword by Christian Ratsch 7
1. Introduction 9
2. Reflections on the History and Scientific Study of Magic Mushrooms 10
3. The Current State of Knowledge About European Species 14
3.1 Psilocybe semilanceata: The Classic Species Among European Psychotropic Mushrooms 16
3.2 Psilocybe cyanescens: Potent Mushrooms Growing on Wood Debris 29
3.3 Panaeolus subbalteatus: Mycology and Myths about the Panaeolus Species 37
3.4 Inocybe aeruginascens: Fast-Spreading New Arrivals 44
3.5 Gymnopilus purpuratus: Magnificent Mushrooms from South America 51
3.6 Conocybe cyanopus: Tiny Mushrooms of Remarkable Potency 55
3.7 Pluteus salicinus: A Little-known Wood-Inhabiting Species 58
4. Mushroom Identification: Taxonomic Confusion and the Potential for Deadly Mistakes 61
5. The Bluing Phenomenon and Metol Testing: Reality vs. Wishful Thinking 63
6. Mushroom Cultivation: Classic Findings and New Techniques 66
7. Psychotropic Mushroom Species Around the World 77
7.1 Spotlight on North America and Hawaii Magic Mushrooms Chart 79
7.2 Mycophilia in Central and South America 82
7.3 Australia's Mycoflora Attracts Attention 84
7.4 European Customs and Conventions 87
7.5 Japanese Experimentation 93
7.6 Intoxications and the Oldest Known Mushroom Cult in Africa 95
7.7 Usage in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific Islands 98
8. Some Comments on Effects of Mushrooms from the Category Phantastika 102
9. Psychotherapy 108
10. Outlook 114
11. Bibliography 120
Index 129
Figure 2 - Psilocybe cubensis from Australia
Figure 3 - Water color painting of Panaeolus subbalteatus (Germany, 1927).
Figure 4 - Fresh Panaeolus subbalteatus mushrooms.
FOREWORD
Nobody knows precisely when the first magic
mushroom emerged from the shadows of
prehistory to enter the light of consciousness.
Nobody knows when the first magic
where pick magic mushrooms glasgow scotland mushroom
was eaten by a human being.
Nobody knows
just who the first magic mushroom eater was. In
seeking answers to these questions, we can only
speculate. Mycophobes,
taghi tajgardoun 2010
however, are quick to
voice their conviction that only a fool would be
reckless enough to want to attain a higher state
of consciousness beyond the boundaries of
everyday reality. And only a fool would attempt
to do this by ingesting those odd little things that
mysteriously
Psilocybin thrive on decaying, humid soil,
rotten wood and malodorous mounds of cow
manure.
Historically, magic, mushrooms have
been feared and hated` since antiquity: magic
mushrooms were thought to be made from
poisons that had dripped from serpents' fangs;
they were considered to be unclean emissions of
evil spirits; moreover, mushrooms were a kn There are more than 1 dozen species of "magic mushrooms" in Australia and New
It has been suggested by an Australian physician that the general public in Australia, as well as members of its drug using subculture, first became aware of the visionary properties of these psychoactive mushrooms by a visiting surfer(s), who came from either New Zealand or the United States (Hawaii) and most likely provided ethnomycological information to local surfers (McCarthy, 1971). This physician reported that the use of psychoactive mushrooms, as well as 21 other drugs "was well demonstrated during a survey on drug abuse that was conducted in Southern Queensland during l969." This survey relied on interviews of 51 people belonging to "the `surfer' P Subaeruginosa Spore Print Buy subculture local beach resorts". In this report, the doctor believed that "although the survey involved surfers and their female friends, there is no suggestion that Panaeolussporesyringegermany the use of these drugs is confined to this group, which constitutes but a proportion of our (Australian) young drug taking community.
" It is thus likely that word-of-mouth communication made a significant contribution to the increasing use of "magic mushrooms" in Australia and NZ.
