Hallucinogenic Mushrooms in Mexico: An Overview
Economic Botany November 1, 2008 Gastón Guzmán 114 citations
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 today by Nahuatl Indians as teotlaquilnanácatl, is hypothesized to be the ceremonially used teonanácatl mushroom cited by Sahagún in the 16th century, whose true identity has remained obscure for centuries. Correcting a widespread error, Panaeolus species have never been used traditionally in Mexico. Reports of other genera used as sacred or narcotic mushrooms are discussed, along with a history of discovery, taxonomy, distribution, and traditional use.