{"id":19300,"date":"2021-09-21T09:13:37","date_gmt":"2021-09-21T09:13:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wholecelium.com\/?p=19300"},"modified":"2023-11-09T12:57:40","modified_gmt":"2023-11-09T11:57:40","slug":"prvni-legalni-sklizen-magickych-hub-v-australii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wholecelium.com\/cs\/blog\/australias-first-legal-magic-mushroom-harvest\/","title":{"rendered":"Prvn\u00ed leg\u00e1ln\u00ed sb\u011br magick\u00fdch hub v Austr\u00e1lii"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This comes after the federal government, in a show of good faith, has backed a whopping 15 million Australian dollars in grants for local psychedelic research earlier this year<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foraging Shrooms for Science<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Galerina
Galerina patagonica via Creative Commons<\/mark><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The first legal harvest of magic mushrooms takes place deep in the forest, in places with lots of damp cow manure and fallen leaves and twigs. Psilocybin mushrooms love to grow in these conditions especially after it rains. This is where Dr. Alistair McTaggart<\/strong>, a mycologist and evolutionary biologist from the University of Queensland, will pick and catalogue the fungi for possible use in therapy. In an interview with ABC, McTaggart hints at shrooms being the key to mental health:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn America, the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) has fast-tracked psilocybin treatment. It\u2019s considered a <\/em>breakthrough therapy<\/a><\/em><\/strong>. With COVID-19 right now, I think there\u2019s never been a better time to start looking for therapies for mental health.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This magic was something that Aboriginal Australians<\/strong> once knew, but settlers and modernity have practically erased from daily life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think it is a reasonable hypothesis that Aboriginal people co-existed with and ate magic mushrooms at some stage in the last 60,000 years.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt may be that historical uses of mushrooms are closely guarded or lost.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mapping Shrooms in \u2018Straya <\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Omphalotus
Omphalotus nidiformis, aka Ghost Fungus via Wikimedia Commons<\/mark><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Today, there are about 20 to 30 species<\/strong> of magic mushrooms in Australia. Some of which are native, while others come from foreign soil (Psilocybe cubensis<\/strong><\/a> or golden top mushroom is an example)<\/em>. Sadly, due to the current legal status of magic mushrooms as a \u201ccontrolled substance\u201d in Australia, very little is known about local mushroom species:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are not certain of [the] magic mushroom biodiversity in Australia,\u201d <\/em>says McTaggart in a UQ interview<\/a><\/strong>. \u201cWe do not even know how many species produce psilocybin. Our native psychoactive mushrooms are understudied compared to other continents.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. McTaggart\u2019s job is to see which mushrooms are safe to eat, which ones are poisonous, and which ones can help treat anxiety, depression, PTSD, addiction, eating disorders, and other conditions. If all goes sunny, his super-detailed shroom catalogue may persuade the feds to see psilocybin as a *legit* medical option. A magical tool that could be used to combat the mental health crisis just as effectively as Big Pharma (or even better!)<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Says Dr. McTaggart in a UQ interview:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur native psychoactive mushrooms are <\/em>understudied<\/em><\/strong> compared to other continents. We want to understand their biology. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAustralian species of psychoactive mushroom are<\/em> unique <\/em><\/strong>from their global relatives and may have evolved different methods for psilocybin production.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Magic Mushroom DNA <\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Psilocybin \u2014 the active compound in magic mushrooms and truffles \u2014 is just one of many local trippy substances being studied for therapy, which include ketamine and ecstasy. But for now, Dr. McTaggart and his team are excited to look into the DNA of shrooms growing in Australia. Genomic sequencing<\/a><\/strong> (or the way DNA is arranged to form a gene) will help to tell the 20 to 30 species of magic mushrooms apart. Think of it as a shroom hunter\u2019s guide<\/strong><\/a> but on steroids!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Stephen Bright<\/strong>, a psychologist from Edith Cowan University\u2019s school of medical and health sciences, says that Australian magic mushrooms have yet to reach their full potential:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe research that we\u2019re talking about here – in terms of understanding the native psilocybin species – could contribute to the international <\/em>psychedelic science renaissance<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong>\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of late 2021, it remains illegal to grow, possess, use, or trade magic mushrooms in Australia. Only spores, grow kits, and mycelium culture can be bought and sold legally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"glowing