The Mazatec Indians, who have a long tradition of using the mushrooms, inhabit a range of mountains called the Sierra Mazateca in the northeastern corner of the Mexican state of Oaxaca. The shamans in this essay are all natives of the town of Huautla de Jimenez. Properly speaking they are Huautecans; but since the language they speak has been called Mazatec and they have been referred to in the previous anthropological literature as Mazatecs, I have retained that name, though strictly speaking, Mazatecs are the inhabitants of the village of Mazatlan in the same mountains.
taghi
taghi tajgardoun
JOCHEN GARTZ
MAGIC MUSHROOMS
Around the World
A Scientific Journey Across Cultures and
Time
The Case for Challenging Research
and Value Systems
* LIS PUBLICATIONS * LOS
where pick magic mushrooms glasgow scotland ANGELES, CA*
Figure 1 - Water Color Painting of Psilocybe semilanceata
(Germany, 1927)
TABLE OF CONTENT (With Active Links' Just Click On A Subject To Go To The Page)
"Who Was the First Magician?" - Foreword by Christian Ratsch 7
1. Introduction 9
2. Reflections on the History and Scientific Study of Magic Mushrooms 10
3. The Current State of Knowledge About European Species 14
3.1 Psilocybe semilanceata: The Classic Species Among European Psychotropic Mushrooms 16
3.2 Psilocybe cyanescens: Potent Mushrooms Growing on Wood Debris 29
3.3 Panaeolus subbalteatus: Mycology and Myths about the Panaeolus Species 37
3.4 Inocybe aeruginascens: Fast-Spreading New Arrivals 44
3.5 Gymnopilus purpuratus: Magnificent Mushrooms from South America 51
3.6 Conocybe cyanopus: Tiny Mushrooms of Remarkable Potency 55
3.7 Pluteus salicinus: A Little-known Wood-Inhabiting Species 58
4.
Mushroom Identification: Taxonomic Confusion and the Potential for Deadly Mistakes 61
5. The Bluing Phenomenon and Metol Testing: Reality vs. Wishful Thinking 63
6. Mushroom Cultivation: Classic Findings and New Techniques 66
7.
Psychotropic Mushroom Species Around the World 77
7.1 Spotlight on North America and Hawaii 79
7.2 Mycophilia in Central and South America 82
7.3 Australia's Mycoflora Attracts Attention 84
7.4 European Customs and Conventions 87
7.5 Japanese Experimentation 93
7.
6 Intoxications and the Oldest Known Mushroom Cult in Africa 95
7.7 Usage in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific Islands 98
8.
Some Comments on Effects of Mushrooms from the Category Phantastika 102
9. Psychotherapy 108
10. Outlook 114
11. Bibliography 120
Index 129
Figure 2 - Psilocybe cubensis from Australia
Figure 3 - Water color painting of Panaeolus subbalteatus (Germany, 1927).
Figure 4 - Fresh Panaeolus subbalteatus mushrooms.
FOREWORD
Nobody knows precisely when the first magic
mushroom emerged from the shadows of
prehistory to enter the light of consciousness.
Nobody knows when the first magic mushroom
was eaten by a human being. Nobody knows
just who the first magic mushroom eater was. In
seeking answers to these questions, we can only
speculate. Mycophobes, however, are quick to
voice their conviction that only a fool would be
reckless enough to want to attain a Texan
cow shrooms Texan higher state
of consciousness beyond the boundaries of
everyday reality. And only a fool would attempt
to do this by ingesting those odd little things that
mysteriously thrive on decaying, humid soil,
rotten wood and malodorous mounds of cow
manure.
Historically, magic, mushrooms have
been feared and hated` since antiquity: magic
mushrooms were thought to be made from
poisons that had dripped from serpents' fangs;
they were considered to be unclean emissions of
evil spirits; moreover, mushrooms were a kn
The question of dosage is often Panaeoluscyanescensidentification confused by the variation in the source of the In
cow shrooms In
cow shrooms Mountains
cow shrooms Picking
cow shrooms Mushroom
cow shrooms Picking
cow shrooms Mushroom hallucinogenic mushroom species which is consumed.
