the magic of mushrooms [Archive] - Kung Fu Magazine Forums

GeneChing

03-29-2010, 06:06 PM

I've gone toe-to-toe with countless people who are tripping, certainly more than everyone else has on this forum combined. I've discussed it a little on this forum, but if you need a refresher, check out my initial Shaolin Trips installment: Episode One: Open Two Doors (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=469). And it's true, trippers can have heightening sensory and physical abilities. Sometimes it's really amazing what some one on acid can do.

But people on drugs also fall prey to delusion. You don't know how many people we've taken down because they were just too distracted to focus on multiple opponents, or because they were chasing some psychedelic will-o-wisp. I'll never forget when a tripper tried to give one of my partners a death touch. It was hysterical. He yelled 'die!' with such conviction. He was also a scrawny little dude, smaller than me, and my partner was a professional prison psych nurse that stood about 6' 1". Talk about your delusions.

I think I've recommended Zig Zag Zen (http://www.zigzagzen.com/) to your before, uki. The conclusion of most of the essays is the same - practitioners who indulge in psychedelics often progress faster at first, but then they plateau and never reach advanced levels. That stands to reason. If you're used to dropping acid to get your results, then you will lack the discipline necessary to get to the next levels and you will have little left when the drugs wear off.

Throughout history, the Chinese, particularly the Daoists and TCM people, have done extensive research in psychedelics, especially mushrooms. Think about it. What culture eats more mushrooms than the Chinese? Some think that the mushroom of longevity was actually a metaphor for psychedelics. I could see that. Daoists did extensive research trying to find the external dan, which was essentially the philosopher's stone (same dan as in dantian). But they abandoned that for internal dan (qigong practices). They concluded that most external dan led to poisons of the mind. That was centuries ago. uki, if you think you're charting something new with psychedelic mushrooms and martial arts, you're deluded. Do your research. You'll find there are many who have traveled that road before with lackluster results.

dimethylsea

03-29-2010, 07:55 PM

yeah, well you and hop head over there just go ahead and drop acid and train.

:rolleyes:

So now you advocate hallucinogenic or recreational drug use in martial arts?
Get real man.

I don't use steroids, or any other performance enhancing drugs. But they are completely and utterly different than what uki is going on about.

So are you going to champion drug abuse and martial arts as some sort of learning path that someone can benefit from?

well? make the argument then. Or look at it for what it is.

You obviously didn't read my first post on this thread. I am not the slightest bit interested in the notion of doing entheogens and training for the sake of training.

The training can be extremely useful in the context of entheogen use, but it has nothing to do with furthering the training. It's about making the most of the experience within the context of the experience.

People who make the broad pronouncements you do only tell everyone that they haven't had the experience and thus are not qualified to discuss the experience in detail. It's like someone talking about the dangers of driving whose never been behind the wheel themselves.

Drake

03-29-2010, 08:13 PM

So using your description, I have to drive drunk to understand that it's dangerous?

Maybe I need to use cocaine to know it's addictive and deadly?

dimethylsea

03-29-2010, 09:00 PM

So using your description, I have to drive drunk to understand that it's dangerous?

Maybe I need to use cocaine to know it's addictive and deadly?

If you haven't ever driven and you haven't ever been drunk (neither one) then you saying "drunk driving is dangerous" is merely a recitation of a fact without a real first-hand understanding of why.

And as far as needing to use cocaine to understand it's addictive nature.. yes you do. Relating a fact is not the same as understanding it first-hand.

People who haven't "seen the elephant" shouldn't expect others to take their broad pronouncements as anything other than them parroting or reciting things (arguably true perhaps) they have been told by others or read.

Entheogens are perhaps even more like this than many other experiences.. precisely because of the fundamental alterations they can make in one's consciousness and perceptions (albeit temporarily).

But feel free to comment on the potential hazards of excessive precipitation when you've never seen and felt the rain fall. Those who have.. chuckle.

Uki,
Back to your original issue.. set and setting is a critical factor. Also fungus tend to have a different intensity/effect pattern than some of the other entheos (as the saying goes.. it comes and it goes, then it comes and it goes repeatedly) instead of the ascent, peak, decline pattern.

Fungus "projects" are better structured around a given amount of minutes rather than having "three things to play with" in the area plus a comfy spot for the peak and recharge toys for the downside like you might do with some other entheos.

One thing you might also try is unifying the experience with a central motif or theme, marking out the dedicated time symbolically, then focusing on some very specific element to work on. Preferably something with as little variety as possible (the fungus will provide lots of variety all by itself). A single circular movement, or a single elbow. Don't let yourself get distracted.. just play with that one single thing for the alloted time (say 20 minutes or so). Set the timer, your internal chronometer will (obviously) be completely wonky.

Dragonzbane76

03-30-2010, 03:33 AM

If you haven't ever driven and you haven't ever been drunk (neither one) then you saying "drunk driving is dangerous" is merely a recitation of a fact without a real first-hand understanding of why.

so those people that end up dead from someone slamming into there car from a drunk driver they didn't think it was "dangerous" either and they didn't know anything about it either so I guess that counts them out. Your logic is flawed on that one sir.

My opinion is why would you want to "pollute" your body with things like that? "tripping" to get something on a higher level when all you need is just to train to achieve this doesn't make sense to me. Everyone there own, if you wanna destroy your body so be it.

David Jamieson

03-30-2010, 03:36 AM

You obviously didn't read my first post on this thread. I am not the slightest bit interested in the notion of doing entheogens and training for the sake of training.

The training can be extremely useful in the context of entheogen use, but it has nothing to do with furthering the training. It's about making the most of the experience within the context of the experience.

People who make the broad pronouncements you do only tell everyone that they haven't had the experience and thus are not qualified to discuss the experience in detail. It's like someone talking about the dangers of driving whose never been behind the wheel themselves.

Nope I read your post quite clearly and you were taking the position of advocate for the sake of starting an argument as is your M.O.

Now you're back peddling out of that and continuing to deflect.

also you're M.O.

so, there's no point in even arguing with you, I was pointing out my own opinion on the matter and you took issue, created a strawman that didn't exist and then started to argue about it in caps.

whatever man. :rolleyes:

yes, drugs can make you freak out and have retard strength.
so what, it's false and fleeting and in the end you gain nothing.

I am of the position that the experience in context to martial arts as a learning tool is useless and non-productive.

But by all means, bring up some other unrelated things and start throwing it around and killing it in your attempt to win the argument! lol :p

uki

03-30-2010, 07:13 AM

i never said i was bringing something new and uncharted to the world of martial arts, i was merely asking what anyone has to say about the concept of eating shrooms and the relation to ones martial arts practice... LOL... it's not like i dropped a sheet of acid or ate a 1/4 of shrooms, i simply ate a few stems to get just out of normality - total functionability, only heightened perceptions. i was able to go full force, in a playful manner for nearly two hourse non-stop on the heavy bag, without pads, without wraps, and in a complete zone of flow... not one missed beat, not one missed strike, kick, elbow, forearm, wrist, backhand, or headbutt... it was truly amazing. so... can anyone else relate to training while actually on mushrooms or does everyone simply have an uneducated guess?? :p

dimethylsea

03-30-2010, 08:56 AM

yes, drugs can make you freak out and have retard strength.
so what, it's false and fleeting and in the end you gain nothing.

I am of the position that the experience in context to martial arts as a learning tool is useless and non-productive.

Enjoy your certainty. Have a nice day.

David Jamieson

03-30-2010, 10:02 AM

Enjoy your certainty. Have a nice day.

I do enjoy certainty. And I will have a nice day!

thanks! :)

mickey

03-30-2010, 10:06 AM

Hi uki,

The real challenge is in trying to recreate the mushroom experience with your meditative skills. You see, the mooshies didn't get you in that zone; it just caused your brain to trigger the juice that was always up there, forever waiting to take you "there".

The aforementioned is the REAL KEY to both meditative and martial practices: THE BRAIN. Yet in books like the DMT Spirit Molecule and Inner Paths to Future Realms Now, the emphasis is on the use of psychadelics to alter the mental state. The LSD stuff popped up in the '60's when we were on the verge of a beautiful transformative consciousness and its use undermined its success. Fast forward to today and we have the same type of spiritual convergence going on. And, lo and behold, we have the reappearance of psychadelics and the spiritual benefits they offer.

People who can use their brain to trigger optimal conditions where peak experiences can be experienced are a real enema (spelling intended) to drug dealers and their masters who really want to keep sleeping long enough to place new control mechanisms in for you.

mickey

uki

03-30-2010, 10:55 AM

People who can use their brain to trigger optimal conditions where peak experiences can be experienced are a real enema (spelling intended) to drug dealers and their masters who really want to keep sleeping long enough to place new control mechanisms in for you.i hardly find that consuming magic mushrooms amounts to using the terms "drug dealer" and "masters"... mushrooms were here first and then people... according to your line of perception, people should shun medical herbs which stimulate healing simply because our immune system should be good enough... LOL

eating magic mushrooms one or two times per season hardly amounts to being controlled by them... do people who drink daily tea classify as being a victim of a control mechanism?? how about people who practice qigong daily, got addiction?? wait... how about people who like to read and expand their horizons and perceptions?? why should they read a book? according to your logic, reading a book is useless to a supreme being, yes or no? :)

mickey

03-30-2010, 11:06 AM

Hi uki,

A supreme being is the book and then some.

I don't shun herbs at all. It is that when it comes to the mind altering stuff, people tend to think that the "stuff" did it when it really was their brain at work. The same can be said for herbs as well.

Are you familiar with radionics?

mickey

GeneChing

03-30-2010, 11:22 AM

So you're just trying to out other trippers here with this? ;)

Lucas

03-30-2010, 11:26 AM

lol @ gene

sanjuro_ronin

03-30-2010, 11:39 AM

I did security at a rehab center when I was younger.
I saw first hand the results of drug use.
:(

David Jamieson

03-30-2010, 11:59 AM

i hardly find that consuming magic mushrooms amounts to using the terms "drug dealer" and "masters"... mushrooms were here first and then people... according to your line of perception, people should shun medical herbs which stimulate healing simply because our immune system should be good enough... LOL

eating magic mushrooms one or two times per season hardly amounts to being controlled by them... do people who drink daily tea classify as being a victim of a control mechanism?? how about people who practice qigong daily, got addiction?? wait... how about people who like to read and expand their horizons and perceptions?? why should they read a book? according to your logic, reading a book is useless to a supreme being, yes or no? :)

apparently you have a cognitive break occurring inasmuch as you can't tell the difference between mothers milk and whisky. At least according to that last paragraph. lol

well at least you're not creating artificial constructs and projecting them onto others like the roid strawman there. :D

dimethylsea

03-30-2010, 12:21 PM

well at least you're not creating artificial constructs and projecting them onto others like the roid strawman there. :D

You know.. I've never been to China. Never set foot there. I've seen some pictures, some videos. Read books and articles about it.

I've known some people who went to China.

Still.. I haven't been myself. I haven't spent months or years living there. So while I hear that and read.. certain things are factually true regarding China.. I don't have the benefit of first hand experience.

Same with Asia. Never been to Thailand. People say Thailand and China are quite different.. even though they are both Asian countries.

I will probably wait till I've been to China before I talk too much about it like an expert. I'll stick to "I hear that" or "I read that.." till then.

dimethylsea

03-30-2010, 12:24 PM

Hi uki,

The real challenge is in trying to recreate the mushroom experience with your meditative skills.

5-7 dried grams. Alone. In Silence. In the Dark.

Reproduce that with meditation.. I beg you.

David Jamieson

03-30-2010, 12:31 PM

You know.. I've never been to China. Never set foot there. I've seen some pictures, some videos. Read books and articles about it.

I've known some people who went to China.

Still.. I haven't been myself. I haven't spent months or years living there. So while I hear that and read.. certain things are factually true regarding China.. I don't have the benefit of first hand experience.

Same with Asia. Never been to Thailand. People say Thailand and China are quite different.. even though they are both Asian countries.

I will probably wait till I've been to China before I talk too much about it like an expert. I'll stick to "I hear that" or "I read that.." till then.

Without stirring abroad, One can know the whole world; Without looking out of the window One can see the way of heaven. The further one goes The less one knows. -Lao Tzu

David Jamieson

03-30-2010, 12:33 PM

5-7 dried grams. Alone. In Silence. In the Dark.

Reproduce that with meditation.. I beg you.

What and odd thing to beg of another...

TenTigers

03-30-2010, 12:45 PM

Lucas

03-30-2010, 01:02 PM

ahh..what do you know. You do TaiJi with Bikers.

wtfpwnd!!!

David Jamieson

03-30-2010, 01:08 PM

ahh..what do you know. You do TaiJi with Bikers.

hey, aren't you a taiji biker?

Lucas

03-30-2010, 01:08 PM

i thought we determined all cma guys are.

David Jamieson

03-30-2010, 01:11 PM

Lucas

03-30-2010, 01:15 PM

yes, bikers who play guitars and can paint or draw.

these are all part and parcel to being the whole man.

the final component of manhood, or when a man becomes a real man is when his child pukes down the back of his best shirt and he doesn't care! :D

lol. im a ways off from being a real man then, i have yet to breed any offspring. but of course if you knew me....you'd know thats probably for the best.

dimethylsea

03-30-2010, 01:17 PM

What and odd thing to beg of another...

Reproducing that those effects using only meditation?

It's odd to the point of being virtually impossible.

Very few people have done heroic (5-7 dried gram) doses in silence, alone, in the dark.

It's a chastening experience to say the least.

GeneChing

03-30-2010, 01:19 PM

Actually, it's been a long time since I've done taiji and it's been years since I've seen my HA buddy Fuki (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42966).

Here's a psychedelic real life combat situation that might liven up this thread. Our team had to restrain an IPR (the P.C. term for tripper, an acronym for intense psychedelic reaction). We prefer to do physical restraint over mechanical (soft restraints, not cuffs) when we have the manpower. The IPR was really wet from sweat and as it was discovered later, urine. He kept getting higher and the restraint crew was getting this intense contact high. Then it was noticed that he urinated on himself *and* he had a sheet of LSD in his pocket. Now, for those of you who don't know, LSD is liquid soluble, so everyone got dosed. Ever since, we check wet IPRs to make sure a similar incident doesn't occur. :rolleyes:

dimethylsea

03-30-2010, 01:20 PM

yes, bikers who play guitars and can paint or draw.

these are all part and parcel to being the whole man.

the final component of manhood, or when a man becomes a real man is when his child pukes down the back of his best shirt and he doesn't care! :D

See I don't have kids.. so I don't talk about how fatherhood is.

I just don't like the idea of re-arranging my life to suit someone else like that.. nor do I like the idea of being derelict in duty and saying "to h*ll with you" to the kid. So I avoid fatherhood.

Seeing as it's not something I'm experienced with.. all I can say (really) is secondhand and, of course, that I'm not interested in it personally.

See my point?

Lucas

03-30-2010, 01:25 PM

hahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahah ahaha @ gene

yes it was that funny

GeneChing

03-30-2010, 01:29 PM

Like I said, "I've gone toe-to-toe with countless people who are tripping, certainly more than everyone else has on this forum combined." :cool: That's why I have such an odd perspective on street fighting.

Lucas

03-30-2010, 01:31 PM

what promted you to get into that line of work?

David Jamieson

03-30-2010, 01:42 PM

uki

03-30-2010, 02:00 PM

So you're just trying to out other trippers here with this?LOL... just drawing the line in the sand to see who can cross it... obviously you are able - they say there are two types of beings in this world, those who have tripped and those who have not. :)

I did security at a rehab center when I was younger.
I saw first hand the results of drug use.more uneducatedness... mushrooms are hardly comparable to crack, heroin, pills, or meth... those things destroy lives, mushrooms enhance life. so tell me... how many mushroom addicts were in rehab?? just mushrooms... any?? i think not. :rolleyes:

5-7 dried grams. Alone. In Silence. In the Dark.

Reproduce that with meditation.. I beg you.LOL... that's the ticker right there... it cannot be done... only someone inexperienced in mushroom consumption can make this ridiculous comparison... the chemicals in the psilocybe mushrooms cannot, at this state of human evolution, be synthesized in the human body... dmt and psilocybin are two entirely different chemical compounds.

