{"id":49800,"date":"2023-09-25T09:00:29","date_gmt":"2023-09-25T13:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stromspa.com\/magazine\/uncategorized\/le-champignon-hallucinogene-aux-fondements-de-lhumanite\/"},"modified":"2025-04-01T15:48:06","modified_gmt":"2025-04-01T19:48:06","slug":"the-hallucinogenic-mushroom-at-the-foundations-of-humanity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stromspa.com\/en\/magazine\/holistic-health\/the-hallucinogenic-mushroom-at-the-foundations-of-humanity\/","title":{"rendered":"The Hallucinogenic Mushroom: At the Foundations of Humanity"},"content":{"rendered":"

They work wonders in the environment by restoring polluted areas. In the medical field, they have transformed the way we treat people. With their fascinating biological properties, mushrooms are increasingly being discussed and used.<\/p>\n

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Reishi chai, lion\u2019s mane matcha, psilocybin microdosing, and psychedelic therapy\u2026 In the health field, medicinal mushrooms are available in the form of drinks, nutritional supplements, and recipes. In the holistic field, psilocybin, the active ingredient in hallucinogenic mushrooms, is at the heart of certain practices. Let\u2019s take a look at these promising methods.<\/p>\n

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HUMANS AND PLAnts<\/h3>\n

Initially accidental, the presence of hallucinogenic mushrooms in the diets of our ancestors has had an impact on the foundations of humanity. The changes related to the effects of psilocybin, the active ingredient in hallucinogenic mushrooms, could be the starting point of human spirituality and have influenced our relationship with all living beings.<\/p>\n

Terrence McKenna, an ethnobotanist and the father of the use of natural psychedelic plants, explains that the hallucinations caused by the consumption of hallucinogenic mushrooms act as \u201cmolecular messengers.\u201d The relationship between humans and mushrooms is therefore \u201ca transfer of information from one species to the other.\u201d In the presence of this relationship, it is possible to gain access to information and renewed behavioural patterns that lead us to more elaborate degrees of introspection. According to McKenna, \u201cshamans represent the avant-garde [\u2026] of this creative progression.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the age when the diet of our ancestors included psilocybin, the value of community, altruism, language, long-term planning, and the understanding of cause-and-effect relationships were developed. McKenna asserts that the presence of psilocybin was an agent of change in archaic societies by tempering hierarchical values, brutal behaviours, and the search for domination. With the gradual disappearance of psilocybin from our diets due to climate change, this natural tendency of humans toward domination took the reins again, causing the evils of our modern society.<\/p>\n

The consumption of psilocybin provides a feeling of freedom, harmony, and becoming one with all living beings. This experience can lead to a better understanding of the self, others, and the world. With a \u201challucinogenic\u201d dose, the effects are intensified. Lack of inhibition, wild laughter, euphoria, the emergence of forgotten memories, visual and auditory hallucinations. But the use of psilocybin is not without risk. Bad trips can lead to anxiety attacks, phobias, arrhythmia, confusion, and persistent post-hallucinatory syndrome.<\/p>\n

A sensitive education and good self-knowledge are essential. As with all drugs, psychedelics are not everyone. Adopting a new perspective of the universe can be troubling, and support is necessary for some individuals. The democratization of psychedelics would therefore allow and facilitate support, coaching, and temperate, conscious consumption.<\/p>\n

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PSILOCYBIN AND MICRODOSIN<\/h3>\n

The new trend of microdosing makes it possible to take advantage of the benefits of psilocybin in moderation. Microdosing involves consuming a very low or \u201csub-hallucinogenic\u201d dose of a psychedelic substance, such as mushrooms containing psilocybin. According to the media, microdosing has grown in popularity, but the scientific literature contains little research about this practice, since it is still illegal today.<\/p>\n

With a growing market on the web, the microdosing of hallucino- genic mushrooms is delighting its enthusiasts. Improved memory, concentration, and creativity: microdosing is now part of the routine of a growing number of Canadians looking to improve their mental health and cultivate well-being.<\/p>\n

PSILOCYBIN AND PSYCHEDELIC THERApy<\/h3>\n

Psychedelic therapy is no longer a secret. More and more research- ers are interested in the use of psilocybin in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and drug addiction.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In 2020, the first Canadian legally used it in the context of therapy. Since then, the accessibility of psychedelic-assisted treatments has been growing, and requests to use psychedelic drugs for therapeutic purposes under Health Canada\u2019s special access program have been increasing.<\/p>\n

As a therapeutic tool, psilocybin leads the brain to create new links, broaden perspectives, and explore new paths. The experience pushes the patient to break down restrictive thought patterns. By freeing themselves from intrusive thoughts, they learn to see things differently. Although taking mushrooms is an integral part of the treatment, the therapy remains a complete process. It requires a significant investment from the patient, both before and after the experience.<\/p>\n

The revival of psychedelics would be a real revolution in the treat- ment of mental disorders, according to Dr. Flanders, a psychologist specializing in psychedelic-assisted therapy. \u201cPsychedelics are very different from other drugs,\u201d he explains. \u201cRather than simply mask- ing the symptoms, they lead the patient to confront their situation over the course of one to three short yet intense experiences.\u201d Danilo Bzdok, a professor at McGill University and a researcher studying the effects of psychedelics on the brain, confirms this: \u201cPsychedelic drugs might very well be the next big thing to improve clinical care for major mental health conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Illegal and far from being available to the general public, hallucinogenic mushrooms are, however, now offered by Health Canada to certain palliative care patients.<\/p>\n

MYCOTHERAPY<\/h3>\n

Antibacterial, antioxidant, cardiovascular function regulators, cholesterol and stress reducers, immune and respiratory function stimulators\u2026 The therapeutic virtues of fungi seem endless. While mycology is the science that studies fungi, mycotherapy is the branch of alternative medicine that uses medicinal fungi for therapeutic purposes.<\/p>\n

Possessing a high amount of zinc, iron, fibre, amino acids, minerals, and plant proteins, medicinal fungi support overall health. They are also adaptogenic and can help the body combat stress.<\/p>\n

Incorporated into food or consumed in the form of tea or herbal tea, therapeutic fungi improve overall well-being by effectively supporting the immune system.<\/p>\n