JOCHEN GARTZ
MAGIC MUSHROOMS
Around the World
A Scientific Journey Across Cultures and
Time
The Case for Challenging Research
and Value Systems
* LIS PUBLICATIONS * LOS ANGELES, CA*
Figure 1 - Water Color Painting of Psilocybe semilanceata
(Germany, 1927)
TABLE OF CONTENT (With Active Links' Just Click On A Subject To Go To The Page)
"Who Was the First Magician?" - Foreword by Christian Ratsch 7
1. Introduction 9
2. Reflections on the History and Scientific Study of Magic Mushrooms 10
3. The Current State of Knowledge About European Species 14
3.1 Psilocybe semilanceata: The Classic Species Among European Psychotropic Mushrooms 16
3.2 Psilocybe cyanescens: Potent Mushrooms Growing on Wood Debris 29
3.3 Panaeolus subbalteatus: Mycology and Myths about the Panaeolus Species 37
3.4 Inocybe aeruginascens: Fast-Spreading New Arrivals 44
3.5 Gymnopilus purpuratus: Magnificent Mushrooms from South America 51
3.6 Conocybe cyanopus: Tiny Mushrooms of Remarkable Potency 55
3.7 Pluteus salicinus: A Little-known Wood-Inhabiting Species 58
4. Mushroom Identification: Taxonomic Confusion and the Potential for Deadly Mistakes 61
5. The Bluing Phenomenon and Metol Testing: Reality vs. Wishful Thinking 63
6. Mushroom Cultivation: Classic Findings and New Techniques 66
7. Psychotropic Mushroom Species Around the World 77
7.1 Spotlight on North America and Hawaii 79
7.2 Mycophilia in Central and South America 82
7.3 Australia's Mycoflora Attracts Attention 84
7.4 European Customs and Conventions 87
7.5 Japanese Experimentation 93
7.6 Intoxications and the Oldest Known Mushroom Cult in Africa 95
7.7 Usage in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific Islands 98
8. Some Comments on Effects of Mushrooms from the Category Phantastika 102
9. Psychotherapy 108
10. Outlook 114
11. Bibliography 120
Index 129
Figure 2 - Psilocybe cubensis from Australia
Figure 3 - Water color painting of Panaeolus subbalteatus (Germany, 1927).
Figure 4 - Fresh Panaeolus subbalteatus mushrooms.
FOREWORD
Nobody knows precisely when the first magic
mushroom emerged from the shadows of
prehistory to enter the light of consciousness.
Nobody knows when the first magic mushroom
was eaten by a human being. Nobody knows
just who the first magic mushroom eater was. In
seeking answers to these questions, we can only
speculate. Mycophobes, however, are quick to
voice their conviction that only a fool would be
reckless enough to want to attain a higher state
of consciousness beyond the boundaries of
everyday reality. And only a fool would attempt
to do this by ingesting those odd little things that
mysteriously thrive on decaying, humid soil,
rotten wood and malodorous mounds of cow
manure.
Historically, magic, mushrooms have
been feared and hated` since antiquity: magic
mushrooms were thought to be made from
poisons that had dripped from serpents' fangs;
they were considered to be unclean emissions of
evil spirits; moreover, mushrooms were a kn
. For
that reason, freeze-dried samples for biochemical
analysis Psychedelic Mushrooms Of The Caribbean are stored at -10°C prior to alkaloid
extractions or chromatography testing. In addition
to the reports from Finland, investigators in North
America have noted that psilocybin's decay rate is
slowest in Psilocybe semilanceata, compared to
other species.
(1) R = H2P03
(2) R = H
Figure 19 - Structural formulas for
psilocybin (1) and psilocin (2).
CH3
CH3
Psilocybe semilanceata
Figure 20 - Distribution pattern of Psilocybe semilanceata in Germany and adjacent areas.
