RWS 1302

THE WONDER WORLD OF MUSHROOMS

By Daniela Catarino
ABSTRACT

The purpose of this project is to analyze the true propositions provided by the hallucinating

chemical of the mushroom, psilocybin. Due to the legal state of this substance upon the

United States, biased opinions have been formed due to the lack of information. For this,

personal interviews with individuals who have experienced this phenomenon were provided

along with research studies amongst the medicinal, psychological, and political world.

Results showed a significant correlation between mushrooms and cancer treatment, the power

of psilocybin connected to the laws, the treatment of psychological diseases, and the

alteration of the brain. Conclusively, psilocybin matters and can be used for medicinal

purposes without any withdrawal or negative health effects.

INTRODUCTION

Mushrooms are known as a magical drug due to the effects it takes upon the

consumers perspective. Nonetheless, a negative stigma has been playing a role within this

term where individuals think about either dirty mold or a hippie drug. The fact that the Food

and Drug Administration (FDA) has prohibited some Mushrooms by labelling them as illegal

makes it harder for the public to analyze and accept this drug. For the government to exclude

such object, it had to go under a rough process of evaluation under the Controlled Substances

Act in order to acquire knowledge on the potency and boundaries the drug holds. However,

there has been recordings as to the health benefits these Mushrooms provide that even the

United States extracts chemicals from diverse Fungi to create Pharmaceutical Medications.

Because there are too many issues playing a role in the limitation for further analyzation of

Mushrooms, the following questions will help one understand the true characteristics of the

drug:

1. Can cancer medications being prescribed today be replaced by Mushrooms?

2. Why did the FDA disapprove of Mushrooms?
 3. What cognitive effect occurs after consuming a magic mushroom?
4. Do the mind-altering effects of the mushroom depend on the individual's state of

mind?

These inquiries will aid the reader truly understand what criteria is to be met for the

government to approve the usage of mushrooms, the mental activity that goes on when one

consumes this drug, and expand on possible cancer treatments that may benefit the ill.

CANCER CORRELATIONS

When speaking of mushrooms, the usual aspect of such term refers to an edible

substance or a traditional practice for health purposes. Looking beyond that aspect, research

has been intrigued by the simple fact that modern-day studies have generated broad

conclusions of the miraculous biological properties. It is known that overall, mushrooms

have the capacity to battle against tumors, oxidants, inflammation, producing a stronger

immune system, and much more benefits involving nutrition (Patel & Goyal, 2012). Focusing

on the tumor piece, cancer has become the deadliest disease today, increasing demand for

certain medications in the pharmaceutical industry. The issue derives from the side effects of

various complications these medications produce amongst the consumer, this promotes the

idea of finding a less-toxic therapeutic approach. Mushrooms became a target of interest as

they were known to be anti-tumor given all the active compounds it holds. These studies

have concluded that mushrooms have the ability to complement chemotherapy and radiation

for cancer treatment.

There are a significant amount of mushrooms that have been known to fight cancer,

because extractions of these fungi have been interpreted, few companies have enrolled in

coming up with new mushrooms medications. China, Korea, and surprisingly the United

States have started business with pharmaceutical corporations in producing cancer treatment

for clinical test purposes and not for public uses (Patel & Goyal, 2012). It is expected that
these ideas will be accepted and implied worldwide as more individuals understand the

effects and aids the mushrooms itself can implement. Sooner or later, fungi will be used as a

solid treatment for cancer with further research upon the combat between Psilocybin and

cancer cells.

UNITED STATES PROHIBITING PSILOCYBIN

The United States of America, excluding one state, prohibits psilocybin from being

grown, consumed, or distributed under the Controlled Substances Acts called the

Psychotropic Substances Act. It is classified as a Schedule I Drug meaning that it is

characterized as unsafe for recreational as well as medical purposes even if supervised by a

professional doctor and is characterized to be high in abuse. Mushrooms are not specifically

banned from the system but since psilocybin is a Schedule 1 drug, some mushrooms fall

within the illegal category due to the presence of the chemical substance. (Administration).

The FDA bases their substance classifications on 8 factors proposed for general purposes.

First, they must analyze if the element is an actual or relative potential for abuse. Second,

they must be aware of the pharmacological effects founded on scientific evidence. The third

factor states the scientific knowledge in regards to the substance. Previous recordings and

history of the pattern of abuse must be investigated in order to meet criteria number four.

Factor five must include the capacity, duration, and significance of abuse. Next, the FDA

must examine if this substance plays a role in the risk of public health. For factor seven,

cerebral or physical dependence are evaluated. Lastly, the government sees whether the

substance is an immediate ancestor of a substance already controlled (Administration).

