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Mushrooms Magic
The Emerging Mycelium Revolution
Daniel Pieczarski
Mushrooms, also known as fungi, have been a perennial component of the human diet.
Throughout history, mushrooms have been revered and worshipped by numerous civilizations
throughout the world. For instance, the Chinese have been using mushrooms medicinally for over
two thousand years (Ehler, 2009: 1); and many tribes in Mesoamerica have utilized the
hallucinogenic properties of psilocybin containing mushrooms in shamanic rituals (Mckenna,
1995: 6 ). Today, though still somewhat stigmatized, the preconceptions about mushrooms are
being reassessed. Mushrooms are today considered more than just gourmet food items. The role
mushrooms have played in the past, the tremendous discoveries being made in the present, and
the anticipated functions that mushrooms will perform in the future give them a new and
compelling cultural significance.
Wild mushrooms were among the first food items in the omnivorous diet of the Homo
erectus. Some of the mushrooms consumed contained the psychoactive ingredient psilocybin,
which may have been our first encounter with a hallucinogenic “entheogen.” Consumed in low
doses, psilocybin enhances visual acuity, which provided early huntergatherers with considerable
advantages. Psilocybin is also an aphrodisiac, possibly contributing to the proliferation of the
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species. In higher doses, it has a profoundly spiritual effect, which may have aroused the desire to
express abstract ideas through language and symbols. (Mckenna, 1995: 4839). On the other
hand, many mushrooms are also highly toxic. Mycetism, or mushroom poisoning, was no doubt
the cause of countless deaths throughout history. The infamous “death cap” mushroom was
responsible for the deaths of many prominent historical figures, including Pope Clement VII and
Roman Emperor Claudius. (Wasson, 197: 101) Mycetism, along with the illegal status of
psilocybincontaining mushrooms, likely formed the bias and cultural stigma that is often
associated with fungi. However, “Renaissance Mycologist,” Paul Stamets hopes to dissolve this
inherent “mycophobia,” by elucidating our profound relationship to fungi.
Many are unaware that humans are intimately related to fungi. Animals have a more
common ancestry with fungi than with any other kingdom. Fungi and animals have been placed
into a new superkingdom called, “Opisthokonta” (Wright, 2005: 93). We share many overarching
commonalities with fungi. They inhale oxygen and produce carbon dioxide just as we do and
furthermore, the same pathogens that attack fungi also attack humans. It was recently discovered
that mycelium, the interwoven network of single celled chains which the fruiting body or
mushroom emerges from, may be the largest organism on the planet. In Oregon, a mat of
mycelium covers twenty thousand cubic acres of forest floor. (Stamets, 2005: 9). These fungal
masses are the grand molecular recyclers of the planet, decomposing organic matter to create
evergrowing layers of fertile soil. They have the unique ability to break down complex carbon
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molecules, which provoked mycologist Paul Stamets to pioneer the fields of “mycoremediation,”
and “mycorestoration,” methods of utilizing the cultivation of mushrooms to decontaminate toxic
waste sites, and improve the earth’s ecology.
A few years ago, Stametswas involved in an experiment to determine the best method for
decontaminating oil spills. Four piles of dirt were saturated in diesel. One pile was left alone, one
was treated with bacteria, another with enzymes, and the last pile was treated with Oyster
Mushroom Mycelium. Six weeks later, the first three piles showed no signs of improvement,
however the pile treated with fungi was overgrown with hundreds of pounds of healthy oyster
mushrooms. Eight weeks later, the level of contamination went from 10 thousand parts per
million to 200 parts per million. Moreover, the pile was carpeted by a variety of plant life.
(Stamets, 2005: 9191). Stamets believes that the industrial potential of fungi has not come close
to being fully realized. He declares that utilizing fungi for the restoration and remediation of
ecosystems is now more necessary than ever and that fungi will spawn a whole new branch of
environmental industries.
In conclusion, the relationship between Fungi and the evolution of human culture runs
deep. Not only are mushrooms a highly nutritious part of the human diet, they are also the worlds
most important organism. They are considered the ecological guardians of earth, and without
them, all ecosystems would fail. Clear cutting, oil extraction, urban sprawl and commercial
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development are destroying habitats at an alarming rate. Fortunately, it seems that an
environmentally conscientious culture is slowly emerging. There was a time when mushrooms
were worshipped and revered by ancient civilizations. Perhaps fungi may once again regain their
exalted status. If so, this would be humanity’s most important gift to itself.
List of Works Cited
Ehler, James T. "Mushrooms History and Folklore of Mushrooms." Food Reference Website:
Everything about food: from Articles & History to Recipes and Trivia Quizzes. 29 Mar.
2009 <http://www.foodreference.com/html/artmushhistory417.html>.
Mckenna, Terence. Food of the Gods The Search for the Original Tree of Knowledge A Radical
History of Plants, Drugs, and Human Evolution. New York: Bantam, 1993.
Stamets, Paul. Mycelium running how mushrooms can help save the world. Berkeley, CA: Ten
Speed P, 2005.
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Steenkamp, Emma T., Jane Wright, and Sandra L. Baldauf. "The Protistan Origins of Animals
and Fungi." 23: 93106. The
Protistan
Origins of Animals and Fungi
. 8 Sept. 2005.
Molecular Biology and Evolution. 29 Mar. 2009
<http://mbe.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/23/1/93>.
Wasson, Robert G. "The death of Claudius, or Mushrooms for Murderers." Botanical Museum
Leaflets (1972): 10128. World Cat. Harvard University. 30 Mar. 2009
<http://www.worldcat.org/issn/00068098>.