Like I said, "I've gone toe-to-toe with countless people who are tripping, certainly more than everyone else has on this forum combined." :cool: That's why I have such an odd perspective on street fighting.have you ever eaten magic mushrooms and then done two hours of bagwork anywhere in your awesome life of psychadelic experiences?? have you ever eaten mushrooms and then gone and done any form work?? have you ever eaten mushrooms and done anything remotely martial art related?? this is not about who has tripped more or who has been urinated on by the most trippers, it's about who has a genuine, first hand experience in injesting magic mushrooms soley for the purpose of training on them - have you?? :)

and to further stamp the psychadelic experience of people we may know and inter-react with on a daily basis... my boss who is one of the most reputed stone masons in the area, has injected LSD when he was younger... now that's harder-core than most everyone on the forum combined.

:cool:

Drake

03-30-2010, 02:05 PM

You DO know you can end up tripping years after the fact, right? I'm all for medical marijuana as appropriate. I do not support hallucinogens.

I'm even more against alcohol, because that is the drug where I have seen the most lives ruined.

GeneChing

03-30-2010, 02:11 PM

Lucas, read my Shaolin Trips: Episode One article. I discuss how I fell into this field as a direct result of my martial practice. It was iaido (http://www.martialartsmart.com/dvdk-js001.html), in fact. Talk about an impractical leading to a practical application.

uki, honestly, I don't think I've ever purposefully taken hallucinogens in order to train. I might be wrong about that - there are some gray area in my memory :o - but I'll concede that point to you. But as for forms and bagwork, I've actually had to defend myself (and my attacker for that matter, which makes it much more interesting) whilst under the influence. Back in the hey days of certain bands, it just happened that way.

Injecting LSD is a wacky way to go. I got dosed in the eye before. We've had a few incidents where people sprayed it. That's another intense way to go. Burns like hell. After all, it is an acid. Your retina is actually brain cell, so it's a pretty quick up.

uki

03-30-2010, 02:18 PM

You DO know you can end up tripping years after the fact, right?yes... they call it a flashback... happens after a good back or neck crack sometimes. :D

I do not support hallucinogens.have you ever ingested magic mushrooms??

I'm even more against alcohol, because that is the drug where I have seen the most lives ruined.ain't that the truth... how many stories do you hear about where the magic mushroom tripper drives a car into a minivan and kills everyone?? if anything, moral judgement is super-enhanced on mushrooms... the thought of driving doesn't even cross my mind will tripping.

uki, honestly, I don't think I've ever purposefully taken hallucinogens in order to train. I might be wrong about that - there are some gray area in my memory - but I'll concede that point to you. your honesty and humilty have been noted.

But as for forms and bagwork, I've actually had to defend myself (and my attacker for that matter, which makes it much more interesting) whilst under the influence. you have me there... for now. :p

Back in the hey days of certain bands, it just happened that way. i saw bad religion on LSD and shrooms once, i have also seen flogging molly on shrooms a few times aswell. :D

Injecting LSD is a wacky way to go.you should meet my boss. :p

taai gihk yahn

03-30-2010, 02:34 PM

yes... they call it a flashback... happens after a good back or neck crack sometimes. :D
interesting - it suggests that the autonomic nervous system is "storing" the experience in some way, because that's the global mechanism that gets stimulated when u "pop" a vertebra, especially in the mid-back (it's all sympathetic chain up and down there); I know some people think the actual drug is still in the system and gets somehow released when u do the manip, but that's physiologically impossible, both in terms of the speed of the reaction (another strong argument for autonomics) and that there's nothing getting "released" into anything when u do that either (the "pop" occurs within the joint capsule, and nothing leaks out when that happens);

FTR, I've never tripped, used shrooms, etc; nothing against 'em, just never had the inclination; but my best friends credits their use with some of his more intense "spiritual awakenings" and from an "outsider's" perspective, I firmly believe that their use was of great benefit to him in many ways (I, OTOH, had to sit ~10 hrs. / day in a Buddhist monastery for ~4 days before things "opened up", so to speak...); basically different strokes, etc.;

GeneChing

03-30-2010, 03:06 PM

uki, I've encountered a patient that did acid via anal suppository. He encased some gel in a ball of cocoa butter, which apparently melts at body temperature. Acidheads are a funny breed for sure. :eek:

Lucas

03-30-2010, 03:08 PM

dont forget about the people that never come all the way back from an lsd trip, like my quote

Dragonzbane76

03-30-2010, 05:52 PM

interesting - it suggests that the autonomic nervous system is "storing" the experience in some way, because that's the global mechanism that gets stimulated when u "pop" a vertebra, especially in the mid-back (it's all sympathetic chain up and down there);

interesting from my point of view. I had a back injury occur many years ago in the mid back section, which drove 2 ribs inward. I got kicked there while sparring and still go to the chiropractor to this day for it. Anyways, it's a weird feeling when he gets done 'cracking' me. I have a tingly feeling in my lower back and such but it fades fast. i'll workout later and feel like I have 3 days of pent up energy. I asked him about this and he said a lot of people don't notice it but since i'm more active and in tune with my body, the alignment 'clears the path' as he calls it and lets flow the connection throughout my body. A person of lesser activity does not notice it. Anyways weird you brought that up.

uki

03-30-2010, 06:16 PM

interesting - it suggests that the autonomic nervous system is "storing" the experience in some way, because that's the global mechanism that gets stimulated when u "pop" a vertebra, especially in the mid-back (it's all sympathetic chain up and down there); I know some people think the actual drug is still in the system and gets somehow released when u do the manip, but that's physiologically impossible, both in terms of the speed of the reaction (another strong argument for autonomics) and that there's nothing getting "released" into anything when u do that either (the "pop" occurs within the joint capsule, and nothing leaks out when that happens);interesting... my dad is a chiropractor and you make much sense to me. :)

FTR, I've never tripped, used shrooms, etc; nothing against 'em, just never had the inclination; but my best friends credits their use with some of his more intense "spiritual awakenings" and from an "outsider's" perspective, I firmly believe that their use was of great benefit to him in many ways (I, OTOH, had to sit ~10 hrs. / day in a Buddhist monastery for ~4 days before things "opened up", so to speak...); basically different strokes, etc.;i suggest everyone do it atleast once in their life... i mean come on, you only live once a lifetime.

:D

uki

03-30-2010, 06:19 PM

taai gihk yahn

03-31-2010, 06:42 AM

ok about the sense... they say that LSD remains in your spinal fluid for 7-8 years... they actually order spinal taps in extreme cases, it's the only way aside from the hair, but mushrooms and LSD are entirely different. :)

if it were in the CSF, doing the adjustment really shouldn't have an particular impact on how "active" it is; ihowever, doing some cranial / fascial work (your dad may know it as Sacral Occipital Technique, which is the chiro version of it), u often have people spontaneously "unwinding", where the body on its own assumes an often contorted position, but one that the patient reports as being very comfortable and then often has a recall about how that particular position was one the remember being in after a bad fall, car accident, or some other trauma, including emotional - some people go so far as to relate it to birth trauma, which may be true, although that does get a bit overblown, IMPO; so the point is that you can have a "flashback" about an intense experience in your life based purely on mechanical input of a specific type, be it an adjustment or cranial / fascial release (different "quality" to the touch here, hard to explain, easy to show); in my estimation (and my wife's, who does osteo stuff as well and is also an OB/GYN) there is actually very little difference between the sort of "learning" experience associated with extreme trauma and hallucinogenic experience, in terms of the way it imprints itself in the system (I am not equating the two moralistically, in the sense that drug use is "bad" - personally, I believe u hav the right to ingest / inject whatever u want as long as it doesn't result in someone else being hurt);

ok, speaking of "illicit" substances, we are about to leave the hotel and go out into the streets of Amsterdam...;)

sanjuro_ronin

03-31-2010, 07:07 AM

Anything that is a crutch, is a crutch.

David Jamieson

03-31-2010, 08:34 AM

Anything that is a crutch, is a crutch.

crutch implies dependency.

many people have tried a great deal of substances in the search for the experience without becoming psychologically dependent on the substance to cope with their day to day lives.

If a person finds they "need" a substance like a recreational drug such as alcohol or marajuana or mushrooms or acid or cocaine et al, then yes, they are using a crutch to live their lives that they really don't need but merely perceive themselves to need.

sanjuro_ronin

03-31-2010, 08:38 AM

crutch implies dependency.

many people have tried a great deal of substances in the search for the experience without becoming psychologically dependent on the substance to cope with their day to day lives.

If a person finds they "need" a substance like a recreational drug such as alcohol or marajuana or mushrooms or acid or cocaine et al, then yes, they are using a crutch to live their lives that they really don't need but merely perceive themselves to need.

Anything that one uses that they feel gives them an "edge", whether precieved or real, is a crutch.
Could they function as well without it?
If yes, why do it?
If now, then its is a crutch.
Be it rooms, steroids, weed or Hardcore P0rn !
:D

Lucas

03-31-2010, 09:21 AM

my crutch is food.

Lucas

03-31-2010, 09:22 AM

wait a second. arent all of us using martial arts as a crutch? OMG IM AN ADDICT!!

uki

03-31-2010, 10:24 AM

ok, speaking of "illicit" substances, we are about to leave the hotel and go out into the streets of Amsterdam...ironic that the so called "illict" substances in the "land of the free" are legal in other countries... this place is a ****ing joke.

wait a second. arent all of us using martial arts as a crutch? OMG IM AN ADDICT!!lol... people make such asinine comments when they are ignorant of the topic at hand... nice work pointing out some obvious overlooked facts by our less informed members here... i think i am addicted to air also. :)

taai gihk yahn

03-31-2010, 10:41 AM

Anything that is a crutch, is a crutch.

when ur leg is broke, u need the crutch until it gets better; some people "need" their system augmented in a certain way in order to get to where they "need" to be; as far as addiction, some use chemicals, others use needles - and in this case I mean acupuncture needles - there is a whole syndrome of acupuncture addiction that is well-documented in China!

my point is that, if one uses a crutch when appropriate, it's a "good" thing; when one no longer "needs" it, then using it is a "bad" thing; MOST people know when to stop using the crutch (or at least when told by their doc when they are allowed full-weight bearing); however, some find that, for whatever reason, they don't want to get back to "normal" and use their crutch - real or metaphorical, to beat others over the head with; for example, many patients I have treated who have fibromyalgia / chronic myofascial pain, when I would treat them too aggressively, they would get upset - not because they hurt worse, but because they stopped hurting altogether (meaning they would walk out of the office pretty much without any complaints) - and they then felt completely at a loss! - they no longer had their pain as an excuse for pretty much everything: couldn't hold their families at bay, beg off work, etc. bec. of pain - in other words, they no longer had the power of their crutch! so they would find a way to fair themselves up or just stop coming or find new things to complain about - you name it, they did it!

so if someone uses a crutch "inappropriately", the trick is how to ween them off of it in a way that they can handle without totally falling to pieces - that is, if they sincerely do want to get rid of it...and when they do, it's not so hard, really - I've been lucky enough to work with a number of clients with long-standing unresolved pain that really DO want to get better - and this is a lot of fun actually, because if you have the right tools, you can really create an amazing positive impact along with them!

I think that there should be a similar "profession" of mushroom managers - I nominate Uki for Head of the Order...

Lucas

03-31-2010, 10:46 AM

i second that :D

TenTigers

03-31-2010, 10:49 AM

"Reality is just a crutch for people who can't deal with drugs."

Lucas

03-31-2010, 10:50 AM

"Reality is just a crutch for people who can't deal with drugs."

hahaha!
:D

uki

03-31-2010, 10:57 AM

real men are not afraid to face their souls... eat some mushrooms and become a real man... LOL... all these big tough martial arts guys are afraid of a simple little mushroom - amazing. :D :p

Drake

03-31-2010, 10:58 AM

I like when people try to validate their drug use. Sort of like when I try to validate my excessive coffee drinking.

David Jamieson

03-31-2010, 10:59 AM

I like when people try to validate their drug use. Sort of like when I try to validate my excessive drug use.

fixed that for you. :)

uki

03-31-2010, 11:04 AM

fixed that for you.hahahahaha!!! i wonder if the law was to legalize all these so called "illict" substances if they would then be accepted by the simpleton minds?? LOL

Drake

03-31-2010, 11:09 AM

fixed that for you. :)

And that's absolutely true. However, the effects of caffeine are remarkably less intense than most other drugs. Does it justify my excessive intake of it? Of course not. However, it doesn't cause me to hallucinate, impair my judgment, or negatively affect my ability to use machinery. And it always comes in coffee form. I don't do caffeine pills or "energy" drinks.

Did you know they have started talking about allowing Soldiers to drink downrange? Problem is, without alcohol, Soldiers are self-medicating from prescription drugs. It's easy. Just go to sick call, say you are upset and sad, and you get drugs.

I'm not a holier than thou person as much as you might think, but I simply feel it's unnecessary, and many do not think about the long term ramifications of their actions. I do fall into that category.

Drake

03-31-2010, 11:10 AM

hahahahaha!!! i wonder if the law was to legalize all these so called "illict" substances if they would then be accepted by the simpleton minds?? LOL

Actualy, I told my chain of command that if they ever illegalized coffee, I'd be the biggest drug runner on the border.

sanjuro_ronin

03-31-2010, 11:54 AM

when ur leg is broke, u need the crutch until it gets better; some people "need" their system augmented in a certain way in order to get to where they "need" to be; as far as addiction, some use chemicals, others use needles - and in this case I mean acupuncture needles - there is a whole syndrome of acupuncture addiction that is well-documented in China!

my point is that, if one uses a crutch when appropriate, it's a "good" thing; when one no longer "needs" it, then using it is a "bad" thing; MOST people know when to stop using the crutch (or at least when told by their doc when they are allowed full-weight bearing); however, some find that, for whatever reason, they don't want to get back to "normal" and use their crutch - real or metaphorical, to beat others over the head with; for example, many patients I have treated who have fibromyalgia / chronic myofascial pain, when I would treat them too aggressively, they would get upset - not because they hurt worse, but because they stopped hurting altogether (meaning they would walk out of the office pretty much without any complaints) - and they then felt completely at a loss! - they no longer had their pain as an excuse for pretty much everything: couldn't hold their families at bay, beg off work, etc. bec. of pain - in other words, they no longer had the power of their crutch! so they would find a way to fair themselves up or just stop coming or find new things to complain about - you name it, they did it!

so if someone uses a crutch "inappropriately", the trick is how to ween them off of it in a way that they can handle without totally falling to pieces - that is, if they sincerely do want to get rid of it...and when they do, it's not so hard, really - I've been lucky enough to work with a number of clients with long-standing unresolved pain that really DO want to get better - and this is a lot of fun actually, because if you have the right tools, you can really create an amazing positive impact along with them!

I think that there should be a similar "profession" of mushroom managers - I nominate Uki for Head of the Order...

Fine, since I need to make it specific:
Using anything other than your natural abilities and skills to augment ANY part of your MA means you are depending on something other than yourself to be effective.
A no-no in my book.
I have known too many juice bags and coke heads in the MA to see what that does to people's brains and how useless they are when they get off it.
Its a mind **** that I don't wish on anyone.

David Jamieson

03-31-2010, 11:55 AM

And that's absolutely true. However, the effects of caffeine are remarkably less intense than most other drugs. Does it justify my excessive intake of it? Of course not. However, it doesn't cause me to hallucinate, impair my judgment, or negatively affect my ability to use machinery. And it always comes in coffee form. I don't do caffeine pills or "energy" drinks.

Did you know they have started talking about allowing Soldiers to drink downrange? Problem is, without alcohol, Soldiers are self-medicating from prescription drugs. It's easy. Just go to sick call, say you are upset and sad, and you get drugs.

I'm not a holier than thou person as much as you might think, but I simply feel it's unnecessary, and many do not think about the long term ramifications of their actions. I do fall into that category.

I understand the problems with drug addiction and also the problems with frequent recreational use. Quite often it is confused by legality. Poeple are all too willing to drop valium for instance because their doctor presecribes it to them and it's legal.

It is a billion times worse than them smoking marajuana.

We have a lot of screwy laws that are seemingly in place to keep criminal organizations rich or something.

Frankly, in this day and age I am baffled about the restrictions on drugs in North America. We look kinds prudish, puritan and backwards on many levels.

But I guess if gangland is running the world (and I suspect it is), then we won't see proper narcotics laws or the end of any number of various and ballyhooed yet slightly retarded wars on drugs etc.

