Jochen Gartz - Magic Mushrooms Around the ... - preterhuman.net

Europe's only region where traditional usage of
Amanita muscaria has been confirmed. In addition,
there is growing evidence that other world
religions, especially in Africa, have embraced the
usage of psychoactive mushrooms as well, an
intriguing possibility that calls for further study.
While the number of psychotropic
mushroom species has risen dramatically all across
Europe, the pace of progress in developing medical
uses for mushroom ingredients has not followed
suit. However, hallucinogens, including psilocybin
have a history of therapeutic usage, a practice that
is documented by a great deal of information,
experiences and insights.
Given the lack of alternate methods to
study these substances, the revival of medical and
interdisciplinary research efforts is a more crucially
important issue now than ever before. After all, a
better understanding of psychotropic substances
may well benefit a vast number of patients,
possibly by contributing to the processes of mental
and psychic healing. A glimmer of hope for the
revival of large-scale research comes from the
United States, where a very small number of
investigators have, on occasion, succeeded at
securing government permission to conduct studies
on the medical aspects of hallucinogens, including
psilocybin. The conceptual approach behind the
design of these research projects suggests that
virtually no reliable pharmacological data is in
existence. In fact, these substances have undergone
extensive study over the course of several decades.
To the extent that relationships of dosage and
effects have already been determined, current and
future research efforts should build upon existing
knowledge, instead of neglecting or ignoring
previously published results. High-tech methodology
may well yield new results - techniques for
exploring and enhancing our understanding of
mushrooms at the biochemical level. But increased
biochemical knowledge does not permit us to draw
any sort of conclusion about other aspects of
psychoactive substances, such as psychedelic peak
experiences, exploring the realms of the
subconscious mind, as well the development of
therapeutic applications based on these effects.
Certain hypnotherapy techniques are
known to induce experiences similar, but not
identical to, those caused by administration of
hallucinogens. Recent studies have demonstrated
that hypnosis can benefit the immune system, a
finding that suggests psilocybin and related
compounds may have potentially similar
properties. Meditation and dreaming are additional
examples of states of consciousness with
interesting parallels to psychedelic experiences, yet
very little is known about these links, due to the
scarcity of research efforts in this area.
In recent years, the non-medical use of
psychotropic species has become an increasingly
popular pastime. I agree, however, with the
assessment of Swiss toxicologist R. Flammer, who
has written about the possible problems linked to
this practice:
"....There is no need to panic, considering
the severity of existing problems with alcohol and
hard addictive drugs, which make the Panaeolus
mushrooms and their close relatives appear
harmless by comparison. "
In order to guard against being dazzled or
overwhelmed by the mushroom's powerful magic
we must embrace the pursuit of in-depth research
into hallucinogenic mushrooms, a method that can
protect us from jumping to conclusions, and in the
process, from hampering the advancement of
beneficial applications.