Mushrooms / Wild and Cultivated

[sumisu]

Making a wood chip mushroom garden

https://www.milkwood.net/2013/07/10/making-a-wood-chip-mushroom-garden/

[sumisu]

This Boston Mushroom Hunter Is Reclaiming The Forest And Teaching Food Autonomy


Maria Pinto leads groups into the woods on mushroom foraging trips. (Arielle Gray/ WBUR)

November 20, 2020

Arielle Gray

https://www.wbur.org/artery/2020/11/20/boston-mushroom-hunter-food-autonomy?fbclid=IwAR2PtDj_VscGujPZZiGITzSZ9sJJsqeNK4KGHo2FRrJfffABSDQmYDrTJYE

[sumisu]

Action on the Bee Crisis

Paul Stamets

Mar 7, 2019

[sumisu]

The largest living thing on Earth is mostly hidden from view

Lydia Ramsey

May 6, 2017, 10:00 AM



https://www.businessinsider.com/largest-living-organism-the-armillaria-ostoyae-fungus-2017-5

[sumisu]

Turkey Tail Mushroom: Identification and Uses

April 25, 2019 by Ashley Adamant



https://practicalselfreliance.com/turkey-tail-mushroom/

[sumisu]

Mushrooms Can Eat Plastic, Petroleum and CO2

January 11, 2018 at 3:16 am



https://returntonow.net/2018/01/11/7-ways-mushrooms-can-save-world/

[sumisu]

Let's Grow Mushrooms! 1 3 5 Steps to Perfect Grain Spawn

[sumisu]

The Amazing Facets of Fungi

November 30, 2016

By Blair Wojcik

https://www.kisstheground.com/2016/11/30/amazing-facets-fungi/

[sumisu]

Welcome to Medical Mushrooms .net, information about Reishi, Lingshi, Shiitake, Cordyceps, Maitake etc

http://www.medicalmushrooms.net/

[sumisu]

What is mushroom compost?

February 19, 2003

http://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/what-mushroom-compost

CORVALLIS - Commercial mushroom growers in the Willamette Valley grow tons of mushrooms in an elaborate mixture that gardeners love - mushroom compost.

Often sold at landscape supply houses, mushroom compost can help amend garden soil, but should be used with caution, according to John Hart, soil scientist with the Oregon State University Extension Service. Mushroom compost is rich in soluble salts and other nutrients and can kill germinating seeds and harm salt-sensitive plants including rhododendrons and azaleas.

The recipe for mushroom compost varies from company to company, but can include composted wheat or rye straw, peat moss, used horse bedding straw, chicken manure, cottonseed or canola meal, grape crushings from wineries, soybean meal, potash, gypsum, urea, ammonium nitrate and lime. The compost ingredients are weighed out, then mixed in.

At the PictSweet mushroom farm in Salem, huge piles of mushroom compost sit for about 30 days and do what compost does - heat up. The straw provides the structure and some food for bacteria, and the urea, cottonseed meal and chicken manure provide most of the nutrients.

The bacteria multiply, forcing the temperature inside the pile up to more than 160 degrees, killing any weed seeds or pathogens that might have been present in the straw or animal wastes. The result is mushroom compost, ready to grow a crop of commercial table mushrooms.

The cured compost is placed in beds in a dark, cool and humid warehouse and then is pasteurized at about 140 degrees to kill any surface disease-causing organisms and pests. Workers then inoculate the compost with mushroom spawn, or mycelium. Underground roots called mycelium grow in the compost, then five weeks after inoculation, mushrooms are ready to pick. A crop continues to be harvested for three to four weeks before the bed is exhausted.

After every planting cycle, the compost is removed because it is "used up," by the growing mushrooms. But it still has plenty left for gardeners and landscapers - it is sold to nurseries, landscape supply firms and general contractors all over the state.

Mushroom compost can supply nutrients and increase the water-holding capacity of the soil. But mushroom compost can be too much of a good thing for seeds, seedlings and young plants, said OSU's Hart.

"The soluble salts and other nutrients in fresh, undiluted mushroom compost are too concentrated for germinating seeds, young plants and other salt-sensitive plants including members of the heath family such as rhododendrons, blueberries and azaleas," said Hart.

To avoid killing germinating seeds and stressing heath family members, Hart recommends mixing mushroom compost with garden soil before using it on young plants. Or, order a supply of mushroom compost in the fall and let it sit uncovered, to "cure" over the winter.