In 2002, New Mexico state was forced to make a turning point by altering their laws

against manufacturing illegal drugs. An Alamogordo resident, David Ray Pratt, was victim of

a police raid initiated by a private informant. Indeed, the cops were able to use evidence
against him by finding mushrooms grown in glass jars, syringes containing psilocybin spores

for inoculating, a mixture used to grow the mushrooms, and a foam cooler with a humidifier

apparatus and instructions for growing the mushrooms (Massey, 2005). Pratts defense was

that he was a heavy mushroom consumer and his purpose for growing his own product

derivate from the fact that buying mushrooms was too costly for him, his intentions were not

based on selling his substance. Furthermore, the man was convicted of drug trafficking and

manufacturing while being sentenced to 9 years in prison, however; this conviction was later

replaced by serving 5 years of probation. Note that Pratt was also accused of possession of

drug paraphernalia as cops found pipes used for smoking marijuana but his lawyer paid no

interest in suspending those charges. According to Pratts attorney, Cordelia Friedman, she

argued that because the defendant used equipment to artificially grow mushrooms, he did not

technically manufacture psilocybin because the mushroom itself begins producing this

chemical at a certain stage by natural process. Judge James Wechsler concluded that

"Because there is no evidence that defendant engaged in 'extraction from substances of

natural origin or chemical synthesis' as defined by (the drug trafficking law) ... his acts of

cultivating or growing mushrooms, even if by artificial means, are not prohibited'' by state

law. In the New Mexico anti-drug laws, there is no statement that clearly prohibits the

planting, cultivation, growing or harvesting of a controlled substance, this can be defined as a

production drug rather than manufacturing of a drug. Therefore, Psilocybin mushrooms were

found to be legal by not violating any regulations.

COGNITIVE ENHANCEMENT

Neuoropsychopharmacology studies have analyzed psilocybin, a psychedelic that is

found in Mushrooms, for further information upon brain activity and the true basis of the

healing history. The task-free functional MRI (fMRI) procedure was used to capture the

transition from a normal mindfulness to the psychedelic state. (Robin L. Carhart-Harris,

Erritzoe, Williams, Stone, & Laurence, 2011). Changes in oxygen and blood flow before and

after psilocybin were measured by Arterial spin labeling prefusion and blood-oxygen level

dependent (BOLD) fMRI. 15 individuals were used to represent the Arterial spin as well as

15 additional representatives of the BOLD. The consciousness indeed showed a significant

alteration by decreasing brain blood flow activity with additional BOLD signals taking

action. The thalamus part of the brain, where sensory perception is regulated, was greatly

affected as well as the anterior and posterior cingulate cortex, which play a role in decision

making, blood pressure, and emotional principles. The conclusion of these results suggest

that Psychedelic Drug effects are caused by decreased activity and connectivity in the brain's

key connector hubs, enabling a state of unrestricted perception. (Robin L. Carhart-Harris,

Erritzoe, Williams, Stone, & Laurence, 2011).

Mushrooms contain psilocin 4-hydroxy-dimethyltryptamine, for better understanding,

psilocybin. This element is the main explanation of the hallucinogenic effect of the magic

mushroom. Phenomenal experiences have been recorded in regards to the profound

Psychological impacts and the healing purposes, especially in recent psychotherapy. The two

groups that were previously discussed were identified as healthy subjects to put to test using

the ASL (Arterial spin labeling) and BOLD fMRI. After the individuals were infused with
psilocybin, only a few seconds passed before allowing brain alterations to take place.

Findings amongst the subjects perceptions were classified by numbers. Although

everyone had diverse effects, there were ten general results that seemed to be the top rated

categories overall. 73.2% saw geometric patterns, 68.2% experienced unusual environment
changes, 60.9% felt weird bodily sensations, 59.2% stated seeing strange looking things,

56.2% felt alteration in size and space, 55.1% said sounds affected their perceptions, 54.7%

had extremely vivid imagination, 53% felt alteration of time, 52.1% said the sense of time

and space was distorted, and finally 51% experienced dream-like quality acuities.

Ancient records emphasize the therapeutic and health benefits provided by

Mushrooms alone, with the given results, that an acknowledgment of credibility is emerging

concluding that psychedelics can be useful in treating specific psychiatric syndromes. The

area of the brain that controls depression was elevated before treatment and normalized after

treatment, therefore, psilocybin deactivated the mPFC of the brain. The cognition of a

depressed individual is in a pessimistic state which is correlated to receptor stimulation but

when psilocybin is consumed, brain studies have shown a positive rise on personal well-being

several months after the experience(Lee & Roth, 2012). Additionally, cancer patients in

terminal care that were given these psychedelics showed a decrease in depression after six

months of treatment. The conclusion suggests that with the given protocols of measuring

brain activity, results showed detailed imagines on the psychedelic alterations occurring in

the head. Moreover, a free cognition style was produced with the decrease in activity and

increased connectivity in the brain.

