Are Shrooms Bad For You? Considerations & Fungal Food for Thought

Are shrooms bad for you? Mushrooms have immense potential to encourage healing and connection on this planet, but they need to be respected

Are shrooms bad for you? IS connection, nutrition, love, beauty, healing, or inspiration bad for you? This can happen on many layers, between people, communities, land, and plants. Recent studies have shown that psilocybin mushrooms, or magic mushroom are not bad for you but rather can be extremely helpful. These mushrooms are currently being researched with promise as

• a potential anti-depressant
• support for people with PTSD
• support for addiction to tobacco and alcohol
• Exploration of connection with god

Along with all of these benefits the opportunity for abuse is very low. Much lower than any of the opioids that are sold as pain medications in the United States.   Unlocking the magic in mushrooms a John Hopkins review has shown that using magic mushrooms can decrease depression and anxiety in cancer patients and likely beyond. As an alternative for anti-depressants a 6 hour mushroom trip can have immediate and lasting changes on mood. "Eighty percent of participants in the study reported a significant reduction in depression and anxiety six months later." This is an incredibly high percentage with little chance for lasting side effects. This study shows that, "Are shrooms bad for you?" is the wrong question. You should really be asking, "What can shrooms do for me?"

Are shrooms bad for you? NO WAY, Ally with the fungal kingdom and not only your life but the entire planet will be better off.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IK50OFzw364

A schedule 1 drug going to be a schedule 4?

The abuse potential of medical psilocybin according to the 8 factors of the Controlled Substances Act. This study published in November of 2018 explores the abuse potential of psilocybin. In the study the authors found

• Psilocybin mushrooms have been used for millennia for spiritual and medical purposes
• Animal and human studies indicate low abuse and no physical dependence potential
• Major national surveys indicate low rates of abuse, treatment-seeking and harm
• Psilocybin may provide therapeutic benefits supporting its development as a new drug
• Analysis supports the scheduling of psilocybin no more restrictively than schedule IV

The mushroom was made illegal in the 1960's about 15 years after their introduction to the United States counter culture. Along with other psychedelics they were placed as a schedule 1 drug and regarded dangerously by the government. None of this was decided because of scientific studies or rationale, rather as a method to decrease the counter culture movement that was extremely active at the time. In the 1970's books started being published on the cultivation of magic mushrooms like The Magic Mushroom Growers Guidebook and the Mushroom Cultivator. Now 60 years later science is finally pressuring the government to reassess the classification of this harmless fungus.

Medicinal and gourmet mushrooms

Mushrooms can be an extremely helpful ally in exploring the self and healing the body. Medicinal and nutritional mushrooms can provide a wide range of benefits to the body and mind. Some great articles on the benefits of mushrooms are linked below. Generally mushrooms are very good at supporting the immune system, acting as an immuno modulator. Mushrooms contain compounds, primarily beta glucans which help to increase a weak immune system and tone down a hyper active Immune system. Along with these compounds mushrooms also contain high amounts of protein, vitamin D, and a complete profile of amino acids!

1. Neuronal Health – Can Culinary and Medicinal Mushrooms Help? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3924982/

2) Consuming Lentinula edodes (Shiitake) Mushrooms Daily Improves Human Immunity: A Randomized Dietary Intervention in Healthy Young Adults.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25866155 3) Pleurotus ostreatus inhibits proliferation of human breast and colon cancer cells https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2796484/ 4) A Review of Mushrooms as a Potential Source of Dietary Vitamin D https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6213178/ 5) Chaga use in Cancer care  https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/chaga-mushroom 6) Neurotrophic properties of the Lion's mane medicinal mushroom https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24266378

Mushrooms and the planet

Stepping out of the human focused realm shrooms can have a really positive impact on the planet. All types of mushrooms, saprophytic, mycorrhizal and parasitic have positive impacts on the ecosystems that keep this planet moving. Mycorrhizal fungi (check out Suzanne Simards talk on them) allow plants to broaden their root zone and connect between different individuals. These fungi allow transfer of information and resources to occur that are critical for the long term health of every forest. Saprophytic fungi are the ones that recycle dead material, without them we would be buried up to our eye balls in dead material. Parasites (like cordyceps!!!) help to keep other organisms in balance with their ecosystem (except some how humans up to this point). Mushrooms can also help to bridge the gap between human health and planet health by offering assistance in mycoremediation. The mycelium of many different fungi can be worked with to break down toxic materials like oil, plastics, grease, pesticides, and other chemicals. MUSHROOMS ARE POWERFUL!!! Are shrooms bad for you? NO WAY, ally with the fungal kingdom and not only your life but the entire planet will be better off.