We can be remarkably stupid creatures, from both ends of teh candle really. :)

bawang

03-31-2010, 12:01 PM

drugs r bad just say no

taai gihk yahn

03-31-2010, 01:31 PM

drugs r bad just say no

No

.....

ok, so, what happens?

Lucas

03-31-2010, 01:35 PM

u getz no candies~

taai gihk yahn

03-31-2010, 01:39 PM

real men are not afraid to face their souls... eat some mushrooms and become a real man... LOL... all these big tough martial arts guys are afraid of a simple little mushroom - amazing. :D :p

fair enough; though I'd also say come "face your soul" by sittting on the cushion ~10 hrs a day for a week @ a Ch'an retreat w/the monks and the little old Chinese ladies who can do full lotus for an hour straight and not move a muscle; festivities also include 100 full-body prostrations at 4:30 AM, a vow of silence the entire time (including during group meals where you have to learn a variety of hand signals in order to indicate what you want to eat), and private interview w/some fierce-asz monk who shows you your shiite straight out ;)

:( <sigh> - haven't been in a few years since the offspring arrived...good times, good times...

David Jamieson

03-31-2010, 03:14 PM

fair enough; though I'd also say come "face your soul" by sittting on the cushion ~10 hrs a day for a week @ a Ch'an retreat w/the monks and the little old Chinese ladies who can do full lotus for an hour straight and not move a muscle; festivities also include 100 full-body prostrations at 4:30 AM, a vow of silence the entire time (including during group meals where you have to learn a variety of hand signals in order to indicate what you want to eat), and private interview w/some fierce-asz monk who shows you your shiite straight out ;)

:( <sigh> - haven't been in a few years since the offspring arrived...good times, good times...

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

also

hahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

thanks man.

TenTigers

03-31-2010, 03:24 PM

festivities also include 100 full-body prostrations at 4:30 AM,Is that with those kinky Chinese ladies? Is there a Happy Ending with that? a vow of silence the entire time What goes on in the Temple, stays in the Temple and private interview w/some fierce-asz monk who shows you your shiite straight out ;)again, What goes on in the Temple...:( <sigh> -..good times, good times... some people should be on drugs...
:eek:

........

Dragonzbane76

03-31-2010, 06:47 PM

real men are not afraid to face their souls... eat some mushrooms and become a real man... LOL...

and eating a drug will make you face your own soul?? Sorry man don't get you on this one. Really have no desire to 'lubricate' my mind. If I can't get it the "old fashioned" way then i don't want it. you have every right to do to your body what you see fit. Just not my cup of tea. Many, many other path to travel to face myself, other than going down a road filled with false expectations, to achieve soul searching enlightenment.

David Jamieson

04-01-2010, 04:42 AM

I don't believe in a soul so that dashes that idea for me. But I am fully cognizant of the concept of being aware of the self. The mind. You can have a look at mind in infinite ways from infinite perspectives of understanding.

What's really important in my book is how you decide to act and live your life.
Your deeds, your compassion and your self respect. These are real and measurable things. If one did believe in a soul, I would think it is these things that would reveal it.

KC Elbows

04-01-2010, 07:11 AM

Never big on hallucinagens, but I could see where one could learn from a trip. My experience is it was six hours of ego high followed by six hours of ego descent. Definitely interesting to see how chemical both states really are.

uki

04-04-2010, 08:33 AM

ןoן ˙˙˙puıɯ ʎɯ uɐɥʇ ǝɹoɯ pǝʇɔǝɟɟɐ sɐɥ snƃunɟ ʎuunɟ ǝɥʇ ʞuıɥʇ ı :eek:

Dragonzbane76

04-04-2010, 02:17 PM

apparently :rolleyes:

taai gihk yahn

04-04-2010, 03:26 PM

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

also

hahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

that's about what I felt like around the third day, lol...

uki

04-04-2010, 06:10 PM

that's about what I felt like around the third day, lol...i am sure jesus was laughing his ****ing a$$ off aswell. :)

GeneChing

01-15-2015, 05:27 PM

This was the longest mushroom thread here :o

Giant Mushroom Over 100cm Wide Found in China, Reactions (http://www.chinasmack.com/2015/pictures/giant-mushroom-over-100cm-wide-found-in-china-reactions.html)
by Tony Flannery on Sunday, January 11, 2015

http://i1.wp.com/img.chinasmack.com/www/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/china-guangxi-hezhou-giant-mushroom-found-01-600x442.jpg?resize=600%2C442

A giant mushroom found in Hezhou, Guangxi, China.

From NetEase:
Hezhou, Guangxi: A Giant Wild Lingzhi Mushroom Appears, 107 cm in Diameter and Weighing 7 Kilos

HEZHOU, Guangxi (January 5, 2015) — Wei Fangning, manager of a local specialties shop, in his shop showing off the gigantic wild red mushroom. This Lingzhi is oval-shaped, 107cm in diameter at its widest point, and weighs 7.45 kilos.

http://i2.wp.com/img.chinasmack.com/www/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/china-guangxi-hezhou-giant-mushroom-found-02-600x902.jpg?resize=600%2C902
http://i1.wp.com/img.chinasmack.com/www/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/china-guangxi-hezhou-giant-mushroom-found-03-600x400.jpg?resize=600%2C400
http://i2.wp.com/img.chinasmack.com/www/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/china-guangxi-hezhou-giant-mushroom-found-04-600x400.jpg?resize=600%2C400
http://i0.wp.com/img.chinasmack.com/www/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/china-guangxi-hezhou-giant-mushroom-found-05-600x400.jpg?resize=600%2C400
http://i2.wp.com/img.chinasmack.com/www/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/china-guangxi-hezhou-giant-mushroom-found-06-600x400.jpg?resize=600%2C400

curenado

01-23-2015, 11:02 PM

It is understandable how people react. As with all things such as this, there are things neither "side" wants to accept.
None the less:
9287
This is the deal. "Why"
As to the real science of them and the body, I suppose there are many antibiotics, anti cancer agents, detoxifiers and organ benefitters that one would have many options.

Here is the article from BI:http://www.businessinsider.com/how-brain-changes-on-mushrooms-2014-10

GeneChing

10-01-2015, 10:00 AM

...or maybe not. WTF is that?

LOOK: Sichuan fisherman hauls up a mysterious monster from the deep (http://shanghaiist.com/2015/10/01/fisherman_finds_elixir_fungus.php)

http://shanghaiist.com/upload/2015/10/tai-sui1.jpg

A villager from Sichuan province, out fishing in the wild waters near Chengdu, hauled up a very strange thing on Tuesday. It is yellow in color, weighs 6.5kg, its body is 30-40cm wide, there is a long root/tail attached to the body and it is covered in black barnacles.

As of yet, we cannot be sure what the thing actually is, whether it is indeed a carbon-based life form, living or dead, organic or synthetic. The fisherman believes it may be the rare "Taisui" lingzhi mushroom, used in Chinese medicine and also in art as a symbol of longevity. We happen to know that before you declare something to be a mythical mushroom, you had better run a few tests first. In 2012 a Xi'an TV news reporter mistakenly introduced viewers to the fungus which actually turned out to be a sex toy.

http://shanghaiist.com/upload/2015/10/tai-sui2.jpg

The Compendium of Materia Medica, written by Li Shizhen during the Ming dynasty, lists the medicinal qualities of the lingzhi mushroom. The lingzhi was later eaten by Qing dynasty emperors, who believed it would prolong their life and bring great fortune to their dynasty.

Legend has it that Qin Shi Huang, the first Qin emperor who united China in 221 BC and later made himself some pretty neat Terracotta Warriors, greatly feared death and sought to discover the elixir of life. He tried out many medicines searching for immortality including lingzhi. Supposedly his quest for eternal life caught up with him and he died of mercury poisoning, given to him by his court alchemists and physicians.

http://shanghaiist.com/upload/2015/10/tai-sui3.jpg

If the monster from the deep does turn out to be a 6.5kg lingzhi mushroom then it could bring a handsome profit to the fisherman. There are many, like the ancient Qin emperor, who believe strongly in Chinese medicine. A variety of capsules, liquid extracts and slices of the dried mushroom can be purchased easily online if you want to try your hand at attaining some immortality.

http://shanghaiist.com/upload/2015/10/tai-sui4.jpg

by Daniel Cunningham
Contact the author of this article or email tips@shanghaiist.com with further questions, comments or tips.
By Shanghaiist in News on Oct 1, 2015 5:30 PM

GeneChing

10-23-2015, 09:24 AM

The Hidden Psychedelic History of Martial Arts (http://www.alternet.org/drugs/hidden-psychedelic-history-martial-arts)
Kilindi Iyi shares his knowledge of magic and martial arts.
By Lex Pelger / AlterNet
October 16, 2015

http://www.alternet.org/files/styles/story_image/public/story_images/screen_shot_2015-10-16_at_2.38.25_pm.png

Kilindi Iyi towers above the other speakers at the psychedelic conferences he attends around the world. One of the most renowned African Americans in the psychedelic field, his background in martial arts, imposing frame and booming voice make him a unique and electrifying speaker on the lecture circuit. His psychedelic storytelling at the last Psymposia conference electrified the crowd and his lecture at the Breaking Convention on taking high doses of mushrooms racked up some of its largest number of online viewers. His message resonates with explorers interested in psychedelics because he stresses their importance as a tool for self-exploration.

As the head instructor and technical adviser of the Tamerrian Martial Art Institute, his lifelong dedication to martial arts led him to explore their origins and the surprising presence of entheogenic mixtures at the founding of many schools of martial arts. Iyi has traveled the world to learn more from other practitioners, and here he shares a little of what he has learned. The interview has been lightly edited for clarity and length.

Lex Pelger: How did you move into this kind of work?

Kilindi Iyi: Through my study of traditional martial arts, I tried to get a better understanding of the origins and through that search, it brought me to different areas of what was utilized to enhance not only the physical but the spiritual areas of the fighting arts. All traditional martial arts have power plants – or entheogens – to go along with them at their higher levels.

In Africa [there are] many different compounds, potions, lotions – but each guild, each particular master or sorcerer or whatever you wanted to term them, had their own formula. The formula might contain a lot of ingredients that weren't hallucinogenic but when I was investigating, I found that many of them contained mushrooms. And others, of course — datura, echinacea, the old-world MAIOs like Syrian Rue. That's what actually led me to making a push to help people understand their relationship to not only martial arts but also outside it. Basically, through the warriors' path.

LP: Which traditions had strongest evidence of mushroom use?

KI: West African places like Nigeria, South Africa, East Africa. There's not a lot of written evidence but the guilds still have all the potions. Africa has been one of the most overlooked areas of the world as far as hallucinogen use and up until the late '90s, they said that Africa was sparse in hallucinogenic compounds. Then only to turn around to find the oldest evidence of human mushroom use in Africa along with other compounds that are widespread in the various healing rituals, age initiations, dealings with apprentices and use by particular people of power. A very old and developed system still in use today.

LP: So to find out, you have to go and talk to the people?

KI: The researchers been delving deeply into ayahuasca in South America but they neglected to do any research on the African continent and since they never asked Africans what they use, no one is going to come out of the guild and say, “Hey, we do mushrooms!” They have very ancient traditions with plants and mushrooms that seems to be older than in Mesopotamia, Persia, Hindu Kush – and on the African continent proper – using the technology of MAIOs, particularly Syrian Rue which is at certain doses is hallucinogenic.

LP: So you dug into ancient magic?

KI: I've always been interested in magic and martial arts. Once I found out what they did to explore and that brought them the knowledge and information and that it was here and readily available to partake in, then it became not only my duty but my obsession to understand what went on and so I could reproduce the same types of things that were done.

LP: What things to reproduce?

KI: My things were basically martial. Each vocation has its own way of expressing something such as a musican who brings back music that's never been heard. I think that's one of the things Jimi Hendrix was talking about in the UK. He said that he was going to bring back to the US music that had never been heard before, but he died soon after.

Martially, we can still do the things that were done in the olden days— Hercules, Samson, Nimrod, Arjuna, Achilles— martial arts at the level of the heroes of old. Of course, it may not be legally sanctioned to kill 1,000 people—whether they be Philistines or not— but to have an understanding of how these things were done, to recreate the ability for that type of skill or that type of knowledge.

LP: So you've seen things that defy conventional wisdom on martial arts and what can be done with the body?

KI: Look at the things coming out of China in the last 10 years, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon stuff—jumping to top of trees, running on blades of grass. If you look at Hero or Jet Li, where the two fighters were in close proximity and under the influence of entheogens, they fought at a higher level of consciousness and their battle continued into the hyper-dimensional realms. Many times that's how battles were fought. You go to the higher realms where a being can come out of your hand or you can jump to the top of the roof, those things were acknowledged in the physical realm.

LP: What's it like for you in the modern martial arts movement to be sharing these views?

KI: What I'm working on, I can't physically put it on anybody but I've had my chances in real-life real-time I would have thought impossible that I could've done, that in my belief, in my understanding, that came out of the entheogenic training that served me in the physical realms. Be it guns or knives or police abuse or whatever way you like to look at it, it served me in the modern world.

continued next post

GeneChing

10-23-2015, 09:25 AM

LP: What advice do you have for a young martial artist?

KI: To begin with, researching any compound you are dealing with. I'm working on my book, Towards an Organic Singularity and in the first chapter, you learn how to grow your own. If you have the discipline to be able to break the learning curve on it and produce your own mushrooms, then you're well on your way to be able to deal with them. You don't have to worry about overharvesting [like ayahuasca or ibogaine] or getting them from someone else. You learn how to grow your own so you can get by using something considered a drug by the popular culture.

Espcially with tryptamines, they're all in the same family and very close chemically. Psilocin is 4-HO-DMT. People say mushrooms aren't DMT but when it phosphorylates in your gut, it's DMT, an ingestible form to be utilized by your body and independent of all the other things you have to encounter.

The thing about mushrooms is that you get one spore print or one cap from a cow paddy and you never have to buy another spore or mushroom again. You can perpetuate that into a lifetime of entheogenic use. If you want to explore with MAOIs or chocolate, blend it into smoothies, put them in brownies; put it on two pieces of bread with peanut butter, and if you get the proper dose, it's going to deliver.

I'm not of the school of thought that mushrooms is a medicine and is for healing. Of course, it can heal, can give you smoking cessation, can help you with dying, but that's not the purpose of psilocybin. It's a tool for exploration for novel states of consciousness. You strap on your exploration suit and you're sitting on the deck of the Enterprise and ready to go boldly where no one has gone before. That's what its about and that what it's for.

Because we're approaching a crucial point for human beings—we can engineer ourselves and make a machine that has the capability to be much more, of breaking into the human levels of knowledge of information. Either we have created our next level which will make us obsolete or we get to the point where we can merge with those machines and be part machine and part organic or take the enthogens and reach the DNA set code and become the next level of humans.

Let's go in and see what we can do to become more then what we are now.

LP: What advice do you have for crafting set and setting for these heroic doses?

KI: The classics, a safe environment; I choose the bedroom for the deep hauls into the multiverse. Take all sharp objects out of the room. No candles, fire can be very seductive. You don't want to knock one over in a middle of session.

You also want to be in a good safe mindset. You don't want to just have had a fight with your wife. You want to keep your mind as clear and focused on what you're trying to do as possible.

The walks in the woods or the ocean is for the low dose. But for the high doses, for those type of things, you want a safe environment and the right type of mindset on your head.

For the new folk, what I always say since I've been crowned the high-dose guy, is to start low and work up incrementally. It's not a race. It's not an ego trip to see who can do the most. It's a true journey to understand what this thing is as far as the human spirt or soul – where it's at and where it's going.

LP: What challenging encounters have you seen?

KI: One of the most challenging areas is the realization of the aloneness. The realization of the darkness, no light. The realization that those are constructs of the conciouness. Once you lose the primal consciousness and move into that primal darkness that's so dark it has no black to it. That's one of the hardest things.

LP: Where has that journey taken you now as an activist and teacher?

KI: I'm moving onto the lecture circuit to share that this is a valid area of exploration. They say, Well, he's a martial artist – what's he doing talking about drug things? I'm trying to help the greater community and the martial arts community and the entheogenic community and have them look at what they're doing and what they're trying to box these drugs into.

LP: Do you get pushback from these communities for these unconventional views?