MAGIC TRIPS

A United Kingdom research group experimented and documented the analyzed side

effects amongst the usage of the magic mushrooms. It is common for a trip to endure about 2

to 6 hours although sleep problems can last up to twelve hours, if any. According to

testimonials, individuals mostly shared the same feeling after consuming magic mushrooms,

for example: Euphoria, feeling relaxed, joy, unstoppable laughter, images, hallucinations,

perception alterations, uncontrollable delusions, and visual enhancement. However, recent

surveys concluded that out of 600 subjects that experienced a mushroom trip, twenty-five

percent also experienced negative effects like paranoia and anxiety. Factors that may

contribute to these discouraging effects can be that psilocybin can impair the senses by either

distorting time and distance elapse along with coordination and reality (Amsterdam,

Opperhuizen, & Brink, 2011).

When talking about mushroom experiences, a rational mentioned topic recognized by

many is the bad trip. This term refers to a completely negative outcome which does not

have a specific duration because it varies. Hospitalization after consuming mushrooms does

not contribute to physical health issues but rather the reaction of the individual while under

the influence. People who undergo this bad trip usually feel disturbed, clueless, and have the

inability to function. Nonetheless, there has been cases where the intoxicated individual

experiences severe delusions leading to attempted suicide or accidents, these include the

feeling of: Reality loss, extreme fear, and scary images. The aftermath of the bad trip can

result in depression which can lasts days, weeks or months depending on the psychological

state of mind the individual is in. Recent research has found correlations between the usage of

other drugs playing a role in the negative mushrooms experiences. There are physical effects

that high doses of psilocybin produce but are not known to even be significant. These

include: Vomiting, pupil dilation, faintness, muscle aches, and/or abdominal pain due to lack

of blood pressure (Amsterdam, Opperhuizen, & Brink, 2011).

It is concluded that the setting and state of mind are important variables contributing

to the mushrooms effects one may have. Not only do previous drug experiences, sensitivity to

the drug, and expectations relate to the trip, but also the environment one is in can be

significant to dazed subjects. Clinical research recording in the 1950s denied a role of the

setting affecting the trip before another experiment was conducted. This consistent of well-

prepared subjects who were constantly supervised while under the influence which resulted in
more positive feedback amongst theexperiences. Moreover, a sample of 36 subjects were

given 30 mg of psilocybin per 70 kg and although they were carefully observed and

controlled, 48% of them still experienced some type of negativity. A larger sample of 110

individuals were tested with smaller doses of psilocybin and did not report any serious

psychological effects. It is important to know that research studies did not find physical or

psychological dependence upon this drug whatsoever.

MUSHROOM TESTIMONIALS

Personal research was based on the External World series of questions. Due to the

amount of knowledge gained by secondary research, there is hope that out of three

interviewed individuals, two had a great experience and the remaining person did not.

Interviews were conducted in the library located in the University of Texas at EL Paso on

March 28, 2017. A total of seven questions were provided being: Where did you consume the

mushroom? Did you have a good experience or a bad experience? Did you see any patterns?

Did your hearing senses boost? At some point, did you think about negative ideas? (Monsters,

death, suicide, etc.) Did you feel paranoid? Were you satisfied with your overall experience?

One subject stated that he had tried mushrooms for the first time in a hotel room with his

friends and considered it to be an amazing experience. Additionally, this individual claimed

to see patterns everywhere he looked, including his own body and did not experience any

negative thoughts. Overall, he was satisfied with his experience and recommended it to

everyone. The other interviewed individual did not want to talk about his mushrooms

experience at all, and the last interviewed person did not remember anything whatsoever.

The results on primary research were expected due to the psychological and cognitive

effects that vary within the consumers mental activity. Because Neuoropsychopharmacology

studies have found relative differences occurring in the brain after consuming Psilocybin,
illusions such as patterns and positive or negative vibes are predictable. However, this drug is

known to be potent with some psychological traumas playing a role, that not everyone reacts

the same. This implies that for the most part, people who try mushrooms may have diverse

experiences depending on the environment they are in and their state of mind.

Psilocybin has a long history of diverse type of benefits that complement the immune

system which disputed interest amongst the medicinal world. Some professionals have

accepted that this chemical has the ability to treat cancer patients; where this substance fights

off the tumor and also aids in psychological treatment to avoid or limit mental illness. The

U.S. has classified Psilocybin as a Schedule I drug unfairly because the criteria does not

match all the factors under this specific schedule, however; some risks are associated with

this drug which depend on the individual state of mind. Given this, the FDA may have

decided to ban the chemical due to the lack of information and the avoidance of major social

problems. Furthermore, it was found that Psilocybin can be a cognitive enhancer for any

consumer and people with Psychological issues minimized their problems after mushroom

treatment. Although non-addictive and physically safe, mushrooms are not the causation of

death but may be correlated to a few deaths due to the negative thoughts while undergoing a

bad experience. This mind-altering drug is proved to be powerful, one should consider all the

factors that may contribute to the different effects it produces.

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