The best thing since vegemite.\u00a0<\/mark><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Psilocybin for Resistant Depression <\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a bit of bonzer news for those in Western Australia. Soon, Dr. Bright will conduct clinical trials in the area to see if psilocybin-assisted therapy can help crack resistant depression<\/strong> \u2014 a mental condition that has puzzled doctors up until recently. For Dr. Bright, psilocybin is a non-addictive drug that could genuinely help those struggling with addiction. And it\u2019s high time everybody knows it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPsilocybin has almost a fail-safe built into it, to make it relatively safe as a drug – provided it\u2019s done within the right setting, given the extreme state of consciousness that it produces.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Psilocybin Assisted Therapy<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Bright is referring to having the right mindset and surroundings before you take psychedelics, aka \u201c<\/strong>Se<\/strong>t and Setting<\/strong><\/a>\u201d<\/strong>. For a rich and pleasant trip, you gotta pick a spot that makes you feel comfortable. You also need an open mind for the magic to seep through your spirit. And if you\u2019re a beginner attempting to self-medicate with shrooms alone, you gotta do your research first. Hence why Dr. Bright wants psilocybin-assisted therapy to go mainstream:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt needs to occur in a clinical environment, where there are trained facilitators, psychologists, social workers [and] psychiatrists who are able to set up the right conditions because it can be challenging at times.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith depression, [psilocybin] allows people to consider their core beliefs of who they are as a person, how they relate to other people, and where they fit in the world. And those core beliefs are what\u2019s driving the depression.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"pile
via Unsplash<\/mark><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Popular antidepressants can mask the symptoms of depression for a short while. They\u2019re a breather from the pain, and that\u2019s about it. A Band-Aid solution that doesn\u2019t always work, especially not on folks with treatment resistant depression. Psilocybin and other psychedelics, on the other hand, will offer you a real chance to break free from the shackles of ego<\/a>. <\/strong>Shrooms can help you uncover the root of your sadness so you can face it once and for all.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Genomic Sequencing (and Why It\u2019s Important)<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nature is weird. Sometimes two species can look exactly alike<\/strong> even though one of them is probably toxic AF. Take the (perfectly harmless)<\/em> Scarlet king snake, for example, which mimics the appearance of the Eastern coral snake known for its deadly poison:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which brings us back to Dr. McTaggart\u2019s work on mapping Australia\u2019s magic mushrooms via genomic sequencing<\/strong>. By harvesting the local shrooms, Australian scientists can now study psilocybin\u2019s properties at the DNA level. And most importantly, they can share their findings with the public without fear of breaking the law. (Is the mushroom growing in your backyard safe to ingest, or is it something else? Once the shroom catalogue is complete, you can have its DNA tested to be sure!)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Tom May<\/strong>, lead mycologist at the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, had compiled a limited catalogue of fungi. He says that Dr. McTaggart\u2019s work on magic mushroom DNA is the next big step in mycology. Particularly in telling which species are best for therapeutic use:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere has been a lot of interest in hallucinogens for many decades, but moving into a laboratory setting means that things can be tested and refined to really work out specific kinds of therapy using specific versions of [magic mushrooms].\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Australia\u2019s Psilocybe subaeruginosa is the most commonly used psilocybin in research. DNA mapping will show us <\/em><\/mark><\/strong>exactly why<\/mark><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

‘Designer’ Psychedelic Trips<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So far, the Australian native mushroom Psilocybe subaeruginosa<\/em> is garnering heaps of praise in psychedelic research. And Dr. McTaggart is eager to peek into its DNA to see precisely what makes it so irresistible to scientists:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis species, or a close relative, is now the foundation of patents and research in Europe and the United States.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does cataloguing the DNA of shrooms mean for folks like you and me? By scrambling the genes of magic mushrooms, they can now potentially work on \u201cdesigner\u201d psychedelic trips<\/strong>. A Wonderland experience like no other. Tailored just for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSimilar to the cannabis industry, mushrooms will need selection of genetic traits to upscale production or tailor different strains for different experiences.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wonderland, Down Under <\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sweeping plains. Mountain ranges. And a dazzling array of animal, plant, and fungi species that can only be found in the biggest country in the world. This is why it\u2019s such a huge deal for Australia to finally allow the first legal harvest of magic mushrooms for research. It\u2019s the perfect chance to map out the rich biodiversity of psilocybin in the forests of Australia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Western world has opened its eyes, after all, to the potential of psychedelics to help treat mental illness \u2014 such as the incredible findings<\/strong> about psilocybin’s ability to cure depression made at the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research. Now it looks like the brilliant scientists in \u2018Straya are joining the party. And not a minute too soon! Aussie Aussie Aussie!!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you love psychedelics? Check out our latest TikTok video right here! <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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