Locations are indicated by black dots.
CHAPTER 3.2
PSILOCYBE CYANESCENS - POTENT MUSHROOMS
GROWING ON WOOD DEBRIS
At least one other Psilocybe species in
addition to Psilocybe semilanceata is known to
exist in Europe. At this point, I must emphasize
that the differentiation of single species within
the Psilocybe genus is subject to considerable
controversy among Gymnopilussphabitat eminent taxonomists. For
example, there are different methods of
distinguishing the Hypholoma genus from the
Stropharia genus.
The Widespread Distribution
of Psilocybe cyanescens
While Psilocybe semilanceata is a species
that has long been clearly defined and is well
known by this name, there are, according to
Krieglsteiner, other strongly bluing mushrooms
that can be described as belonging to the
"Psilocybe cyanescens complex". These are all
mushrooms that grow on raw compost and plant
debris.
In accordance with current states of
knowledge, the following names in the literature
are merely synonyms for Psilocybe cyanescens
Wakefield emend. Krieglsteiner:
different herbariums. However, the microscopic
data pertaining to the Psilocybe species are poorly
delineated and oftentimes overlap. It is therefore
imperative that additional mycological studies of
Psilocybe cyanescens be performed. To this end,
fresh mushroom samples from various European
locations should be used, and biochemical methods
must be included in the investigation. Guzman's
division of Psilocybe cyanescens by geographic
area, however, definitely turned out to be
inaccurate.
According to his system, -North Africa
was home to Psilocybe mairei, while Psilocybe
cyanescens were found in England and Holland and
Psilocybe serbica supposedly grew in Serbia and
Bohemia.
The geographic distribution of the entire
species seems to cover a vast area, with variations
along climate and terrain at locations where samples
were collected.
Such disparate morphologies are to
be expected when dealing with "young" species,
that is, species that have not yet firmly established
themselves and are still expanding into new
locations.
Figure 7 (p. 14) displays locations in
Europe and North Africa where samples of
Psilocybe cyanescens have been found.
- Hypholoma cyanescens R. Maire
- Hypholoma coprinifacies (Rolland ss.
Herink) Pouzar
- Geophila cyanescens (R. Maire) Kuhner &
Romagnesi
- Psilocybe serbica Moser & Horak
- Psilocybe mairei Singer
- Psilocyb
The first livestock to arrive in Australia were brought from the Cape of Good Hope in Those who ingest Copelandia cyanescens, known in
gymnopilus sp. identification
xican mushroom species, so that
these materials need not be repeated in this
context. However, certain aspects concerning the
more recent uses of these mushrooms as well as
their conditions of growth will receive more
detailed attention in later chapters.
The main purpose of this book is to
inspire further study of these mushrooms,
particularly basic research efforts and medical
applications of magic mushroom ingredients.
The extensive bibliography will help
scientists and other interested mycophiles to
further immerse themselves in this complex area
of study.
Jochen Gartz
Figure 6 - Bronze doors with mushroom motif entitled "Trial and
Judgment" at Hildesheim Cathedral, Germany (ca. 1020).
CHAPTER 2
REFLECTIONS ON THE HISTORY
AND SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF MAGIC MUSHROOMS
It is remarkable that cultures native to the
American continent knew about a relatively large
number of natural mind-altering substances
compared to early cultures that evolved in Europe
or Asia. Botanical evidence does not support the
notion that Europe is home to fewer hallucinogenic
plants than other regions. Furthermore, the
growing number of recently discovered European
mushroom species containing psilocybin indicate a
flourishing psychotropic mycoflora in Europe
similar to those found in other countries.
It is unlikely that early European cultures
learned less about local plants and mushrooms
through usage and experience than cultures
elsewhere in Kansas Psilocybe the world. Most likely, early cultural
knowledge of European psychoactive plants and
mushrooms was lost or destroyed at some time in
history, probably as early as several hundred years
ago.