KI: Some think I'm crazy. Some think I'm just a druggy. Some say, He thinks he has magic powers because of the drugs. But now I'm getting invited to conferences and people are watching my Youtube videos. At Breaking Convention 2013, there's a lot of luminaries there with maybe 500 or 1200 views, and I'm not saying this out of ego, but I have more than 10,000 [for the talk, "High-Dose (31 Grams) Psilocybin Mushrooms Ayahuasca DMT LSD Transdimensional Hyperspace"]. This guy that they stuck at 10am the morning after the big party still has the most views. People look at that and realized that they need him to come to our conference. All of this might sound kind of far-fetched, but people are listening.

Lex Pelger is a writer, scientist and Shulginist. Read his work at lexpelger.com.

Iyi needs to watch this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quaPMUb2Wtw

mickey

10-23-2015, 11:56 AM

Greetings,

Thank you for bringing forth that interview. Gene. It proves that guy is full of chit. He completely bailed when questioned about how the mushies improved his martial abilities. And the interviewer just let it go by. If all he can do is talk about mushies and what is shown in the movies, then the mushies are a waste of time.

When he talks about the areas of Africa that use, he keeps it general. Looking African does not make you a sudden initiate with instant access to the secrets. People in this country have been hurt enough because of drugs. I hope they can see through this game that Iyi and others are putting forth.

mickey

GeneChing

04-15-2016, 09:45 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swUrXQ9YYNY

herb ox

04-15-2016, 06:15 PM

Dude WTF was that all about!?!?

I couldn't stop watching, though... :D

bawang

04-16-2016, 08:43 AM

mushroom shaped candy + decadent decaying culture

GeneChing

10-25-2017, 03:53 PM

Chinese villager finds the ‘king of mushrooms’ (http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2116557/chinese-villagers-find-king-mushrooms)
PUBLISHED : Monday, 23 October, 2017, 12:53pm
UPDATED : Monday, 23 October, 2017, 2:59pm
Laurie Chen

https://cdn4.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/980x551/public/images/methode/2017/10/23/44c49084-b7be-11e7-affb-32c8d8b6484e_1280x720_145911.JPEG/IMG]

The fungi, some of which are 83.5cm high, were found by a farmer foraging for mushrooms near a village in Tengchong in Yunnan province, Yn.yunnan.cn reported.
“I’m 81 years old and have never seen such a big mushroom in my life,” the farmer was quoted as saying.
Villagers hailed the find as the “king of mushrooms”, the report said.

[IMG]https://cdn1.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/images/methode/2017/10/23/e2e8a03c-b79d-11e7-affb-32c8d8b6484e_1320x770_145911.JPEG
An expert says the huge fungi are edible. Photo: Yunnan.net

The largest has a diameter of 40cm, leading villagers to call them “elephant foot”.
Yang Zhuliang, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Botany in Kunming, told the website the giant mushrooms were edible.
The farmer has put a fence around the mushrooms to protect them from visitors taking selfies and to stop them from eating them.
He also plans to preserve the fungi so more visitors can see them, the report said.
How long will that keep?

GeneChing

11-10-2017, 10:03 AM

WHY MUSHROOMS MAY BE THE BEST FOOD TO HELP FIGHT AGING (http://www.newsweek.com/why-mushrooms-may-be-best-food-help-fight-aging-707410)
BY KASTALIA MEDRANO ON 11/9/17 AT 4:30 PM

New research reveals that mushrooms are “without a doubt” the highest known single source of the antioxidants ergothioneine and glutathione, which are both associated with anti-aging properties.

A team of researchers from Pennsylvania State University found that mushrooms are surprisingly full of both compounds, and that some of the 13 species they tested contained vastly higher levels than others. Common white button mushrooms, for instance, had low levels of the two antioxidants compared to some other mushrooms but still higher levels than your average non-mushroom food. The winner “by far” was the wild porcini mushroom, which is convenient since it’s also delicious. And even though some foods lose their health benefits when you cook them, the antioxidants in the mushrooms appear heat-stable and thus unaffected. The research was recently published in the journal Food Chemistry.

"There's a theory—the free radical theory of aging—that's been around for a long time that says when we oxidize our food to produce energy there's a number of free radicals that are produced that are side products of that action and many of these are quite toxic," said Robert Beelman, professor emeritus of food science and director of the Penn State Center for Plant and Mushroom Products for Health, in a Penn State news release. "The body has mechanisms to control most of them, including ergothioneine and glutathione, but eventually enough accrue to cause damage, which has been associated with many of the diseases of aging, like cancer, coronary heart disease and Alzheimer's."

http://s.newsweek.com/sites/www.newsweek.com/files/styles/full/public/2017/11/09/robert-beelman-3.jpg
Robert Beelman is professor emeritus of food science at Penn State and director of the Center for Plant and Mushroom Foods for Health.
PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY/PATRICK MANSELL

Antioxidants have been elevated to near-mythical status through the wellness movement, which can at times rely on junky science, but there’s solid research indicating they help us fight oxidative stress. Oxidative stress arises when our bodies turn food into fuel to produce the energy they need, but they can’t avoid also creating some free radicals in the process. Free radicals are simply oxygen atoms that have unpaired electrons. But as they zoom around your body looking for other single electrons to pair with they can do a lot of damage to your cells, which is why the term has become a buzzy one for scaring you into buying skincare products (sunscreen is still the business though, please wear it).

"It's preliminary, but you can see that countries that have more ergothioneine in their diets, countries like France and Italy, also have lower incidences of neurodegenerative diseases, while people in countries like the United States, which has low amounts of ergothioneine in the diet, have a higher probability of diseases like Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's," Beelman continued in the news release. Beelman emphasizes that the research has not determined whether the link is only correlation—a connection but not proven as a cause.

But the difference is striking, he notes: the average amount of the antioxidant seen in the diets in these countries is about 3 milligrams per day, or about five button mushrooms.

Good to know. I luv mushrooms. Maybe not this much (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?56056-the-magic-of-mushrooms&p=1292875#post1292875), but I still luv 'em.

GeneChing

01-16-2018, 10:27 AM

Rapid test developed for traditional Chinese medicine (https://www.securingindustry.com/cosmetics-and-personal-care/rapid-test-developed-for-traditional-chinese-medicine/s106/a6641/#.Wl41nSinG00)

https://www.securingindustry.com/cosmetics-and-personal-care/rapid-test-developed-for-traditional-chinese-medicine/s106/a6641/?cmd=ShowAsset&assetID=6962&nosurround=true&fakeExtension=.jpg

Scientists in China have developed a simple, 10-minute test for authenticating traditional Chinese medicines (TCM), which are prone to adulteration and counterfeiting.

The team from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s Food Safety and Technology Research Centre developed the test for some of the most commonly-used herbal ingredients in TCM, including Ganoderma (‘Lingzhi’ in Chinese), and Gastrodiae rhizoma (‘Tianma’) which are both listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (ChP).

At the moment, fingerprint chromatography is generally used to authenticate and differentiate Lingzhi and Tianma species as it can provide comprehensive chemical composition of a sample, but this is a labour-intensive and time-consuming method and takes several hours to complete.

The new technique is based on direct ionization mass spectrometry (DI-MS) and is described in a paper published in the journal Analytica Chimica Acta. The PolyU team – led by Dr Yao Zhongping (pictured) – used DI-MS to detect the major active components of Lingzhi (ganoderic acids) and Tianma (gastrodin, parishin B/parishin C/and parishin).

According to the paper it can rapidly distinguish between “easily confused” species and identify those known to lack the active factors thought to be responsible for their clinical benefits. It can also separate wild from cultivated samples and map them to a geographic location.

That’s no mean feat, as there are approximately 80 Lingzhi species while only two of them, known as Chizhi and Zizhi, are described in ChP. Some other Lingzhi species which have similar appearances are commonly found to be confused with the official species. Meanwhile, Tianma is easily confused with two counterfeit species, namely Cacalia davidii (Franch.) Hand.-Mazz. and Canna edulis Ker.

“The method developed by PolyU is simple, rapid, reproducible and can be easily adopted by researchers in relevant fields as no additional specialized device is required,” says the university in a statement.

“It has the potential to be further expanded for analysis of other herbal medicines, for example, Heshouwu and Wuweizi, and therefore is expected to bring positive impact on the Chinese herbal medicine industry

Bad mushrooms are bad. Buddha passed because of bad mushrooms.

GeneChing

04-16-2019, 05:52 PM

China Enters Magic Mushroom Industry – Wuhan, MJMedTech, and M2BIO (https://psilocybintechnology.com/china-enters-magic-mushroom-industry-wuhan-mjmedtech-and-m2bio/?fbclid=IwAR3GREe874dBaKYx5QJcqJsPLBJ-z28pbB3q29WUDCs6WB564HbC8EgSF-o)
POSTED ON APRIL 8, 2019 BY STAFF SCIENTIST

https://i2.wp.com/psilocybintechnology.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/shutterstock_1295908990.jpg?w=1000&ssl=1

On April 05, 2019, Wuhan General Group, Inc. announced that its subsidiary MJ MedTech, Inc. (MJ MedTech) has created a new division dedicated to exploring opportunities in the psychedelic medicine space.

The new division, called “M2BIO” will be headed up by Wuhan’s CMO, Dr. Anna Morera Lorelta.  According to Dr. Lorelta, psychedelic medicine is experiencing a remarkable revival in the wake of recent research studies and positive findings from great institutions, such as Johns Hopkins. Researchers are having great success in treating depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and certain addictions with psilocybin, one of the naturally occurring compounds contained in so-called “magic mushrooms”.

According to Dr. Lorelta, ’’Psilocybin has become a very promising candidate for future treatments for anxiety and depression because it appears to disrupt the sorts of engrained brain activity patterns that are the hallmark of those diseases.” She explains:

“Just like it took time for the regulators to get behind marijuana, we believe the same will happen with ‘magic mushrooms’ in due course.”

MJ MedTech CEO, Jeff Robinson described the company’s strategy as follows:

“We want to be far ahead of the curve and become pioneers in the market, collaborating with legislative bodies to help find better and healthier solutions.”

MJ MedTech’s new division, M2BIO aims to develop new therapies that will help patients who suffer from mental illness and ease the burden on healthcare systems globally. Accordingly, M2BIO will be exploring additional indications for psilocybin, with the goal of bringing new therapies to market in the years to come.

Although the psilocybin industry is in its early stages, all signs point to rapid growth in the space. Recently COMPASS Pathways and CaaMTech have reported significant progress in commercial psilocybin related research and development. In the United States, Oregon, Iowa, Colorado (Denver), California, and Vermont have made steps towards legalizing or decriminalizing psilocybin.

Wuhan General Group (China), Inc.

Wuhan General Group (China), Inc. through its wholly-owned subsidiary MJ MedTech is a nutraceutical biotechnology company that owns, develops and commercializes a range of cannabis products, specifically CBD-based products. See Analogy Between Cannabis and Magic Mushrooms (https://psilocybintechnology.com/cannabis-psilocybin-mushrooms-similarities/). According to Wuhan,” our mission is to advance CBD-based medicine to the forefront by deploying best practice science and medicine, clinical research and emerging technologies.”
No culture knows mushrooms like China.

GeneChing

11-02-2020, 08:44 AM

This Hawaiian Mushroom Makes Women Orgasm Just By Smelling It (https://www.foodbeast.com/news/mushgasm/)

Sean Fahmy
Oct 9, 2015
I have good news and bad news. Let's start with the good news:

Scientists have discovered an orange mushroom in recent Hawaiian lava flows that can induce instantaneous orgasms in women just from the odor it gives off. That's right, fellas. You can get your girl to bust nuts all over the place just by having her sniff this thing.

This orgasm triggered by fungus, or "fungasm," is due in part from hormones in the mushroom that are close in similarity to the same ones picked up by our own neurotransmitters. Basically, the smell of this shroom makes the female body think it's having sex. Imagine walking into a sorority house with your pockets filled with these mushrooms.

https://cdn.foodbeast.com/content/uploads/2015/10/Screen-Shot-2015-10-09-at-3.57.14-PM.png
Mushroom Stock Photo

Take your time, I'll wait. Really let your mind paint that picture, and enjoy it while you can. Because here comes the bad news:

The orange mushroom smells orgasmic to women and literally caused nearly half of the volunteers for the study to climax. Unfortunately, it smells like week old horse **** to men. In the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms (https://www.begellhouse.com/journals/medicinal-mushrooms.html), the discoverers of the orange fungus, John C. Holliday and Noah Soule, concluded that all the male test subjects were repulsed by the fetid smell.

So if you're bad in bed and need a little bit of help, go find these mushrooms and hide a bunch of them under your bed. Then grab a clothes pin for yourself. Thank me later.
You'd think this could be extracted and distilled...

GeneChing

12-14-2020, 10:28 AM

New species of glowing mushroom found growing on dead bamboo in India (https://www.zmescience.com/science/glowing-mushroom-species-india-24674684/)
Glowing is always in fashion.
Alexandru Micu by Alexandru Micu November 23, 2020 in Biology, News, Science

A new species of mushroom has been discovered in the Assam province, northeastern India. It glows.

https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Roridomyces_phyllostachydis-novataxa_2020-Karunarathna_Mortimer_Tibpromma_Dutta_et-al.jpg
Image credits Karunarathna, Mortimer, Tibpromma, Dutta, et al., (2020), Phytotaxa.
A team of researchers from India and China reports on two weeks of fieldwork in the Assam region, during which they spotted several new species of mushrooms. The most exciting of these is a species that locals describe as “electric mushrooms” that lives on dead bamboo. The species, christened Roridomyces phyllostachydis is bioluminescent — it produces its own light.

Glow up
“The members of the genus Roridomyces are very fragile and they love moist and humid conditions,” explained Samantha Karunarathna, senior mycologist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and lead author of the report.

“In general, bioluminescent mushrooms seem to have co-evolved together with some specific insects as these mushrooms attract insects to disperse their spores.”

The species may be new to science, but locals have known about (and used) it for quite a while now. They’ve been employing bamboo sticks with these glowing mushrooms growing on them as natural torches at night, for example.

It only grows on dead bamboo, the team explains, although it’s not immediately apparent why. It may be the case that the bamboo substrate offers special conditions or resources that the fungus prefers, according to Karunarathna, but until the issue is researched more thoroughly, we can’t know for sure. This is the first species of the genus Roridomyces to be discovered in India, the team adds.

The team recovered samples of the mushrooms, dried them, and then performed a genetic analysis to understand where it fits on the tree of life. Both morphological features and its genetic heritage support its position as a new species in the genus Roridomyces. Currently, 12 other species are known in this genus, and five of them are also bioluminescent. The team named the species phyllostachydis after the genus of the host bamboo tree (Phyllostachys) from which it was collected.

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8-UoeBPBiFs/X7uP6DhPQYI/AAAAAAAENiY/oNtcw4X8s4QL1qsD1Gn6KbJ9H1dHbmnSACLcBGAsYHQ/s945/Roridomyces_phyllostachydis-novataxa_2020-Karunarathna_Mortimer_Tibpromma_Dutta_et-al.jpg
Image credits Karunarathna, Mortimer, Tibpromma, Dutta, et al., (2020), Phytotaxa.
During the day, they look pretty unassuming. However, at night they glow with a clear, green light — but only from its stripes and mycelia (which are a rough equivalent to roots) that are burrowing into the bamboo. The mushrooms’ brown caps do not emit light at all.

So why does it glow? Bioluminescence is most commonly seen in ocean environments than on dry land, although fireflies are iconic examples of the latter. Its typically used to attract attention, either for hunting or to coax insects into visiting a plant and spreading its pollen or seeds around. Of about 120,000 described fungus species, around 100 are known to be bioluminescent; only a handful of these are native to India. This is likely due to the fact that there aren’t enough trained specialists to go out and look for new species and document those that have already been discovered, Karunarathna argues.

Bioluminescent fungi commonly grow on decaying wood and are able to feed on the lignin in plant debris (lignin is a structural component in the walls of plant cells, which gives them their stiffness). The largest genus of bioluminescent fungi we know of is the Mycena (bonnet mushrooms), and genetic studies of Mycena suggest that this trait evolved around 160 million years ago.

