Jochen Gartz - Magic Mushrooms Around the ... - preterhuman.net
Jochen Gartz - Magic Mushrooms Around the ... - preterhuman.net
Jochen Gartz - Magic Mushrooms Around the ... - preterhuman.net
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CHAPTER 1<br />
I BELIEVE THE TIME HAS COME FOR A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF NEW<br />
FINDINGS FROM THE FIELDS OF MYCOLOGY, TAXONOMY AND NATURAL<br />
PRODUCTS CHEMISTRY<br />
When R.G. Wasson, R. Heim and A.<br />
Hofmann began <strong>the</strong>ir interdisciplinary research<br />
program to study <strong>the</strong> Mexican species of<br />
mushrooms and <strong>the</strong>ir usage in Mexican<br />
mushroom cults, <strong>the</strong>ir efforts culminated in a<br />
1958 landmark report that described <strong>the</strong> isolation,<br />
molecular structure and syn<strong>the</strong>sis of <strong>the</strong><br />
mushrooms' active ingredients: psilocybin and<br />
psilocin. Several years later, <strong>the</strong>se substances<br />
were also identified in a species of mushroom in<br />
Europe, Psilocybe semilanceata, which became <strong>the</strong><br />
first in a series of newly discovered species. Since<br />
<strong>the</strong>n, psychoactive mushrooms from o<strong>the</strong>r genera<br />
have been reported with increasing frequency.<br />
As part of my analytical work dedicated<br />
to <strong>the</strong> identification of naturally occurring<br />
chemicals, I had <strong>the</strong> good fortune to be part of a<br />
research team that studied alkaloids found in a<br />
variety of mushroom species. Now I believe <strong>the</strong><br />
time has come for a comprehensive review of<br />
new findings from <strong>the</strong> fields of mycology,<br />
taxonomy and natural products chemistry.<br />
Wasson and his successors have already provided<br />
detailed accounts pertaining to <strong>the</strong> history and<br />
study of <strong>the</strong> Mexican mushroom species, so that<br />
<strong>the</strong>se materials need not be repeated in this<br />
context. However, certain aspects concerning <strong>the</strong><br />
more recent uses of <strong>the</strong>se mushrooms as well as<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir conditions of growth will receive more<br />
detailed attention in later chapters.<br />
The main purpose of this book is to<br />
inspire fur<strong>the</strong>r study of <strong>the</strong>se mushrooms,<br />
particularly basic research efforts and medical<br />
applications of magic mushroom ingredients.<br />
The extensive bibliography will help<br />
scientists and o<strong>the</strong>r interested mycophiles to<br />
fur<strong>the</strong>r immerse <strong>the</strong>mselves in this complex area<br />
of study.<br />
<strong>Jochen</strong> <strong>Gartz</strong><br />
Figure 6 - Bronze doors with mushroom motif entitled "Trial and<br />
Judgment" at Hildesheim Ca<strong>the</strong>dral, Germany (ca. 1020).