The discovery that the fly agaric
mushroom (Amanita muscaria) was known for its
psychoactive properties in Siberia invited the
conclusion that this mushroom was used as a
psychotropic agent in medieval Europe as well. In
fact, there is very little evidence from the Middle
Ages to indicate widespread knowledge of the
effects of specific mushrooms on human
consciousness. However, I believe that past reports
on psychoactive mushrooms were causally linked
to Amanita muscaria simply because this was the
only known psychotropic mushroom in Europe at
that time.
While the usage of Amanita muscaria
among Siberian tribes has generated reports of
spectacular hallucinations, European accounts of
fly agaric intoxications do not generally include
descriptions of such intensely hallucinatory
effects.
Accordingly, the potent hallucinogenic
effects of specific Psilocybes and related species
are likely to have had a much more significant
influence on early European cultures than the
delirium-like visions induced by Amanita
muscaria, a species that is also known to induce
unconsciousness and severe somatic side effects.
This hypothesis is corroborated by data from
comprehensive field studies conducted in Mexico.
I believe that historic accounts including those
described below - indicate a knowledge of Most recreational users of Psilocybe cubensis (when grown in vitro) require a dosage of 1 to 2 gm of dried mushrooms to produce an altered state of consciousness; a clinical dosage for Psilocybe cubensis, on the other hand, had previously been reported as ranging from 3 to 5 gm of dried material. This dosage would be comparable to the amount of fungal material consumed for religious purposes in a Mazatec Indian healing and curing ceremony. In 1982, one research team "found that the level of psilocybin and psilocin varies over a factor of 4 among various in vitro cultures of Psilocybe cubensis, while specimens from outdoors varied tenfold." A fresh dosage of Psilocybe cubensis in Australia would be approximately from 1 to 2 large mushrooms weighing up to as much as one fresh ounce, or as many as from 25 to 50 small mushrooms equaling the same weight amount. Ethnopharmacologist Jonathan Ott (1976, 1993) noted that he has observed "the ingestion of from 0.5 gm to 5.9 gm dried weight (10 gm to 40 gm fresh)", of various species of Psilocybe. Dosage for Psilocybe subcubensis would be the same as for Psilocybe cubensis. Both of these latter two species are macroscopically alike. The usual dosage for Copelandia cyanescens required to induce psychedelic visual effects ranges from 1 to 3 large specimens (cap diameter c. 5 mm), or as many as 5 to l0 medium-sized mushrooms (cap diameter c. 2.5 mm); however, personal tolerance to this species may occur with continued use, and some who consume large amounts of this mushroom have reportedly ingested as many as 50 to 200 fresh specimens of various sizes. ed
and large numbers of studies were conducted,
primarily with LSD. These investigators sought to
discover the receptor binding sites for
hallucinogenic compounds in the brain and to
understand the mechanisms underlying the
genesis of psychedelic visions.
Today, we
where pick magic mushrooms glasgow scotland
still
lack a sound theoretical framework able to
explain the relationship between chemical
compounds and the manifestation of their
psychoactivity. Even though basic research is
certainly important, its methods, unfortunately, are
often a function of a rather one-sided
pharmacological approach to investigating the
effects of psilocybin, LSD and mescaline - an
approach that is, in fact, too narrow to address the
remarkably unusual nature of these substances and
their effects.
Misunderstandings between pharmacologists
and toxicologists on the one hand and
psychiatrists and psychologists on the other can
often be traced all the way back to the 1950's,
creating a legacy of disputes and arguments that
have yet to be resolved. S. Grof undertook the
tedious task of analyzing 5,000 experimental LSD
protocols in an effort to isolate "absolute"
symptoms that are reported or occur
Cyanescens Spore Print all of the
time. His results were negative. According to Grof,
hallucinogenic substances are non-specific triggers
causing a sequence of altered states of
consciousness, which do not fit the syndrome
labeled "toxic psychosis". Rather, it is the
individual's personality, along with the
experimental setting that significantly shape the
nature of the psychedelic experience. This view is
shared by a majority of experts with considerable
experience in conducting psychedelics-assisted
psychotherapy. Even "real" somatic symptoms,
such as nausea or vomiting, can
Zoomy Caps often be controlled
through psychological intervention techniques
administered by trained professionals.