The paper “Roridomyces phyllostachydis (Agaricales, Mycenaceae), a new bioluminescent fungus from Northeast India” has been published in the journal Phytotaxa.

threads
http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?56056-the-magic-of-mushroomsthe-magic-of-mushrooms (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?56056-the-magic-of-mushrooms)
bamboo (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?69234-Bamboo)

GeneChing

01-14-2021, 10:02 AM

A man injected himself with 'magic' mushrooms and the fungi grew in his blood, which put him into organ failure (https://www.insider.com/man-injected-with-mushrooms-grew-in-blood-caused-organ-failure-2021-1)
Julia Naftulin Jan 12, 2021, 3:05 PM

https://i.insider.com/5ffdf6bcfe7e140019f7e811?width=1300&format=jpeg&auto=webp
Psychedelic mushrooms in a grow room at the Procare farm in Hazerswoude, Netherlands, in 2007. PETER DEJONG/ASSOCIATED PRESS

A 30-year-old man with bipolar disorder injected himself with "magic" mushrooms, which contain the psychedelic drug psilocybin, in a failed attempt at a trip.

Psychedelic mushrooms are meant to be eaten or drunk, not injected.

The mushrooms grew in the man's bloodstream and caused his body to go into organ failure. He is being treated with long-term use of antifungals and antibiotics.

A man experienced organ failure after turning psychedelic mushrooms into tea that he then injected into his veins.

According to a case report out this week in the Journal of the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, the 30-year-old man's family brought him to a Nebraska emergency room after they noticed he seemed confused.

The man had bipolar disorder type 1, the doctors who wrote the case study learned, and he hadn't been taking his medications, so had been going through manic and depressive episodes. During recent episodes related to his bipolar disorder, he'd researched how he could decrease his opioid use at home, his family said.

That's when he read about the potential for psilocybin, the drug found in psychedelic mushrooms — aka magic mushrooms — for treating symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Indeed, a mounting body of research suggests psilocybin could be a treatment for people with differing magnitudes and durations of depression who haven't had success with traditional antidepressants.

Previously, researchers at Johns Hopkins and New York University conducted multiple small studies of cancer patients who experienced anxiety and depression as a result of their diagnoses. After being given psilocybin, the majority of patients reported an improvement in these symptoms immediately after treatment and over time.

The drug is not to be injected, however, which this man learned from a three-week stint in the hospital.

Doctors found mushrooms growing in the man's bloodstream

When people want to trip on psychedelic mushrooms, they consume them as-is or in the form of a powder put into a capsule or tea that is then swallowed.

But the man in the case study boiled the mushrooms in water, filtered the liquid through a cotton swab, and then injected the substance into his bloodstream.

A couple of days later, he started to become overly tired, vomited blood, and developed jaundice, diarrhea, and nausea. His family found him soon after and took him to the hospital.

When the doctors met the man, he couldn't give coherent interview answers, and after tests they found he had a liver injury, his kidneys weren't functioning properly, and he'd started to go into organ failure.

A blood sample revealed something even more shocking: The mushrooms, which thrive in dark places, had begun to grow in the man's bloodstream, causing the aforementioned health issues. He needed to be put on a ventilator to breath and had his blood filtered for toxins, the case report said.

Doctors kept the man in the hospital for 22 days and gave him two antibiotics and one antifungal treatment, which he was prescribed to continue taking for the long term after he left the hospital. Extreme case of faulty logic

GeneChing

10-02-2021, 10:18 PM

Pricey but out in the open and less than an hour away from the Tiger Claw HQ...

Discover your presence.

The first and only microdose tea of its kind. (https://jennyjill.com/oakland-delivery)

Out of the over 200 psychedelic mushroom species in the world, we selected a proprietary blend of Psilocybe cubensis variants to create our Cubensis Blend. We add 0.1g of this blend to matcha tea, combine it with a full serving of lion’s mane mushroom, then include oat milk and honey to round it out.

And for residents of Oakland, we now deliver directly to you.

Benefits of microdosing

Mood enhancement
A buoyancy of mood and a feeling of being a part of the larger universe around you gives a lift of spirit.

Crisp concentration
Gain sharper focus, clarity of mind, and the ability to sustain it throughout your day.

Increased mental stamina
Build mental stamina to help manage the stresses of everyday life, and maintain focus over time.

MembershipSignUp_Bkgrd.jpg
The ingredients

TiledIngredients.jpg
You get out what you put in.
That’s why we have taken the care to find quality ingredients from premier producers because we care about what goes into our body, and we know you do too. In our Matcha Micro, we use organic variants of Psilocybe cubensis a.k.a. “the magic”, organic lion’s mane mushrooms, organic matcha green tea, honey, and oat milk.

Matcha Micro is gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and nut-free.

GeneChing

10-15-2021, 09:15 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dui6146ZF7w

GeneChing

10-19-2021, 09:26 AM

Johns Hopkins Medicine Receives First Federal Grant for Psychedelic Treatment Research in 50 years (https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/newsroom/news-releases/johns-hopkins-medicine-receives-first-federal-grant-for-psychedelic-treatment-research-in-50-years)
10/18/2021
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/sebin/p/w/Newsroom%20Marisol%2010%2018%20Cubensis%20Cluster% 20Hand.jpg
A cluster of Cubensis (magic mushrooms). Credit: Paul Stamets
Johns Hopkins Medicine was awarded a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to explore the potential impacts of psilocybin on tobacco addiction. This is the first NIH grant awarded in over a half century to directly investigate the therapeutic effects of a classic psychedelic, consistent with a recent study published online that searched NIH funding and found zero grants were awarded between 2006 and 2020. Johns Hopkins Medicine will lead the multisite, three-year study in collaboration with University of Alabama at Birmingham and New York University. The study will be conducted simultaneously at the three institutions to diversify the pool of participants and increase confidence that results apply to a wide range of people who smoke. The grant, totaling nearly $4 million, is funded by NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse.

“The historical importance of this grant is monumental,” says principal investigator Matthew Johnson, Ph.D., Susan Hill Ward Professor in Psychedelics and Consciousness in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “We knew it was only a matter of time before the NIH would fund this work because the data are so compelling, and because this work has demonstrated to be safe. Psilocybin does have very real risks, but these risks are squarely mitigated in controlled settings through screening, preparation, monitoring and follow-up care.”

Over the last 20 years, there has been a growing renaissance of research with classic psychedelics, which are the pharmacological class of compounds that includes psilocybin and LSD. These studies have been largely funded by philanthropy, resulting in impressive clinical findings for cancer-related existential distress, major depressive disorder and substance use disorders.

Johnson initiated this line of research testing psilocybin for tobacco smoking cessation 13 years ago. A pilot study published in 2014 showed very high abstinence rates, much larger than those seen with traditional smoking cessation medications and therapies.

The current double-blind randomized trial involves psilocybin sessions as well as cognitive behavioral therapy — a type of talk therapy (psychotherapy) focused on pinpointing negative patterns of thought that can lead to behavioral and mental health problems. The researchers suggest psilocybin might help break the addictive pattern of thoughts and behaviors that has become ingrained after years of smoking, thus helping people to quit the habit.

Psilocybin, a compound found in so-called magic mushrooms, produces visual and auditory illusions and profound changes in consciousness. Combined with preparation and structured support, psilocybin has shown promise for treating a range of addictions and mental health disorders.

Johnson is available for interviews.

This research is supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health under award number U01DA052174. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Wonder what the protocols will be...

GeneChing

04-08-2022, 11:04 AM

Mushrooms communicate with each other using up to 50 ‘words’, scientist claims (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/apr/06/fungi-electrical-impulses-human-language-study)
Professor theorises electrical impulses sent by mycological organisms could be similar to human language
https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/49d39f74035f02a33b2453ea33bea48f57b9bc9b/0_62_4288_2573/master/4288.jpg
Split gill fungi generated the most complex trains of electrical activity in the study. Photograph: Minden Pictures/Alamy
Linda Geddes Science correspondent
Tue 5 Apr 2022 19.01 EDT
Buried in forest litter or sprouting from trees, fungi might give the impression of being silent and relatively self-contained organisms, but a new study suggests they may be champignon communicators.

Mathematical analysis of the electrical signals fungi seemingly send to one another has identified patterns that bear a striking structural similarity to human speech.

Previous research has suggested that fungi conduct electrical impulses through long, underground filamentous structures called hyphae – similar to how nerve cells transmit information in humans.

It has even shown that the firing rate of these impulses increases when the hyphae of wood-digesting fungi come into contact with wooden blocks, raising the possibility that fungi use this electrical “language” to share information about food or injury with distant parts of themselves, or with hyphae-connected partners such as trees.

But do these trains of electrical activity have anything in common with human language?

Hotspots of mycorrhizal fungi are thought to be under threat, from agriculture, urbanisation, pollution, water scarcity and changes to the climate.

To investigate, Prof Andrew Adamatzky at the University of the West of England’s unconventional computing laboratory in Bristol analysed the patterns of electrical spikes generated by four species of fungi – enoki, split gill, ghost and caterpillar fungi.

He did this by inserting tiny microelectrodes into substrates colonised by their patchwork of hyphae threads, their mycelia.

“We do not know if there is a direct relationship between spiking patterns in fungi and human speech. Possibly not,” Adamatzky said. “On the other hand, there are many similarities in information processing in living substrates of different classes, families and species. I was just curious to compare.”

The research, published in Royal Society Open Science, found that these spikes often clustered into trains of activity, resembling vocabularies of up to 50 words, and that the distribution of these “fungal word lengths” closely matched those of human languages.

Split gills – which grow on decaying wood, and whose fruiting bodies resemble undulating waves of tightly packed coral – generated the most complex “sentences” of all.

The most likely reasons for these waves of electrical activity are to maintain the fungi’s integrity – analogous to wolves howling to maintain the integrity of the pack – or to report newly discovered sources of attractants and repellants to other parts of their mycelia, Adamtzky suggested.

“There is also another option – they are saying nothing,” he said. “Propagating mycelium tips are electrically charged, and, therefore, when the charged tips pass in a pair of differential electrodes, a spike in the potential difference is recorded.”

Whatever these “spiking events” represent, they do not appear to be random, he added.

Even so, other scientists would like to see more evidence before they are willing to accept them as a form of language. Other types of pulsing behaviour have previously been recorded in fungal networks, such as pulsing nutrient transport – possibly caused by rhythmic growth as fungi forage for food.

“This new paper detects rhythmic patterns in electric signals, of a similar frequency as the nutrient pulses we found,” said Dan Bebber, an associate professor of biosciences at the University of Exeter, and a member of the British Mycological Society’s fungal biology research committee.

“Though interesting, the interpretation as language seems somewhat overenthusiastic, and would require far more research and testing of critical hypotheses before we see ‘Fungus’ on Google Translate.”

Attack of the Mushroom People was prophesy...

GeneChing

06-13-2022, 09:42 AM

Oakland’s psychedelic mushroom church makes a cautious return (https://oaklandside.org/2022/06/10/zide-door-psycedelic-magic-mushroom-church-oakland/)
Despite a police raid and global pandemic, Zide Door has accumulated members and slowly begun to resume in-person sermons.

by Jessica De La Torre
June 10, 2022

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXglyaUMKzM
Video produced by Jessica De La Torre and William Jenkins.

Smoke twirls from the lips of a man with a long beard and metal-framed glasses, who is dressed like the Pope with a psychedelic twist: embroidered gold hemp leaves decorate his cloak, and mushrooms adorn his stole.

Dave Hodges is the pastor, preacher, and founder of Zide Door, a nondenominational and interfaith church in Oakland where religious practice centers on the use of natural hallucinogens known as entheogens—mainly, mushrooms containing the psychoactive chemical psilocybin. For Hodges, “Mushrooms are the origin of all religion.”

Hodges founded Zide Door in January 2019 and, until the pandemic forced him to scale back, presided over psyche-altering sacraments and hot-boxed sermons at the church, a nondescript building on 10th Avenue near E 12th Street, every Sunday at 4:20 p.m.

Despite two years of a global pandemic—and some unwelcome attention from local law enforcement agencies along the way—Hodges said interest in Zide Door has grown, and the church is now making a cautious return to hosting in-person gatherings, with plans to do more in the coming months.

A place of worship and a dispensary

A heavy-set, armed security guard grants access to the church through its main entrance on 10th Street, which sits behind a row of thickly rooted palms. Past the gated door there is a metal detector and, beyond that, a small hall where membership is verified.

“We do have fairly strict security at the church, and this is an unfortunate issue with Oakland; We are in a very high-crime area,” said Hodges. “So the thing that keeps us and our members safe is having armed guards at the front door who are constantly watching for anything to happen.”

Once membership is verified, members walk through an open room filled with about five royal-blue pews that Hodges found on Craigslist. A mini stage with a pulpit holds red, yellow, and green candles with an old and tattered printout that reads, “Sermon every Sunday @ 4:20. Free joints for all during the sermon (everyone must be smoking).”

https://oaklandside.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/ZD_pulpit-1568x880.png
A sign on the pulpit at Zide Door advertises the church’s Sunday sermons at 4:20 p.m. Credit: Jessica De La Torre and William Jenkins

Music plays loud in the church. But instead of choir melodies, artists like Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar vibrate the room.

Red-capped mushroom figurines decorate the small stage, offering some cohesion to the awkwardly staged room as a psychedelic sermon area. This is where members once rejoiced with cannabis, before the pandemic, and listened to Hodges preach about safe access and the use of entheogenic plants.

The main attraction, the mushrooms, are in a room adjacent to the sermon area that doubles as a dispensary. There is a large poster that reads “20% off Sacraments” on specific days of the week. Black tubs of mushrooms and cannabis fill a metal storage shelving rack against a wall.

Zide Door is one of the few places in the United States where people can purchase mushrooms without being legally penalized or taxed, as long as they are granted membership, a process that consists of answering an online questionnaire. Among the questions is, “Do you work for law enforcement or any government agency?” Members must also agree to accept entheogenic plants as part of the religious onboarding.

“We’re very private and we want to make sure we know why you’re coming in and make sure that you believe in what we believe in,” said Hodges.

Slowed by the pandemic, and then a police raid

Zide Door began as a cannabis-focused church in early 2019, but Hodges was able to add psychedelic mushrooms to its offerings after Oakland’s City Council approved a resolution in June 2019 that effectively decriminalized mushrooms and other consciousness-altering plants like ayahuasca and peyote.

Although it’s still illegal to possess these plants under federal law, and illegal to sell them in Oakland, the resolution deemed these offenses “amongst the lowest law enforcement priority for the City of Oakland.”

That didn’t stop Oakland police from raiding the church on August 13, 2020. In security-camera footage made public by Hodges on Instagram and later in news reports, officers can be seen forcing their way into the building with guns drawn and pointed ahead, while people exit the church with their hands in the air.

https://oaklandside.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/ZD_security-cam-1568x882.png
Security cam footage from Zide Door shows Oakland police officers entering the building with guns drawn on August 13, 2020. Credit: Used by Jessica De La Torre and William Jenkins, courtesy of Dave Hodges

Recalling the raid recently, Hodges said police entered the church as if they were storming a mafia headquarters, a scene he found both humorous and alarming.

“I was about five minutes away from the church when I got a call that the cops were there. They were still clearing people out of the building when I arrived. I started yelling at them that they’re violating the city’s order, and my religious freedom, and that I’m the one responsible for all of this,” he said. “Basically, I was telling them to just arrest me.”

Instead, said Hodges, the officers, aided by personnel from Oakland Fire Department, insisted on breaking into the church’s safe boxes with the help of rescue tools. After hours of work, they succeeded in tearing open two of them, seizing $5,000 in cash and $200,000 worth of cannabis and mushrooms. Hodges was let go with a fine and a warning. After cleaning up the mess left behind by the raid, he reopened Zide Door 24 hours later.

“This wasn’t about whether we were doing something wrong,” Hodges told The Oaklandside. “It was about how the police can take money from something that they think is wrong.”

The Oakland Police Department did not respond to a request for comment for this story. But following the raid in 2020, Oakland Police Capt. Rendell Wingate told CBS News that the department was acting on a complaint by the Alameda County health department of an illegal business that was “creating respiratory health issues” for children living in close proximity, and questioned the church’s validity based on its dual function as a mushroom dispensary.

“We have several churches in the city of Oakland and they are non-profit and not known to sell cannabis or mushrooms,” Wingate said at the time. “This is the first for-profit religious establishment I’ve seen in my 28 years as an Oakland cop.”

Hodges said he is actively working with an attorney on compiling a legal case against OPD on the grounds that the department violated religious freedom laws. He now views the raid, and the pending legal challenge, as unfortunate but necessary steps in a longer-term effort to safeguard the church and its practices.