Used with care, mushroom compost also can be used as a mulch around perennials, trees and shrubs, said Hart. For flower beds and vegetable gardens, till about three inches of the compost into the top six inches of fairly dry garden soil. For containerized plants, fresh mushroom compost should only make up about one-quarter of the volume of soil in the container. Remember that rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and other members of the heath family may be injured by salts unless mushroom compost is "cured" first.

When ordering or buying mushroom compost, remember that one cubic yard of compost will cover about 100 square feet of garden to a depth of about two inches.
Author: Carol Savonen
Source: John Hart, Hout Prach

[sumisu]

Shroomery - Magic Mushrooms Demysterified

https://www.shroomery.org/4/Growing-Mushrooms

[sumisu]

Growing Organic Shiitake Mushrooms Indoors

sumi

[sumisu]

How to Cook Maitake or Hen of the Woods Mushrooms

Shelley

Posted by Shelley on Oct 30, 2014



http://www.thechoppingblock.com/blog/2014/10/cooking-maitake-hen-of-the-woods-mushrooms.html

[sumisu]

Making a wood chip mushroom garden

https://www.milkwood.net/2013/07/10/making-a-wood-chip-mushroom-garden/

[sumisu]

Fungi Perfecti

http://www.fungi.com/

[sumisu]

Easy Guide To Mushroom Identification and Terms

2 Infographics

by jasonw

Tuesday, April 5, 2016, 4:55 PM

http://tinyurl.com/j89f244

[sumisu]

10 Morel Mushroom Hunting Tips for Your Next Adventure



Posted by David Smith

January 21, 2016

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/10-tips-hunting-morel-mushrooms-pics/

[sumisu]

A Beginner's Guide to Hunting Morel Mushrooms

Article by Phil Bourjaily



http://www.fieldandstream.com/sites/fieldandstream.com/files/styles/photo-gallery/public/import/Article/embed/Mushroom1.jpg?itok=gHcrmj-c

[sumisu]

How I Almost Ran Off With the Mushroom Man

Cyn Cady, Hobby Farms Contributor

February 20, 2015



http://www.hobbyfarms.com/hobby-farms-editorial-blogs/greenhorn-acres/run-away-with-mushroom-man.aspx

[sumisu]

3 Edible Mushrooms To Forage From The Woods

Supplement your farm produce with wild-growing mushrooms that can be found on your farm’s back 40.

Dawn Combs


Sam Breach/Flickr

http://tinyurl.com/puhqwlz

[sumisu]

Chanterelle



http://www.mssf.org/cookbook/chanterelle.html


Finding Gold Chanterelles 2013 - Excellent Video Footage

Chanterelle Look Alikes - Toxic Jack O' Lantern Mushroom Identification

[sumisu]

This Fungus Is Known As “The Mushroom Of Immortality” & “The King Of All Herbs”



http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/11/18/could-this-fungus-hold-the-key-to-health-longevity-cures/

[sumisu]

Dying Trees Can Send Food to Neighbors of Different Species

By Jennifer Frazer | May 9, 2015 |



http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/artful-amoeba/dying-trees-can-send-food-to-neighbors-of-different-species/

[sumisu]

Collecting Wild Edible Mushrooms (HD)

[sumisu]

Top 10 Edible Mushrooms

[sumisu]

Identify Wild Mushrooms & Edible Mushrooms With Peter Jordan

[sumisu]

Learning How To Turn Wood Into Delicious Edible Mushrooms

Posted January 17, 2015 by James Reid



http://permaculturenews.org/2015/01/17/learning-how-to-turn-wood-into-delicious-edible-mushrooms/

[sumisu]

Mycologist Explains The Magic Of Northwest Fungi

By John O'Brien • May 14, 2015



http://kuow.org/post/mycologist-explains-magic-northwest-fungi

[sumisu]

Forest Mushroom Cultivation @ Cornell

http://blogs.cornell.edu/mushrooms/factsheets/

[sumisu]

Forest Farming



"Forest farming is the cultivation of high-value specialty crops under the protection of a forest canopy that has been modified to provide the correct shade level. Crops like ginseng, shiitake mushrooms, and decorative ferns are sold for medicinal, culinary, and ornamental uses. Forest farming provides income while high-quality trees are being grown for wood products."

http://nac.unl.edu/forestfarming.htm

[sumisu]

Why a Small Pennsylvania Town Is the Mushroom Capital of the World

Sarah Zhang on Gizmodo

1/24/14 9:20am



http://gizmodo.com/why-a-small-pennsylvania-town-is-the-mushroom-capital-o-1507494984

[sumisu]

Medicinal Mushrooms

June 20, 2011 by Isaac Eliaz

Self-treating medical conditions with medicinal mushrooms

http://www.organiclifestylemagazine.com/medicinal-mushrooms/

[Vexari]

Good post toddao

The liver is the least talked about organ to protect..

