Poisonous and Hallucinogenic Fungi

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		+	==Introduction==
	Although used extensively to heighten flavor and nutritional value, not all mushrooms are harmless. Some mushroom species produce/contain toxic and/or hallucinogenic compounds that have negative effects on individuals when ingested. Hallucinogens are substances that change or produce false perceptions of the senses. Toxins are poisonous compounds produced in living cells. Some compounds produced by mushrooms are capable of causing severe serious illness, and in some cases even death.		Although used extensively to heighten flavor and nutritional value, not all mushrooms are harmless. Some mushroom species produce/contain toxic and/or hallucinogenic compounds that have negative effects on individuals when ingested. Hallucinogens are substances that change or produce false perceptions of the senses. Toxins are poisonous compounds produced in living cells. Some compounds produced by mushrooms are capable of causing severe serious illness, and in some cases even death.

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Revision as of 18:54, 21 March 2013

Contents 1 Introduction 1.1 Edibility 1.2 Side Effects 1.3 Legality 2 References

Introduction

Although used extensively to heighten flavor and nutritional value, not all mushrooms are harmless. Some mushroom species produce/contain toxic and/or hallucinogenic compounds that have negative effects on individuals when ingested. Hallucinogens are substances that change or produce false perceptions of the senses. Toxins are poisonous compounds produced in living cells. Some compounds produced by mushrooms are capable of causing severe serious illness, and in some cases even death.

Illness or symptoms caused by toxins and/or hallucinogens in mushrooms include ^[1]. However, other genera that contain psilocybin mushrooms include^[2]:

• Agrocybe
• Conocybe
• Copelandia
• Galerina
• Gerronema
• Gymnopilus
• Hypholoma
• Inocybe
• Mycena
• Panaeolus
• Plutes

Edibility

Although deemed edible, ingestion of these mushrooms is not recommended due to the psychoactive effect of psilocybin, which is a hallucinogen produced by psilocybin mushrooms. There are no documented health benefits from taking these mushrooms, and are ingested solely for the euphoria caused. Use of these mushrooms is usually ingestion; however it may also be stewed into a tea, usually being cooked together with other ingredients because of their very bitter taste^[3]. Potency varies throughout species of Psilocybin mushrooms, and therefore dosage determines euphoria^[4].

Side Effects

Fatal side effects or overdose from use of psilobycin mushrooms is relatively nonexistent; however there are side effects which include^[5]:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Muscle weakness
• Dizziness
• Lack of coordination
• Derealisation
• Hallucination
• Panic reactions
• Anxiety
• Psychosis

There are documented negative effects and experiences which include depression, anxiety, intense fear, disturbing hallucinations, as well as nightmares^[6]. These effects subside one the potency of the drug wears off^[7]. Long term abuse of these mushrooms can cause hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD), where hallucinations are seen long after the ingestion of mushrooms, however this is relatively rare in psilocybin users^[8].

Legality

Although selling spores is allowed, mushrooms are illegal to possess, buy, sell, import or trade in Canada and other countries such as the United States^[9].

References

• 1 Bonnet, MS and PW Basson. 2004. The toxicology of Amanita virosa: the destroying angel. Homeopathy. 93:216-220
• 1 Samorini, G. 1992. The oldest representations of hallucinogenic mushrooms in the world (Sahara Desert, 9000-7000 B.P.). Integration 2 (3): 69–78.
• 2 Moncalvo, J.M., Vilgalys, R., Redhead, S.A., Johnson, J.E., James, T.Y., Catherine Aime, M., Hofstetter, V., Verduin, S.J., Larsson, E., Baroni, T.J., Greg Thorn, R., Jacobsson, S., Clémençon, H., and Miller, O.K. Jr. 2002. One hundred and seventeen clades of euagarics. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 23 (3): 357–400.
• 3 van Amsterdam, J., Opperhuizen, A., and van den Brink, W. 2011. Harm potential of magic mushroom use: a review. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology 59 (3): 423–9.
• 4 Government of Canada Website. From: http://www.canada.gc.ca/home.html.