“From the day we opened up, I knew we would have a raid, but OPD was the last place I thought it would come from because of the City Council’s [resolution]. I thought it would come from the county, the state, or worst case, the feds,” he said. “It’s always been the expectation. And it’s part of the plan, in the sense that we have to have a raid, we have to have a court case, in order to prove that what we’re doing is right. And I know that what I’m doing is right."
continued next post

GeneChing

06-13-2022, 09:43 AM

A return to in-person sermons

https://oaklandside.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/dave-4-10-a-1600x1067.jpg
Dave Hodges speaks to the audience about his practice with psilocybin mushrooms at an event hosted by Zide Door in April 2022. Credit: Courtesy of Dave Hodges

Hodges made it clear that Zide Door never completely closed its doors during the pandemic—the church has remained a place where members can visit and purchase mushrooms—but the weekly public sermons were discontinued as a COVID precaution.

“Prior to the pandemic I was doing a sermon every week in addition to our space being a gathering space for members and a space for them to get their sacraments,” said Hodges. The weekly sermons drew large groups of people, up to 100 at a time, sitting shoulder to shoulder, usually passing around communal joints. “With the pandemic, we did stop that. But [the pandemic] is still a problem.”

Hodges resumed the live sermons several months ago as COVID rates declined, albeit cautiously. They currently take place only once per month and for a smaller group of members, at a temporary location on Livingston Street near the Oakland harbor. Zide Door required its members to show proof of vaccination before entering the venue after the city of Oakland adopted a local ordinance mandating it earlier this year, and Hodges said the church continues to follow public health guidelines for COVID.

Hodges hopes to make the public sermons weekly again when pandemic conditions allow and once he secures a larger venue. “It’s still a challenge during this pandemic, gathering people together. We’re nervous there might be another wave,” said Hodges. “There are a lot of people that want to gather together, but we’re just very cautious about how we can do this consistently.”

Ironically, he said, membership at Zide Door skyrocketed in the months following the police raid, from roughly 20,000 to 50,000 members, at least on paper. The active community, he acknowledged, is far smaller. But even if one percent of the enlisted members were to show up to a sermon, he said, there wouldn’t be enough room at the church on 10th Street, or the alternate location on Livingston, to accommodate them all.

“Before the raid, we were purely word of mouth. After the raid, you can now find us online and submit an application on the website and become a member. But we still prefer to be referral-based,” he said. “The whole model is, you bring a friend.”

Hodges said he could imagine the church one day introducing other types of plant medicines. But for now, Zide Door only offers marijuana and mushrooms to its members. “Cannabis and mushrooms are two of the safest ones that people can use on their own, for their spiritual practices.”

Creating safe spaces for guided mushroom trips

Anthropologist and entheogenic plant researcher Acacea Lewis, 27, is the founder of Divine Master Alchemy, a school for entheogenic practices, and a passionate supporter of widening accessibility to mushrooms and other entheogenic plants that she and many others consider sacred. Lewis, who lectured alongside Hodges earlier this year at a Zide Door event, Spirituality and Beyond 2, believes groups like Zide Door and Divine Master Alchemy are doing important work by creating spaces where curious people can explore their spirituality with the help of entheogens, without judgment and outside the bounds of a clinical setting.

“I applaud those who are treating entheogens as a sacrament and technology for exploration,” she said. “To give the power back to the people for their own spiritual and religious use, versus limiting them to the purpose of a clinical therapeutic drug [that’s] controlled and administered.”

Lewis, who grew up in a Pentecostal Christian family, was introduced to psilocybin mushrooms when she was a teenager and said the plants helped her overcome deep feelings of depression and even thoughts of suicide.

“There was a time I wouldn’t talk to my mother or I wouldn’t even talk to my father because, I [had] come out as a queer, a lesbian, as a youth, and I drove a wedge between me and my family,” she said. “And working with the mushroom helped me to realize that it’s possible for me to forgive myself and my parents and to also study many other different religions.”

Lewis said using entheogens such as mushrooms can also be safer when done in spaces dedicated to the practice, and with people who have extensive first-hand experience.

“Would you go scuba diving with someone who’s never gone scuba diving before? I know I wouldn’t. Would you jump out of a plane with somebody who’s never gone parachuting before? Nope. Would you get on a plane with a pilot that has never flown a plane before? No,” said Lews. “Having experienced people who understand the hidden aspects of this realm can really be beneficial for someone who is just coming in.”

‘It makes you appreciate even just a breath’

At an Oakland Hills home that Hodges uses to facilitate smaller ceremonies, Hodges exhales smoke from a joint he just rolled. The aroma of a dead skunk fills the room of the cabin-like home. There are ceiling-to-floor windows that open to the surrounding hills, which are decorated with deep green forest.

For Hodges, this is the perfect environment to indulge in psychedelics. He hopes to soon provide Zide Door members with access to the home, as a place to safely take “heroic” doses of mushrooms while “trip-sitters,” who’ve been pre-qualified and appointed by Hodges, watch over them to ensure their safety. Hodges calls the project, “God’s Sitters.”

No special education or background is required to be a trip-sitter, only a dedication to magic mushrooms. Hodges has been training one churchgoer, Christopher Tindall, for the lead trip-sitting role. Their training involves taking large doses of mushrooms.

Tindall said the mushrooms have allowed him to appreciate life’s smallest gestures. “With the sacred mushroom, it makes you appreciate even just a breath,” he said. Tindall’s clear blue eyes begin to water as he explains how much he’s grown as a person since partaking in mushrooms. Like Lewis, Tindall said the plants have helped him overcome feelings of depression.

“Before, I thought more about suicide than about appreciating life. And as I’m taking these doses of mushrooms, you literally die and get brought back to life,” said Tindall. His thick, beaded bracelets jingle as he wipes a tear from his face. Now, Tindall said he can’t fathom the dark place he was once in.

An average mushroom dose for recreational purposes ranges between one to two-and-a-half grams, and this is the range where Hodges claims that life becomes more vivid and colorful, and plants look like they’re breathing. Above five grams is where experiences can get more intense and is considered a “heroic dose.” Anything between 15 to 30 grams is where you can leave your body, according to Hodges, and this is where things can become more hallucinogenic and scary for an inexperienced person.

“As far as the dangers of psychedelics go in general, and especially when you’re talking about mushrooms, it’s really about education,” said Hodges. “These are very powerful tools and they need to be done in the right [mind]set and setting.”

Hodges’ message to the skeptics? “You don’t have to listen to me. You don’t have to read a book. You just need to do the dose and experience what you’ll experience. So if you doubt what I’m doing, try it yourself and I can guarantee you won’t doubt it again.”

Hodges' robe tho...

GeneChing

06-22-2023, 02:08 PM

Beyond Wonderland Shooting Suspect Told Police He Took ‘Shrooms’
"This is the end," James M. Kelly allegedly told his girlfriend before opening fire at the Washington EDM festival, leaving two dead and three injured (https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/beyond-wonderland-festival-shooting-suspect-five-victims-identified-1234775500/)
BY LARISHA PAUL, TOMÁS MIER
JUNE 21, 2023

https://www.rollingstone.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/beyond-wonderland-gorge-shooting-suspect.jpg?w=1581&h=1054&crop=1
GEORGE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 11: The Highwomen perform at Gorge Amphitheatre on June 11, 2023 in George, Washington. (Photo by Gary Miller/Getty Images)
Gorge Amphitheatre George, Washington, June 11, 2023 GARY MILLER/GETTY IMAGES

THE MAN ACCUSED of killing two people at Beyond Wonderland in Washington over the weekend told police that he was hallucinating on mushrooms and believed the world was going to end, according to court documents obtained by Oregon Live and King5.

James M. Kelly — a 26-year-old active-duty member of the U.S. Army — allegedly opened fire at the Beyond Wonderland EDM festival on Saturday evening, leaving two individuals dead and three others injured. Among those injured was his girlfriend Lily Luksich, 20, whom Kelly told “this is the end” before the alleged shooting spree, King5 reported.

According to the court docs, Kelly returned to the campgrounds from the festival proper, where he allegedly grabbed his handgun from his pickup truck, loaded it, and fired at Brandy Escamilla and Josilyn Ruiz, the engaged couple that died on the scene. He also shot at 31-year-old August Morningstar, who suffered a bullet wound in his shoulder and is now in stable condition after receiving treatment at a hospital.

According to the document, Kelly attempted to fire at a Grant County Sheriff’s Office drone, and later shot at his girlfriend in the foot and upper leg. “At multiple times, Luksich laid down on the ground and Kelly sat either on her, or sat next to her and leaned over her,” according to court records obtained by Oregon Live. “At one point Luksich began to walk north away from Kelly, turned around with her hands raised in the air, and walked back to Kelly.”

Kelly is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree assault, and one count of first-degree assault domestic violence.

The update regarding his mental state comes just hours after the North Central Washington Special Investigations Unit identified the victims and shooter. According to a press release from the department, he was booked into Grant County Jail.

Another victim, 61-year-old Lori Williams, was treated on-site for injuries sustained in a Polaris Ranger UTV when she “was struck by a single bullet that penetrated the windshield and struck her in the right side of her face shattering her glasses and causing bruising and laceration.”

The incident occurred at approximately 8:23 p.m. PT in the campground area outside of the Gorge venue in Grant County, Washington. During the shooting, the event itself was occurring in the amphitheater, which had a walking distance of about 20-30 minutes away from the camping grounds where festival-goers had pitched tents and parked their cars for the weekend festival.

According to Grant County Sheriff’s Office public information officer Kyle Foreman, the suspect fired “randomly into the crowd” in the campground area and continued to do so until he was “eventually taken into custody” in a secondary location from where it all began.

“Officers located Kelly and Luksich in an agricultural field adjacent to the campground. Moses Lake Police Department Detective Edgar Salazar fired his duty weapon at Kelly striking him one time,” the statement continued. “Responding officers then quickly moved in and Kelly was taken into custody and received emergency medical aid from the officers.”

The second day of the festival was canceled following the incident. The shooter’s motive remains unclear. His next hearing is set for July 5.

This story was updated at 7:10 p.m. ET to include new information about the suspect’s alleged use of hallucinogens, along with additional details of the incident.

the-magic-of-mushrooms (https://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?56056-the-magic-of-mushrooms)
Mass-public-shootings-on-the-rise-but-why (https://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?46006-Mass-public-shootings-on-the-rise-but-why)

GeneChing

08-17-2023, 09:12 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltSj7cFe3HY

"Asian grocery"

GeneChing

08-21-2023, 09:19 AM

Yes, Janet Yellen ate magic mushrooms. Here’s why she didn’t get high. (https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2023/08/16/janet-yellen-magic-mushrooms-china/)
By Emily Heil
August 16, 2023 at 2:53 p.m. EDT
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/KJKF72N4FGUN23DDQHU7YBFAKI_size-normalized.jpg&w=860
Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing last month. (Pedro Pardo/Pool/Getty Images)

Former president Bill Clinton once famously claimed to have smoked marijuana but swore that he didn’t inhale. Now, Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen is saying that yes, she ate mushrooms that might have had hallucinogenic properties — but (promise, Dad!) she didn’t actually get high from them. America’s CFO was talking about a dinner she ate while attending high-profile meetings in Beijing last month, where one of the dishes was made with a mushroom known as jian shou qing.
Never ask what’s for dinner again. Get one quick recipe in your inbox Monday through Thursday to inspire delicious meals.
After the dinner made a splash in China because a local food blogger reportedly posted about it on social media, Yellen was asked about her “mushroom experience” during an interview this week with CNN’s Erin Burnett.
“There was a delicious mushroom dish. I was not aware that these mushrooms had hallucinogenic properties,” Yellen said with a laugh, noting that she didn’t order the dish, but the person who arranged the outing did. “I learned that later.” It was tasty, the former Fed said, but didn’t get her high.
That’s the way locals in the Yunnan province, where they are wild-foraged, typically see these mushrooms, says Colin Domnauer, a PhD candidate at the University of Utah, who has been studying them. Domnauer notes that while Americans and other westerners might prize such a mushroom because of its psychedelic qualities, the locals value it for its taste — which he describes as umami-laden and porcini-like, albeit a bit less nutty. “There’s a difference in cultural attitude about the psychoactive effect — it’s like the food itself is more important than this property,” he says.
You can find the mushroom (actually a range of species, many of which are almost identical), whose name translates literally as “see hand blue” because its flesh bruises and turns blue when pressed, at markets and in restaurants in Yunnan, as well as other places that serve the province’s cuisine, such as the restaurant where Yellen and her party dined. And although some people have reported experiencing “Lilliputian hallucinations” — meaning people who ingested it claimed to have had visions of small people — it can be rendered decidedly non-hallucinogenic by proper cooking.
Yellen said she had read that “if the mushrooms are cooked properly, which I’m sure they were at this very good restaurant, that they have no impact.” And indeed, she said, “all of us enjoyed the mushrooms, the restaurant, and none of us felt any ill effects.” Domnauer recently visited Yunnan to collect samples, and he, too, dined on the local delicacy at a hot pot restaurant. There, the staff set out a timer and instructed diners to cook the mushrooms in the boiling liquid for at least 15 minutes before eating it, he said, adding that nobody experienced any hallucinations.
While the mushroom in question is widely considered to be delicious, it also contains mysteries that mycologists are trying to unlock.
Here’s what makes these fungi so interesting: Scientists have yet to identify the compound in them that accounts for their psychoactive effects, notes Matthew Kasson, a mycologist and professor at West Virginia University’s Davis College. Analysis has not turned up psilocybin, which is the stuff commonly found in most “magic mushrooms” that makes them a popular recreational drug. Nor did scientists find another such known compound, ibotenic acid, which appears in those red-and-white polka dotted mushrooms sometimes referred to as “Super Mario” mushrooms because of their depiction in the popular video game.
So what could explain those Lilliputian apparitions?
Maybe something entirely novel, Domnauer says, possibly a compound that could have exciting uses in medicine or other applications. He likened it to when mycologists first learned about psilocybin, which is now used in various psychiatric treatments, in the 1950s after studying the mushrooms used in ancient ceremonies in northern Mexico. “There was a time when no one outside this small group in Oaxaca knew about it, and now it’s spread all over,” he says.
After Yellen’s meal, the jian shou qing dish is reportedly selling like hot cakes at various branches of the restaurant where she dined, whose name translates to “In and Out” (though it is, obviously, not affiliated with the American burger chain). And while it might seem strange that a mushroom with the potential to make a diner see visions of tiny humans is a commonly consumed food, Kasson says that can be explained by differences in attitudes toward fungi more generally.
“That’s not a surprise to me, because in the East, there’s a broader acceptance for fungal foraging, and there is a lot of respect for fungi in Eastern culture in both food and medicine,” he says. Westerners, on the other hand, “tend to vilify fungi — they’re associated with decay, they’re associated with death, or we think they’re going to kill us.”
CORRECTION
An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified West Virginia University as the University of West Virginia.

By Emily Heil
Emily Heil is a reporter covering national food news and trends. Previously, she co-authored the Reliable Source column for The Post.
A bit sensational - like saying someone didn't know pufferfish was poisonous - but I'm amused nonetheless.

GeneChing

09-06-2023, 07:21 AM

Slighty OT for AI-Responses-to-Common-Kung-Fu-questions (https://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?72458-AI-Responses-to-Common-Kung-Fu-questions) because it's not KF related (but relevant for the-magic-of-mushrooms (https://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?56056-the-magic-of-mushrooms)). I may be hijacking this thread for AI-written stuff in general. I'm still getting an AI-written submission nearly every week.

Mushroom pickers urged to avoid foraging books on Amazon that appear to be written by AI (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/sep/01/mushroom-pickers-urged-to-avoid-foraging-books-on-amazon-that-appear-to-be-written-by-ai)
Sample of books scored 100% on AI detection test as experts warn they contain dangerous advice

Dan Milmo Global technology editor
Fri 1 Sep 2023 12.32 EDT

https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1cc07792071f10976ab59070d30c6a1bbdf934e8/0_612_4095_2459/master/4095.jpg?width=620&dpr=2&s=none

Amateur mushroom pickers have been urged to avoid foraging books sold on Amazon that appear to have been written by artificial intelligence chatbots.

Amazon has become a marketplace for AI-produced tomes that are being passed off as having been written by humans, with travel books among the popular categories for fake work.

Now a number of books have appeared on the online retailer’s site offering guides to wild mushroom foraging that also seem to be written by chatbots. The titles include “Wild Mushroom Cookbook: form [sic] forest to gourmet plate, a complete guide to wild mushroom cookery” and “The Supreme Mushrooms Books Field Guide of the South-West”.