A Plethora of Names
The broad range of possible experiences
inspired the use of labels other than
"hallucinogens", with widely differing semantic
connotations: entheogens, psychedelics,
illusionogens, psycholytics, psychomimetics,
psychodysleptica, psychoemetics and others.
"Phantastica" (Lewin) is the oldest label
ever used to describe this class of substances. This
term successfully evokes dream-like, fanciful
aspects of the experience, as well as the potential
for euphoric and dysphoric emotional overtones.
More recent terminology often says more about
semantic biases of those who use the labels than
about any factual, objective characteristics of the
alkaloids they refer to. Accordingly, official antidrug
propaganda since
the 1960's has disparaged "psychedelics" as
excessively glamorous and too positive a label, as
the term was popular among Timothy Leary's fans
and supporters.
When used in low doses or for the first
time, these substances are most likely to bring
about a kind of magical transformation of
surroundings, with a heightened ability to perceive
subtle differences along the color spectru
by A. Hofmann, Sandoz Pharmaceuticals
manufactured about 2 kg (ca. 4.4lbs) of
pure psilocybin for scientific research
Pazurescensgrowkit purposes.
The results of pharmacological testing
soon revealed psilocybin as an alkaloid that was
perfectly safe for human subjects under controlled
experimental conditions. Despite this evidence, the
anti-drug legislative framework of the mid1960s
firmly established an "official mycophobia", a
misguided, yet entrenched policy that still prevails
today and effectively prevents the scientific
investigation of promising potential applications
for psilocybin and other alkaloids. At the same
time, mycological and biochemical
research studies have shown that psilocybincontaining
mushrooms thrive all over the world
and can be found on all continents. These
mushrooms are no different from any other
mycoflora and must not be excluded from
scientific investigation because of their alkaloid
content.
In addition to overall variations in value
systems across cultures, individuals tend to
develop their own personal attitudes towards
mushrooms in general. Oftentimes, the evolution
of specific opinions about mushrooms can be
traced back to childhood events, even though such
early experiences seldom account for the
development of prevailing biases and value
systems later in life.
I recall an incident from my own
childhood, which occurred when I was about five
years old. I was playing in a grassy meadow, when
a girl pointed to a brown mushroom and earnestly
explained that it was inedible and poisonous.
While I have never forgotten this encounter, I did
grow up to become a devoted mushroom
enthusiast. On the other hand, a different
childhood event has left me with the vivid memory
of discovering a landfill virtually covered with
vast numbers of gilled bluing mushrooms and the
sense of awe I experienced contemplating this
sight. In general, the unusual characteristics of
these mushrooms are most likely responsible for
strong impressions formed early in life, which then
may develop into various attitudes or beliefs later
on.
An enduring personal interest in
psychotropic mushroom species can serve to
amplify or diminish mycophobic as well as
mycophilic dispositions, depending on the
influence of other factors. After all, judgments
about the benefit or folly of deliberately altering
one's state of consciousness are also colored by
individual preferences, biases and opinions.
The following chapters are meant to
illustrate this diversity of attitudes towards
psychotropic mushrooms. Descriptions of planned
and involuntary experiments with specific
mushroom species offer convincing evidence that
the effects of psychoactive mushrooms are open
gymnopilus sp. identification to
many possible interpretations.