[toddao]

Can Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms Protect the Liver?

http://www.realnatural.org/can-edible-and-medicinal-mushrooms-protect-the-liver/
An increasing chorus of research is finding that some edible and medicinal mushrooms can help the liver heal and protect the liver against many of the toxins that are now bombarding our livers.

When the liver is damaged by toxins such as alcohol, pharmaceuticals, preservatives, pesticides and other toxins, liver cells begin to produce enzymes such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in an attempt to heal and remove the toxins. As liver cells become more damaged, fibrosis can occur, which can progress to a complete shutting down of the liver.

A number of studies have shown that extracts from a number of medicinal and edible mushrooms reduce the levels of these enzymes in liver damage situations, and help bring about a healthier liver.

According to the research some of the more productive medicinal mushrooms in terms of reducing liver damage include:

Lentinula edodes (also known as Shiitake)
Cordyceps
Agaricus blazei
Ganoderma lucidum (also known as Reishi)
Ganoderma tsugae (Tsugae Reishi)
Pleurotus cornucopiae (Oysters)
Panus giganteus
and a number of others.

In a study last year, for example, Panus giganteus – also called Pteropus giganteus with a common English name of Indian Flying Fox, part of many Malaysian, Chinese, and Indian recipes – was found to reduce AST and ALT levels at similar rates as a standardized extract of Silymarin (Milk Thistle’s active liver constituent). In this study, the mushroom was tested against liver injury caused by the drug thioacetamide.

In another study– this from Japan’s Osaka University – found that two different fractions of Shiitake mushrooms (hot-water extraction and ethanol extraction) not only decreased AST and ALT levels, but also inhibited the formation of collagen fibrils – which produce liver fibrosis.

Liver fibrosis is quite common amongst those with a long history of drinking alcohol or taking pharmaceutical drugs.

The fact that many edible and medicinal mushrooms can not only reduce liver enzymes but also keep the liver from fibrosis lends once again to the conclusion that nature provides the best means for healing in the long run.
Written by Case Adams, Naturopath (Join the author’s Google+ circle)

REFERENCES:

Soares AA, de Sá-Nakanishi AB, Bracht A, da Costa SM, Koehnlein EA, de Souza CG, Peralta RM. Hepatoprotective effects of mushrooms. Molecules. 2013 Jul 1;18(7):7609-30.

Wong, W.-L.; Abdulla, M.A.; Chua, K.-H.; Kuppusamy, U.R.; Tan, Y.-S.; Sabaratnam, V. Hepatoprotective effects of Panus giganteus(Berk.) Corner against thioacetamide (TAA) induced liver injury in rats. Evid. Based Complement. Alternat. Med. 2012, 2012, 170303.

Firenzuoli, F.; Gori, L.; Lombardo, G. The medicinal mushrooms Agaricus blazeiMurrill: Review of literature and pharmaco-toxicological problems. Evid. Based Complement. Alternat. Med. 2008, 5, 3–15.

Ooi, V.E.C. Hepatoprotective effect of some edible mushrooms. Phytotherapy Res. 1996, 10, 536–538.

Jayakumar, T.; Ramesh, E.; Geraldine, P. Antioxidant activity ofthe oyster mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus, on CCL4-induced liver injury in rats. Food Chem. Toxicol. 2006, 44, 1989–1996.

Akamatsu S, Watanabe A, Tamesada M, Nakamura R, Hayashi S, Kodama D, Kawase M, Yagi K. Hepatoprotective effect of extracts from Lentinus edodes mycelia on dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver injury. Biol Pharm Bull. 2004 Dec;27(12):1957-60.

[b4atf]

Lovely black Morels on C2C!

http://www.coasttocoastam.com/photo/view/mushrooms_in_the_ozarks/63784

b4

[b4atf]

(NaturalNews) England is attempting to embark upon the first ever clinical trial to explore the potential positive effects psilocybin-the hallucinogenic ingredient in magic mushrooms-has on depression. However, the trial, despite having the funds to commence, is being halted due to the fact that it is still illegal under federal law. In America, the situation is similar with periodic small studies showing promise, however the iron fist of the law prevents further exploration.