Four samples from the books were examined for the Guardian by Originality.ai, a US firm that detects AI content. The company said every sample had a rating of 100% on its AI detection score, meaning that its systems are highly confident that the books were written by a chatbot such as ChatGPT.

Examples of prose from the books include: “The sweet smell of freshly cooked mushrooms wafted through the air, bringing back fond memories of my mother” and “Foraging for wild mushrooms is a deeply rewarding experience that connects us with nature’s abundance and the rich tapestry of flowers that the Earth provides.”

The other books tested by Originality.ai were “Wild Mushroom Cookbook: A beginner’s guide to learning the basics of cooking with wild mushrooms for health and flavor, complete with easy-to-follow recipes!” and “Wild Mushroom Cookbook: unlock the delicious secrets of nature’s most flavorful fungi”. The Guardian has attempted to contact the authors named on the books.

Leon Frey, a foraging guide and field mycologist at Cornwall-based Family Foraging Kitchen, which organises foraging field trips, said the samples he had seen contained serious flaws such as referring to “smell and taste” as an identifying feature. “This seems to encourage tasting as a method of identification. This should absolutely not be the case,” he said.

Some wild mushrooms, like the highly poisonous death cap, which can be mistaken for edible varieties, are toxic.

Frey said that one book refers to the lion’s mane fungus, which is edible but a protected species in the UK and should not be picked. “I would recommend choosing books from reputable sources,” he added.

Prof Myron Smith, a fungi specialist at Carleton University in Canada, said the books were “totally irresponsible”. He said: “Some of the differences between edibles and non-edibles are very subtle and it really takes an experienced eye and knowledge to discriminate between them.”

The AI mushroom books were first reported by the 404 Media site. The AI-generated works had also been highlighted by the New York Mycological Society, which posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: “@Amazon and other retail outlets have been inundated with AI foraging and identification books. Please only buy books of known authors and foragers, it can literally mean life or death.”

Amazon said it was reviewing the books brought to its attention by the Guardian.

An Amazon spokesperson said: “We take matters like this seriously and are committed to providing a safe shopping and reading experience. We’re looking into this.”

GeneChing

10-25-2023, 08:06 AM

You'd be down after 48 hours unless you took a heroic dose or experienced a psychotic break during a trip tht triggered pre-existing factors.

Alaska Air pilot in aborted flight said he used 'magic' mushrooms, documents show (https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/off-duty-pilot-accused-trying-disable-jetliner-faces-first-court-hearing-2023-10-24/)
By David Shepardson and Steve Gorman
October 25, 20237:37 AM PDTUpdated 21 min ago

Oct 24 (Reuters) - An off-duty pilot charged with trying to disable the engines of an Alaska Airlines jet in flight told police afterward he was suffering a nervous breakdown, had taken psychedelic mushrooms two days earlier and had not slept in 40 hours, court documents showed on Tuesday.

Joseph David Emerson, 44, an Alaska Airlines (ALK.N) pilot, was riding as a standby employee passenger in the cockpit "jump seat" of Sunday's flight, en route from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco, when the airborne altercation occurred, authorities said.

After a brief scuffle inside the flight deck with the captain and first officer, Emerson ended up restrained by members of the cabin crew and was arrested in Portland, Oregon, where the flight was diverted and landed safely.

He was charged in Oregon state court on Tuesday with 83 counts of attempted murder - one for every person aboard the plane besides himself - and a single count of endangering an aircraft.

He pleaded not guilty to those charges at a brief arraignment on Tuesday in Multnomah County Circuit Court in Portland, and was ordered to remain in custody pending a detention hearing to be held within the next five days.

Emerson was charged separately in federal court with one count of interfering with flight crew members and attendants.

The criminal complaints in both cases were filed with sworn affidavits from investigators outlining a harrowing sequence of events that came close to shutting down hydraulic operation and fuel to both engines of the twin-jet aircraft, an Embraer 175.

Alaska Airlines reported no blemishes in Emerson's employment record. And the head of a California flying club he once belonged to said Sunday's alleged behaviour was completely at odds with the meticulous, mild-mannered family man he remembered Emerson to be.

MENTAL CRISIS SUGGESTED
According to the affidavits, Emerson told police after his arrest that he was suffering a mental crisis during the incident and had struggled with depression for the past six months.

The court documents said he also told police that he had taken "magic mushrooms" for the first time, ingesting them about 48 hours before boarding the plane.

Alaska Air Group, the airline's parent company, said in a statement on Tuesday that at no time during the check-in or boarding process did employees observe any signs of impairment that would have led them to prevent Emerson from flying.

Alaska Airlines Flight 2059 was operated by the group's regional subsidiary Horizon Air, the company said.

https://www.reuters.com/resizer/_P5Ck0Qr8pdY3ibGOtFtcYHBL5o=/1200x0/filters:quality(80)/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/GWOGQNZTABLULEPOELB2LBD7U4.jpg
Joseph David Emerson, 44, an Alaska Airlines pilot who was riding in the cockpit "jump seat" and is accused of trying to disable the engines of a Horizon Air jet, appears in Multnomah County court in Portland, Oregon, U.S. October 24, 2023. Dave Killen/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing Rights

Court documents gave no indication of whether investigators had confirmed any drug or alcohol use by the suspect, though one of the arresting officers told investigators that Emerson did not appear "outwardly under the influence of intoxicants."

Medical research has shown that psilocybin, a naturally occurring hallucinogen found in certain mushroom varieties, to be beneficial in treating anxiety, depression and other mental disorders. A ballot measure approved by voters in 2020 made Oregon the first U.S. state to decriminalize psilocybin and to legalize its supervised therapeutic use for adults.

COCKPIT AND CABIN STRUGGLES
The two pilots who were at the controls of Flight 2059 told investigators, according to affidavits, that Emerson had started out chatting with them casually, before suddenly hurling his radio headset across the cockpit and saying, "I'm not OK."

He then reached up and grabbed two red-colored fire-suppression handles, pulling them downward, the affidavits said.

A scuffle ensued as one of the two pilots quickly clutched Emerson's wrist to keep him from fully engaging the handles, while the other declared an in-flight emergency, before Emerson abruptly quieted down again and left the cockpit.

The flight crew later told investigators that had Emerson managed to fully deploy the shut-off handles, the plane was "seconds away" from being turned into a glider.

In his interview with police, the affidavits said, Emerson acknowledged pulling the handles, saying he did so because he felt like he was trying to awaken from a dream.

After leaving the cockpit, he was escorted to the back of the plane, placed in a flight attendant's seat and was fitted with handcuffs, having warned the cabin crew: "You need to cuff me right now or it’s going to be bad," according to affidavits.

Even as he was under restraint, the court documents said, Emerson tried to grab an emergency exit handle, but a flight attendant stopped him by placing her hands over his and making conversation to distract him.

Another flight attendant was quoted as telling authorities she overheard Emerson say: "I messed everything up," and that he had stated that he had "tried to kill everybody."

Emerson joined Alaska Air Group as a Horizon first officer in August 2001 and became a captain at Alaska Airlines in 2019, the carrier said, adding that "at no point were his certifications denied, suspended or revoked."

A Federal Aviation Administration pilot database showed Emerson received a medical clearance last month. Aviators are expected to self-report any mental health conditions.

Reporting by David Shepardson and Allison Lampert; Additional reporting by Steve Gorman; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Jonathan Oatis, Mark Porter and Jamie Freed

GeneChing

12-12-2023, 10:27 AM

Magic Mushrooms: Why Psychedelic 'Designer Shrooms' Could Be The Future (https://www.sciencealert.com/magic-mushrooms-why-psychedelic-designer-shrooms-could-be-the-future)
HEALTH
09 December 2023
By RUSSELL MCLENDON

https://www.sciencealert.com/images/2023/12/mushrooms-2.jpg
Cultivated magic mushrooms grown in Australia. (Alistair McTaggart/CC BY-SA)

Magic mushrooms can do some amazing things, from triggering vivid hallucinations to temporarily "dissolving" a person's ego and potentially even relieving treatment-resistant depression.

Humans have long marveled at these seemingly supernatural fungi, but thanks to modern genomics, we are gaining new insights about where their magic really comes from – and how we might harness it more effectively.

A new study compiled genomic data for 124 different isolates and cultivars of the psilocybin-producing fungus Psilocybe cubensis, which humans have likely used to varying degrees since prehistory.

The researchers sought to shed new light on P. cubensis, including how domestication and cultivation by humans have influenced its genetic diversity.

They sequenced genomes of 38 isolates from a population of P. cubensis that appear to have been introduced and are now naturalized in Australia, then compared those with 86 commercial cultivars of P. cubensis, whose genomes had already been sequenced.

The team from Australia and the US hoped to reveal the evolutionary history of the fungi growing wild in Australia and to learn how domestication has altered commercially available cultivars of the magic mushroom species.

Commercial cultivars showed a dramatic lack of genetic diversity, the researchers report, likely owing to the effects of domestication.

The naturalized population in Australia showed far more diversity, including unique gene variants that control production of the mushroom's active ingredient, psilocybin.

"What was surprising was the extreme ****zygosity of some cultivars of magic mushroom," says lead author and mycologist Alistair McTaggart of the University of Queensland in Australia.

"Some of these cultivars have been nearly stripped of any diversity except at their genes controlling sexual reproduction.

"Whether this happened intentionally, by targeted inbreeding to fix traits over the last half century, or unintentionally through a lack of diversity to cross against is hard to know," he adds.

In lieu of financial support, the study relied on a broad community of mushroom enthusiasts who collected the samples and shipped them at their own risk and expense, the authors note.

https://www.sciencealert.com/images/2023/12/mushrooms-1.jpg
(Alistair McTaggart/CC BY-SA)

"The trailblazers who domesticated magic mushrooms have set the stage for how we can advance cultivation and innovate with shrooms as we improve our understanding of psilocybin and its benefits," McTaggart says.

The population of P. cubensis in Australia is indeed naturalized, the study found, likely having been introduced from elsewhere and establishing itself in the wild, developing a population large enough to maintain genetic diversity.

Commercial cultivars, on the other hand, lack diversity across their genomes, the researchers report. Humans likely had a hand in that, although many questions remain about our history of cultivating magic mushrooms, including why genetic diversity fell so far.

Regardless, genetic diversity like that of Australia's naturalized population can help pull back the curtain further on magic mushrooms, offering valuable new details about what exactly they – and we – are capable of.

These results suggest the Australian mushrooms' gene variants might enable differences in the way they produce psilocybin and related compounds, the authors report, noting some intriguing implications from this kind of insight.

Their data on mating compatibility and diversity at the genes controlling psilocybin production, for example, "will advance breeding for 'designer shrooms,' in which heterozygosity of psilocybin alleles may unlock variety in the production of psychedelic tryptamines," McTaggart explains.

Humans have a long history with shrooms, and although they've been widely banned as dangerous drugs in modern times, a growing body of research is also raising awareness of their therapeutic potential, including for severe depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

"Magic mushrooms are the cheapest source of psilocybin and may fill a niche in natural drug development," McTaggart says. "There is yet more to understand about how magic mushrooms produce other compounds that may impact a psilocybin experience, and this will be an exciting area of research to watch unfold."

The study was published in Current Biology.

This stands to reason given what has happened to cannabis since it has been decriminalized in so many regions.

GeneChing

01-05-2024, 10:37 AM

Beware: Deadly mushrooms are blooming across the East Bay (https://oaklandside.org/2024/01/03/beware-deadly-mushrooms-are-blooming-across-the-east-bay/#:~:text=As%20it%20does%20every%20year,Amanita%20o creata%20(Western%20destroying%20angel))
Death caps and Western destroying angels, both common in Oakland, thrive after rainfall, the East Bay park district warns.
by Iris Kwok
Jan. 3, 2024, 10:12 a.m.
https://oaklandside.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_4304_3-scaled-1.jpg
Amanita mushrooms in display at the Tilden Fungi Fair on Jan. 28, 2023. Credit: Iris Kwok

December pours spread fungal spores.

The rainy season means a blooming of a colorful array of mushrooms — some of which are deadly — in wooded areas in and around Oakland.

California Poison Control System operates a free hotline at 1-800-222-1222
As it does every year around this time, the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) is warning of the danger posed by toxic mushrooms — reminding park visitors that two of the world’s deadliest types of shrooms thrive in the East Bay: the Amanita phalloides (death cap) and the Amanita ocreata (Western destroying angel).

Both are associated with oak trees, and can be found growing anywhere oak roots are present, according to the park district. Both the death cap and the destroying angel contain amatoxin, a lethal chemical compound that causes liver failure. Symptoms of mushroom poisoning typically appear around 12 hours after consumption.

Mushrooms tend to thrive after heavy rains, but when it comes to deadly amanitas, it’s not a hard and fast rule, Debbie Viess, a retired zoologist who founded the Bay Area Mycological Society, told Berkeleyside last year.

“Mushrooms don’t behave the same all the time. They have windows of fruiting and they have times that they like to fruit,” Viess said. “Amanitas share resources with many other mushroom species on the same tree. Sometimes they take turns, and sometimes they compete, so there’s really no predicting what’s going to come.”

Other species of mushrooms, including the Lactarius rubidus (candy cap) — great in ice cream — and the plump, orblike Calvatia gigantea (giant puffball) — which can be sliced into discs and turned into a “pizza” — also thrive in the East Bay’s parks. But if you’re hoping to forage any, you’ll have to do it elsewhere, as mushroom collecting is prohibited in Tilden and other EBRPD parks.

Experts generally advise against eating foraged mushrooms — especially when it’s one you can’t identify with utter certainty.

The California Poison Control System, which took 71 calls for human mushroom exposures in Alameda County in 2021 and 2022, advises people to use caution and eat mushrooms from grocery stores, not friends. Most of those calls came from patients between 1 and 3 years old and those in their 20s, who were presumably “getting into stuff more deliberately,” CPCS executive director Stuart Heard has told Berkeleyside.

In 2016, there were 1,328 emergency department visits nationwide and 100 hospitalizations from accidental poisonous mushroom ingestion, according to a 2021 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Pets are also at risk. Last January, one Berkeley resident spoke out to warn others after her puppy died from eating a death cap in Codornices Park. A Berkeley animal hospital said it sees about 20 suspect pet poisonings annually.

To safely learn more about fungi, explore the East Bay Regional Park District’s toxic mushroom page(which contains handy photos of mushrooms to avoid) or visit the Tilden Fungus Fair on January 20 and 21, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Tilden Nature Area.

Tiger Claw HQ (https://www.tigerclaw.com/home.php) is in the lower East Bay...

GeneChing

03-17-2024, 10:07 AM

THIS FUNGI'S NOT FUN, GUYS —
Deadly morel mushroom outbreak highlights big gaps in fungi knowledge (https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/03/deadly-morel-mushroom-outbreak-highlights-big-gaps-in-fungi-knowledge/)
Prized morels are unpredictably and puzzlingly deadly, outbreak report shows.
BETH MOLE - 3/15/2024, 9:51 AM
https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GettyImages-1230560442-800x533.jpeg
Mature morel mushrooms in a greenhouse at an agriculture garden in Zhenbeibu Town of Xixia District of Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.
Getty | Xinhua/Wang Peng

True morel mushrooms are widely considered a prized delicacy, often pricey and surely safe to eat. But these spongey, earthy forest gems have a mysterious dark side—one that, on occasion, can turn deadly, highlighting just how little we know about morels and fungi generally.

On Thursday, Montana health officials published an outbreak analysis of poisonings linked to the honeycombed fungi in March and April of last year. The outbreak sickened 51 people who ate at the same restaurant, sending four to the emergency department. Three were hospitalized and two died. Though the health officials didn't name the restaurant in their report, state and local health departments at the time identified it as Dave’s Sushi in Bozeman. The report is published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The outbreak coincided with the sushi restaurant introducing a new item: a "special sushi roll" that contained salmon and morel mushrooms. The morels were a new menu ingredient for Dave's. They were served two ways: On April 8, the morels were served partially cooked, with a hot, boiled sauce poured over the raw mushrooms and left to marinate for 75 minutes; and on April 17, they were served uncooked and cold-marinated.

The mystery poison worked fast. Symptoms began, on average, about an hour after eating at the restaurant. And it was brutal. "Vomiting and diarrhea were reportedly profuse," the health officials wrote, "and hospitalized patients had clinical evidence of dehydration. The two patients who died had chronic underlying medical conditions that might have affected their ability to tolerate massive fluid loss."

