Co-Author's note: For those following, you know that I have been using an AI generator to create the images for these posts. Well, I have been playing around with ChatGPT-4 Plus, with the additions of plugins, and I wanted to test the ability to research and co-write papers. This is an article that I co-wrote with ChatGPT, edited, expanded in parts, changed some of the language. Color me fascinated. If you do find mis-information here, please let me know. This is an experiment. That said, you will find the extensive list of citations at the end, each with their own links. The use of psychedelic substances, particularly mushrooms, has a deep-rooted history in Mesoamerican cultures, dating back to pre-Columbian times. Mushroom stones, believed to be associated with ritualistic use of hallucinogenic mushrooms, have been found in Mesoamerican archaeological sites and are estimated to be from around 3000 BC.
The indigenous cultures of Mesoamerica, including the Olmec, Zapotec, Maya, and Aztec civilizations, used a variety of psychoactive substances in their religious ceremonies and healing rituals. Among these substances were peyote, hallucinogenic mushrooms known as teonanacatl (Psilocybe spp.), and the seeds of ololiuhqui (Turbina corymbosa). These substances contain mescaline, psilocybin, and lysergic acid amide, respectively, which are all compounds known to induce altered states of consciousness. The Maya, for instance, consumed balche, a mixture of honey and extracts of Lonchocarpus, in group ceremonies to achieve intoxication. They also used ritual enemas with psychoactive substances to induce states of trance. The skin of the toad Bufo spp., which contains bufotoxins with hallucinogenic properties, was used during the Olmec period. Other plants like jimson weed (Datura stramonium), wild tobacco (Nicotiana rustica), water lily (Nymphaea ampla), and Salvia divinorum were also used for their psychoactive effects. Even today, local shamans and healers in Mesoamerica continue to use these psychoactive substances in their ritual ceremonies.
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Zachary Hunter
Zachary Hunter is a lifelong devotee to flavor, a professionally trained chef who has been obsessed with mushrooms and uncovering the unknown with regards to edible mushroom chemistry and physiology. He is a member of the NAMA's (North American Mycological Association) Culinary Committee. He lives in Oaxaca, Mexico with his wife Kimberly Hunter--known collectively as the "Mushroom Hunters"--where they offer experiential immersions: artisan-maker intensives as Traveling Traders Bazaar and Mushroom adventures as The Fungivore. 2024 will be their sixth season curating adventures together in Mexico. Learn more at TheFungivore.com or TravelingTradersBazaar.com Archives
April 2024
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