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Mushrooms help
Studies on psychedelic fungi may
Psychedelic mushrooms are making headlines this year, and research shows their properties may help alleviate anxiety, depression and addiction.
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Sam Reeve, president of Vancouver Mycological Society, said magic mushroom research looks promising, though more studies will be necessary to confirm its effectiveness on different people.
“It’s just going to be one more thing in the toolbox for fighting areas of mental illness,” Reeve said.
The Vancouver Mycological Society, is a community of researchers and enthusiasts who are passionate about fungi, including mushrooms, their biochemical properties, and their use for traditional and modern medicine.
The society is open to discussing the promising use of magic mushrooms for medicinal purposes, but also emphasizes the risks of taking a hallucinogen.
Although she is pro-legalization, Reeve said it’s important to use caution.
“It will be good that it’s a bit regulated,” she said. “We don’t want people selling things that are grown in unsafe conditions.”
On Sunday, Oct. 20, the VMS hosted their 40th Annual Fall Mushroom Show at the VanDusen Botanical Garden.
The show included interactive displays of mushrooms, vendors, and several in-depth presentations on mushroom subtopics.
One of the speakers at the show was Paul Kroeger, a founder of the VMS and prominent B.C. mycologist, who gave a talk on psilocybin, the chemical
TOP LEFT: A group of Psilocybe pelliculosa sprouting on a forest floor. These mushrooms are almost exclusively found in British Columbia. COURTESY OF MUSHROOMOBSERVER.ORG
TOP MIDDLE: Alan Rockefeller extends his hand to show his gathering of Psilocybe quebecensis. These moderately active mushrooms are native to Quebec (hence the namesake). COURTESY OF MUSHROOMOBSERVER.ORG
TOP RIGHT: Large specimens of Amanite muscaria (Fly agaric) are laid out on a observational booth at the 40th Annual Fall Mushroom Show at VanDusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver, B.C. These mushrooms are arguably the most universally recognized mushroom, used frequently across pop culture. PHOTO BY KRISTEN HOLLIDAY
BOTTOM LEFT: A healthy patch of Psilocybe semilanceata (Angel Cap) grows in a patch of wet grass. Many magic mushroom users label it the most "user friendly" of them all. COURTESY OF MUSHROOMOBSERVER.ORG
BOTTOM MIDDLE: VMS president Sam Reeve proudly holds up one of dozens of mushroom specimens at the 40th Annual Fall Mushroom Show at VanDusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver, B.C. The specific mushroom she is holding is a Leucopaxillus septentrionalis (giant leucopax). PHOTO BY KRISTEN HOLLIDAY