CHAPTER 3
THE CURRENT STATE OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT
EUROPEAN SPECIES
Figure 7 - Distribution pattern of Psilocybe cyanescens across Europe and North Africa
(according to Krieglsteiner). Black dots indicate approximate locatio
CATTLE AS A POSSIBLE DISPERSAL MECHANISM FOR PSYCHOACTIVE DUNG FUNGI
One may ask the question, "how did these mushrooms arrive in Australia and New Zealand?" Well some species may be endemic,that is, they were already there naturally. Other species such as the above described dung-inhabiting mushrooms most likelyappeared after the introduction of cattle on the subcontinent.The first livestock to arrive in Australia were brought from the Cape of Good Hope in1788, and included 2 bulls and 5 cows, along with other domesticated farm animals. Byl803, the government owned approximately 1800 cattle, most of which were importedfrom the Cape, Calcutta, and the west coast of America. It was during this period thatsome of the visionary mushrooms mentioned in this field guide probably first appeared inAustralia (Unsigned, 1973). According to Australian mycologist John Burton Cleland(1934), "fungi growing in cow or horse-dung and confined to such habitats, must in thecase of Australia, all belong to introduced species". It is believed to have been the SouthAfrican dung beetle which may have actually spread the spores. According to Englishmycologist Roy Watling of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Glasgow, Scotland, "it must beremembered that fungi can change substrate preferences and there are coprophilousfungi on kangaroo droppings etc." Some mycologists who have studied the "magicmushrooms" in Australia and NZ claim that the "use of P. cubensis as a recreational drugtends to confirm the belief that some] farmers in early times may have] added one or two basidiomes gilled mushrooms] to a mealto liven it up and still do] Margot & Watling, 1981)."
ed
and large numbers of studies were conducted,
primarily with LSD. These investigators sought to
discover the receptor binding sites for
hallucinogenic compounds in the brain and to
understand the mechanisms underlying the
genesis of psychedelic visions. Today, we still
lack a sound theoretical framework able to
explain the relationship between chemical
compounds and the manifestation of their
psychoactivity. Even though basic research is
certainly important, its methods, unfortunately, are
often a function of a rather one-sided
pharmacological approach to investigating the
effects of psilocybin, LSD and mescaline - an
approach that is, in fact, too narrow to address the
remarkably unusual nature of these substances and
their effects.
Misunderstandings between pharmacologists
and toxicologists on the one hand and
psychiatrists and psychologists on the other can
often be traced all the way back to the 1950's,
creating a legacy of disputes and arguments that
have yet to be resolved. S. Grof undertook the
tedious task of analyzing 5,000 experimental LSD
protocols in an effort to isolate "absolute"
symptoms that are reported or occur all of the
time. His results were negative. According to Grof,
hallucinogenic substances are non-specific triggers
causing a sequence of altered states of
consciousness, which do not fit the syndrome
labeled "toxic psychosis". Rather, it is the
individual's personality, along with the
experimental setting that significantly shape the
nature of the psychedelic experience. This view is
shared by a majority of experts with considerable
experience in conducting psychedelics-assisted
psychotherapy. Even "real" somatic symptoms,
such as nausea or vomiting, can often be controlled
through psychological intervention techniques
administered by trained professionals.
A Plethora of Names
The broad range of possible experiences
inspired the use of labels other than
"hallucinogens", with widely differing semantic
connotations: entheogens, psychedelics,
illusionogens, psycholytics, psychomimetics,
psychodysleptica, psychoemetics and others.
"Phantastica" (Lewin) is the oldest label
ever used to describe this class of substances. This
term successfully evokes dream-like, fanciful
aspects of the experience, as well as the potential
for euphoric and dysphoric emotional overtones.
More recent terminology often says more about
semantic biases of those who use the labels than
about any factual, objective characteristics of the
alkaloids they refer to. Accordingly, official antidrug
propaganda since
the 1960's has disparaged "psychedelics" as
excessively glamorous and too positive a label, as
the term was popular among Timothy Leary's fans
and supporters.
When used in low doses or for the first
time, these substances are most likely to bring
about a kind of magical transformation of
surroundings, with a heightened ability to perceive
subtle differences along the color spectru
P. azurescens grow kit @ 8/1/2010 2:17:28 AM