Of the 51 sickened, 46 were restaurant patrons and five were employees. Among them, 45 (88 percent) recalled eating morels. While that's a high percentage for such an outbreak investigation, certainly enough to make the morels the prime suspect, the health officials went further. With support from the CDC, they set up a matched case-control study, having people complete a detailed questionnaire with demographic information, food items they ate at the restaurant, and symptoms.

Mysterious poison

Forty-one of the poisoned people filled out the questionnaire, as did 22 control patrons who ate at the restaurant but did not report subsequent illness. The analysis indicated that the odds of recalling eating the special sushi roll were nearly 16 times higher among the poisoned patrons than among the controls. The odds of reporting any morel consumption were nearly 11 times higher than controls.

The detailed consumption data also allowed the health officials to model a dose response, which suggested that with each additional piece of the special roll a person recalled eating, their odds of sickness increased nearly threefold compared with people who reported eating none. Those who ate four or more pieces of the roll had odds nearly 22.5 times higher. A small analysis focusing on the five employees sickened, which was not included in the published study but was noted by the Food and Drug Administration, echoed the dose-response finding, indicating that sickness was linked with larger amounts of morel consumption.

When the officials broke down the analysis by people who ate at the restaurant on April 17, when the morels were served uncooked, and those who ate at the restaurant on April 8, when the mushrooms were slightly cooked, the cooking method seemed to matter. People who ate the uncooked rather than the slightly cooked mushrooms had much higher odds of sickness.

This all strongly points to the morels being responsible. At the time, the state and local health officials engaged the FDA, as well as the CDC, to help tackle the outbreak investigation. But the FDA reported that "samples of morel mushrooms collected from the restaurant were screened for pesticides, heavy metals, toxins, and pathogens. No significant findings were identified." In addition, the state and local health officials noted that DNA sequencing identified the morels used by the restaurant as Morchella sextelata, a species of true morel. This rules out the possibility that the mushrooms were look-alike morels, called "false morels," which are known to contain a toxin called gyromitrin.

The health officials and the FDA tracked down the distributor of the mushrooms, finding they were cultivated and imported fresh from China. Records indicated that 12 other locations in California also received batches of the mushrooms. Six of those facilities responded to inquiries from the California health department and the FDA, and all six reported no illnesses. They also all reported cooking the morels or at least thoroughly heating them.

Morel of the story

The poisonous agent that appears to have been lurking in the mushrooms remains a mystery. But this is not the first time that morels have been linked to unexplained poisonings. In 2019, morel mushrooms were a suspect in an outbreak at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Spain. In that outbreak, 29 people were sickened, including one 46-year-old woman, who died. (In 2020, a judge ruled that the death was due to natural causes.) And according to a report from the US Department of Agriculture, there is a story reported by multiple reputable sources in the 1990s of a retirement banquet for a police chief in Vancouver, British Columbia. "A pasta salad with raw morel, shiitake, and button mushrooms was served, followed by 77 of the 483 attendees experiencing distress, many vomiting dramatically," the report said.

The USDA report emphasizes how little we understand about morels, noting that their taxonomy is confusing and many of the species in North America don't even have official names. "Their biology, nutritional sources, life cycle, and modes of reproduction are unusual and complex," the report noted. They're difficult to cultivate, and it's unclear why they seem to proliferate after forest disturbances, such as fires and tree death.

It's also unclear if they sometimes contain toxins, like their look-alikes. But morels can readily absorb toxic minerals and compounds, such as heavy metals and pesticides, from the soil where they grow, the USDA notes. Whatever potentially poisonous component they contain, "Morels are more likely to cause intestinal distress if eaten raw, although even raw, they can be tolerated by some people," the agency wrote. Morels should be cooked before eating, as cooking can destroy bacterial contaminants. "For that matter, all mushrooms, wild or cultivated, should be cooked to release their full nutritional value because chitin in their cell walls otherwise inhibits digestion," the USDA writes.

Additionally, the FDA stresses that proper fungi handling is also critical. Mushrooms should be refrigerated (at temperatures of 40° F or below) and kept in breathable packaging, allowing airflow that prevents the growth of harmful bacteria and toxins.

In addition to serving the morels uncooked, Dave's Sushi may have made a misstep in handling the morels. The health officials noted in their report that "multiple violations were identified at the time of inspection, including temperature control issues, improper time control and sanitization procedures, and improper storage of personal items." The report notes that Dave's addressed the health code violations and reopened after the outbreak but elected to stop serving morels.

BETH MOLE
Beth is Ars Technica’s Senior Health Reporter. Beth has a Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and attended the Science Communication program at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She specializes in covering infectious diseases, public health, and microbes.
Buddha died eating bad mushrooms. It can happen to anyone...:(

mickey

03-19-2024, 02:38 PM

Greetings,

The use of mushrooms for psychedelic purposes has been going on since very ancient times. There has been a lot of responsible research on which mushrooms to use for such purposes. The real issue here is that "magic" mushrooms are very hard to control because of their abundance and because there are people taking the path of growing their own. The only way to assert any kind of control with mushrooms is through the use of FEAR. The previous two posts, while informative, are a veiled stab at the use of mushrooms for psychedelic purposes, citing DANGER. One would have to consume a ridiculously large amount of magic 'shrooms to even begin to have problems. These scare tactics were done with sassafras and there are people who still believe it causes cancer; yet, no one screamed "CANCER" when Ecstasy was in vogue. By the way, if you don't know, Ecstasy comes from sassafras.

mickey

GeneChing

04-21-2024, 09:50 AM

Celebrities and Psychedelics: Why are Harry Styles, Mike Tyson, and Other Stars Doing Magic Mushrooms? (https://www.psychedelics.com/articles/five-celebrities-that-talk-about-psychedelics-seth-rogen-kristen-bell-mike-tyson-harry-styles-diplo/)

Since the 1970s and the Controlled Substances Act’s creation, psychedelic substances have often been shrouded in stigma, misunderstandings, and legal constraints. However, a wave of research showcasing their potential therapeutic benefits and the gradual easing of regulatory shackles have ignited a renewed interest in these mind-opening substances. Among the proponents of psychedelics are several celebrities who have openly shared their experiences and the impact these substances have had on their lives.

Comedian Seth Rogen on the Power of Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms)
https://www.psychedelics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Seth-Rogen.webp
Seth Rogen, an actor, producer, and comedian with roles in films like The Lion King, The Interview, and Dumb Money, has been open about his use of psychedelics and cannabis, often publicly discussing the impact these substances have had on his life and career. From a young age, Rogen indulged in magic mushrooms, which he believed may have had a consciousness-expanding effect. In a 2018 interview with Vulture, Rogen discusses using psychedelics at the age of 13. He credits this willingness to explore psychedelics with helping him embrace curiosity and enhancing his creativity. This openness has continued into adulthood, where he still occasionally engages with psychedelics. Rogen values the introspective and insightful experiences they provide.(1)

“What I do know is that I’ve started reading more about drugs as I’ve gotten older, and what I’ve read has made me think, ‘Man, I did a lot of shrooms when I was like 13 and 14 years old — dozens of times at a formative age.’ It’s a real consciousness-expanding drug, so maybe it’s had pretty deep effects.”
– Seth Rogen – In Conversation: Seth Rogen, Vulture Magazine.
The actor has shared that his psychedelic journeys have sometimes influenced significant life decisions, including career choices. He recounted a particular instance where an experience with magic mushrooms led him to quit a job the following day, indicating a level of introspection that psychedelics provide. Rogen finds that psychedelics can be valuable for navigating his personal and professional life. This connection between his psychedelic experiences and real-life decisions reflects a different perspective on how these substances can play a role in self-reflection and personal development, albeit in a very unconventional manner that is unique to Rogen’s individual experience.(1)

Rogen has also discussed his relationship with psychedelics during his appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel Show, where he recounts a story about splitting several grams of mushrooms with a friend. According to Rogen, he and his friend started their psychedelic adventure in Amsterdam before somehow ending up in Paris.

In addition to psychedelics, Seth Rogen has a long-standing relationship with cannabis, which he often humorously integrates into his public persona. Unlike the common stereotype associated with cannabis users, Rogen credits marijuana for enhancing his work ethic and enabling him to enjoy the working process. His approach challenges the typical narrative surrounding cannabis use, showing a side where it’s utilized to enhance productivity and satisfaction within the professional realm. Through his candid discussions, Rogen contributes to a broader conversation about the potential benefits of psychedelics, reflecting a narrative that is both personal and exploratory in nature.(1)

Kristen Bell Finds Her Own “Good Place” With Magic Mushrooms
https://www.psychedelics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Kristen-Bell-209x300.webp
In a story by People, Kristen Bell, known for her role in The Good Place, shared her exploration of psychedelic mushrooms as a means to manage her long-standing depression and anxiety. Inspired by Michael Pollan’s book How to Change Your Mind, she expressed a keen interest in experiencing the effects of psilocybin mushrooms. Bell’s intrigue led her to a personal experiment in a controlled, safe setting.(2)

“He really goes into detail about this underground academic community that has continued to study the effects of LSD and psilocybin on what they call ‘healthy normal.’”
– Kristen Bell – Depression, Anxiety and a Side of Eczema, HypochondriActor
In a supportive attempt to help Bell with her endeavor, her husband, Dax Shepard, a recovering drug addict, procured quality mushrooms and accompanied her throughout the experience, ensuring a safe and comfortable setting for her. The experiment was conducted on Bell’s birthday last year, with Shepard guiding her through a neighborhood walk during the psychedelic journey. Through this endeavor, Bell hoped to not just experience the effects of the substance but also engage in dialogue with Shepard to enrich the experience. She described a profound moment of self-appreciation and amazement towards her own body during the trip, hinting at the potential introspective and positive self-reflective capabilities of psychedelic substances.(2)

“I really wanted to try some psilocybin [the technical term for hallucinogenic mushrooms] and feel what kind of doors open, have a trip that was my own.”
– Kristen Bell – Depression, Anxiety and a Side of Eczema, HypochondriActor
Post-experiment, Bell acknowledged the transient nature of her mental health struggles, mentioning they “come in waves” but are not suicidal. She emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and seeking timely help when overwhelmed by external stimuli which exacerbate her anxiety. Additionally, Bell continues her medication regime, and while unsure of a future without it, she advocates for exploring various therapeutic avenues. Bell’s experience underscores the emerging narrative around psychedelic substances, spotlighting personal and potentially therapeutic explorations amidst ongoing scientific inquiry into psilocybin’s efficacy in mental health treatment.(2)

Bell’s interest has likely been spurred by research that underscores the potential of psychedelics like psilocybin and MDMA to address trauma and addiction.(2, 3)

Could MDMA Save Your Relationship? Read About How Licensed Therapists Are Using MDMA (Aka The Love Drug) in Couples Therapy
Harry Styles Thinks Magic Mushrooms Boost His Creativity
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Singer and songwriter Harry Styles has been quite open about his use of psychedelics, particularly during the creative process of his music. In an interview with Rolling Stone, he shared that while working on his album Fine Line in Malibu, he did mushrooms and found inspiration while listening to former Beatles singer, songwriter, and bass player Paul McCartney’s music. This experience reportedly helped shape the sound and artistic direction of the album. Styles appears to believe in the creative enhancement that psychedelics can provide, aiding in exploring new auditory and artistic landscapes.(4)

“We’d do mushrooms, lie down on the grass, and listen to Paul McCartney’s Ram in the sunshine.”
– Harry Styles – The Eternal Sunshine of Harry Styles, Rolling Stone.
Additionally, Styles’ psychedelic experiences seem to have had a personal impact. The freedom and insight gained during these altered states could offer a break from the pressures and expectations of being a globally recognized artist. Psychedelics may provide a medium for Styles to explore his thoughts and emotions in a different light, aiding in personal growth and self-reflection, which, in turn, could reflect in his music and personality.(4, 5)

By sharing his experiences with psychedelics, Styles contributes to the ongoing discourse surrounding the use of these substances in the creative industry. His openness about the subject helps in demystifying and destigmatizing the use of psychedelics, presenting them as tools for creativity and personal insight rather than merely recreational substances. Through his narrative, Harry Styles joins a growing list of artists and celebrities who acknowledge the potential benefits of psychedelics in enhancing creativity and fostering personal growth.(4, 5)
continued next post

GeneChing

04-21-2024, 09:51 AM

Magic Mushrooms May Have Saved Mike Tyson from Suicide
https://www.psychedelics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Mike-Tyson-240x300.webp
In an Interview with Reuters, Mike Tyson, once the world’s heavyweight boxing champion, credits magic mushrooms for saving him from severe mental distress that pushed him to the brink of suicide. After starting his journey with the psychedelic, Tyson experienced a personal and career revival. Tyson has noted the profound changes in his mindset and outlook on life as one of the positive benefits of psilocybin. While he openly praises the transformative effects of psilocybin on his life, he also recognizes that the substance isn’t universally beneficial. Some people have negative reactions, including disturbing hallucinations and anxiety.(6)

Tyson often cites psilocybin as the source of the relief he found from his physical and mental struggles, which prompted him to partner with Wesana Health, a company at the forefront of studying psilocybin’s efficacy in treating traumatic brain injuries in athletes and veterans. Recently, Tyson has spoken about the significant clinical research project that has commenced in partnership with the World Boxing Council and Wesana. This project aims to open new avenues of research into the use of psilocybin for TBI. In several interviews, Tyson has also discussed using DMT, which he attributes to feeling “born again.” Tyson believes that psychedelics like DMT and psilocybin should be accessible to all and that these substances can help people struggling with mental health or lack empathy.(6, 7)

“If you put ten people in a room that don’t like each other and give them some psychedelics, they’ll be taking pictures with each other.”
– Mike Tyson – Mike Tyson Says Psychedelics Saved His Life. Reuters.
In line with his transformative experience, Tyson envisions a world where psychedelics can foster empathy and harmony, contrasting the potential effects of psychedelics with the antagonistic outcomes associated with alcohol consumption. Tyson ardently believes that having more people access controlled psychedelic experiences could lead to a more empathetic and just global community.(6, 7)

Diplo Ran a Marathon on LSD
https://www.psychedelics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Diplo-225x300.webp
Diplo, a renowned DJ, has attracted attention for his use of psychedelics, particularly during physical exertion. In an interview with Esquire, Diplo recounts how he ran a marathon under the influence of LSD. He says he regularly microdoses with LSD and attributes his use of the powerful psychedelic to achieving his personal best for a marathon.(8)

“It was maybe half of a tab of acid. I had a pacesetter I was with, and we were talking the whole time, and after like seven miles, I looked at my phone and was like, ‘Man, I’m doing like seven-minute miles.’ I was running really fast, but I wasn’t focusing on my body. I was having a conversation. My body started to break down by mile 17. It was the longest I had ever run, and I didn’t even notice it. I attribute that to the LSD.”
– Diplo – Diplo Has Always Felt Misunderstood, Esquire.
During an interview on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Diplo discussed other entertaining psychedelic exploits, such as when he rescued a cow while on LSD. He has also been open about using 5-MeO-DMT to calm his anxiety. Diplo’s candid stance on psychedelics contributes to a broader conversation about the legalization and acceptance of psychedelic medicine. Which have been recognized for their potential therapeutic benefits, especially in treating mental health disorders.(8, 9)

Despite the anecdotal experiences shared by individuals like Seth Rogen, Kristen Bell, Harry Styles, Mike Tyson, and Diplo, the use of psychedelics remains a complex and controversial topic. While it may be easy to dismiss anecdotal stories like these, they are important in increasing public awareness about psychedelic medicine. Celebrities are uniquely positioned to provide influence and encourage acceptance, hopefully ushering more Americans into the burgeoning “psychedelic renaissance.”

This material is not intended as a replacement or substitute for any legal or medical advice. Always consult a medical professional about your health needs. Psychedelics are widely illegal in the United States, and readers should always be informed about local, state, and federal regulations regarding psychedelics or other drugs.
I just spoke at Discovery Sessions (https://discoverysessions.org) on Bicycle Day - psychedelics have been on my mind ever since...

TALES FROM THE HAIGHT ASHBURY FREE CLINIC
Psychedelic Storytime: Great Stories are a RIGHT!
CULTURE
Friday 3:00 PM Ride
Moderator: Maria Mangini, PhD, FNP, Gantt Galloway
Panelists: Dr. David Smith, Gene Ching