Hallucinogenic Mushrooms in Mexico: An Overview
Economic Botany November 1, 2008 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1007/s12231-008-9033-8 via Springer Nature
Summary
Psilocybe is the most important and diverse group of sacred mushrooms in Mexico, with 53 known hallucinogenic species used by indigenous cultures. Psilocybe caerulescens, referred to as teotlaquilnanácatl by modern Nahuatl speakers, is proposed to be the ceremonial mushroom teonanácatl mentioned by Sahagún in the 16th century. The study corrects misconceptions about Panaeolus species, which have never been traditionally used in Mexico, and discusses various other mushroom species associated with sacred or narcotic uses.
Study at a glance
| Population | Mexican indigenous cultures |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Psilocybe is identified as the most significant group of hallucinogenic mushrooms used traditionally in Mexico. |
Abstract
Hongos Alucinógenos en México: Historia, Taxonomia, Distribución Geográfica y Uso Tradicional . Psilocybe , con 53 especies alucinógenas conocidas en México, es el grupo más importante y más diverso de hongos sagrados usados por las culturas indígenas mexicanas. Se propone aquí que Psilocybe caerulescens , nombrado por los nahuatls de hoy día teotlaquilnanácatl , es el hongo ceremonial teonanácatl citado por Sahagún en el siglo XVI, cuya identidad verdadera permanece oscura desde hace siglos. A fin de corregir un error muy diseminado derivado de los primeros datos publicados sobre los hongos alucinógenos mexicanos, se hará hincapié en el hecho de que las especies Paneolus nunca han sido usadas tradicionalmente en México. Se discutirán aquí informes sobre el uso de especies de Amanita, Clavaria, Conocybe, Cordyceps, Dictyophora, Elaphomyces, Gomphus, Lycoperdon, Psathyrella y Stropharia como hongos sagrados o narcóticos, y se presentará también una breve historia del descubrimiento de hongos alucinógenos en México, como también algunos datos sobre su taxonomía, su distribución, y su uso tradicional en México. Hallucinogenic Mushrooms in Mexico: An Overview. Psilocybe , with 53 known hallucinogenic species in Mexico, is the most important and diverse group of sacred mushrooms used by Mexican indigenous cultures. Psilocybe caerulescens , known by the present-day Nahuatl Indians as teotlaquilnanácatl , is hypothesized to be the ceremonially-used teonanácatl mushroom cited by Sahagún in the 16th century, the true identity of which has remained obscure for centuries. Correcting a widely disseminated error derived from early published information on Mexican hallucinogenic mushrooms, emphasis is placed on the fact that Panaeolus species have never been used traditionally in Mexico. Reports of the use of species of Amanita, Clavaria, Conocybe, Cordyceps, Dictyophora, Elaphomyces, Gomphus, Lycoperdon, Psathyrella , and Stropharia as sacred or narcotic mushrooms are discussed. A brief history of the discovery of hallucinogenic mushrooms in Mexico is presented, as well as notes on their taxonomy, distribution, and traditional use in Mexico.