Psilocybin mushrooms grow all over the world and have been used in religious and other rituals for thousands of years. Today, studies have shown that there are improvements in people with depression and obsessive compulsive disorder who have taken psilocybin. Brain scans have shown that the posterior cingulate cortex, a part of the brain that is hyperactive in people with depression, is significantly slowed down under the effects of psilocybin. Furthermore, the effects of the mood on psilocybin have been shown to last up to two weeks after a single treatment. This could be a huge breakthrough for severely depressed people who don't respond to other treatments.

The dangers of psilocybin lie in the ignorance of the user. Major illness or even death can occur by ingesting the wrong type of mushrooms for example. Like other hallucinogenics, the user can also experience a "bad trip" with feelings of paranoia, anxiety, and aggression among others. However the effects of the mushroom last between four to six hours so any unpleasant effects are temporary. The substance is not addictive, and there are no long term side effects known. These negative side effects could be alleviated if taken under the care of a doctor.

Antidepressants, the current treatment for people with depression, have a slew of negative side effects including and not limited to: irritability, flattened emotions, rapid or slow heartbeat, body aches, sexual dysfunction, weight gain, and suicidal thinking or ideation. Antidepressants have gotten their fair share of a bad rap in the media as many a mass shooter has been under their influence. In fact, a fairly recent study has shown that long-term antidepressant use can actually worsen depression and cause other behavioral abnormalities.

It seems so simple: just allow scientists to research psilocybin for the treatment of depression. It is much safer and probably more effective than conventional antidepressants. The problem is that it remains a schedule I narcotic under federal law; it has no medical purpose (just like marijuana) to legal entities.

Psilocybin is just another casualty of the war on drugs backed by Big Pharma. Under the rule of the pharmaceutical industry, natural and safe treatments will remain illegal or bastardized while poisonous pills continue to be disbursed to the population en masse.


Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/040803_psilocybin_depression_antidepressants.html#ixzz2WUeHMCLM


http://www.naturalnews.com/040803_psilocybin_depression_antidepressants.html

[toddao]

Mushrooms that Fight Cancer and Disease and Boost the Immune System


http://www.tbyil.com/mushrooms.htm
by Tony Isaacs

In the world of natural health, "medicinal" mushrooms are known as some of the most potent immune boosters and disease fighters. Perhaps the most potent of all is the Agaricus Blazei Murrill mushroom, known in it's native Brazil as "The Mushroom of God"; however many others have also proven to be very effective and popular.
Here are some of the very best:
Agaricus Blazei Murrill Mushroom - Known as “The Mushroom of the Gods”. A few decades ago, researchers noticed that in the mountain region of Ideate near Sao Paulo, Brazil , a regular part of the local inhabitants’ diet was a mushroom known as "Cogmelo de Deus" or "Mushroom of God". The researchers also noted that the local inhabitants were extraordinarily healthy and had a very low incidence of disease, which they attributed to this magical mushroom.

The scientific name of the mushroom is Agaricus Blazei Murrill, more commonly called the ABM mushroom and sometimes referred to as Agaricus Brasiliennis. So potent is this mushroom that one well-known rainforest herbal manufacturer, uses it as the main ingredients in herbal supplements that have been credited with success against cancer and other diseases around the world.

In a study conducted by Dr. Shoji Shibata, a professor at Tokyo University , several other well known cancer-fighting and immune-boosting mushrooms were compared to the ABM, including Reishi and Shitake. Dr. Shibata's results found that the other mushrooms were not as effective as the ABM mushroom, and so the ABM was ranked at the top of the list of potent mushrooms - a spot befitting the "Mushroom of God"! Other Japanese and British studies have also shown the ABM mushroom to have the highest concentration of beta-glucan of any mushroom.

The ABM mushroom contains Beta-(1-3)-D-glucan, Beta-(1-4)-a -D-glucan & Beta - (1-6)-D-glucan. Known collectively as Beta-glucans, these long-chain polysaccharides are the most potent immuno-potentiating (immune enhancing) substances yet found. They also have very powerful anti-tumor properties. When human subjects are given AMB in their diet, a 3000% increase of NK cells, a type of anti-tumor white blood cell known as Natural Killer cells, is seen in the blood within 2-4 days.

In addition to beta glucans, agaricus also contains derivatives of ergosterol, a potent anti-tumor agent; double stranded RNA, an anti-viral agent; proteoglucans and protein bound polysaccharides of low molecular weight, which are immune enhancers; and, protein bound polysaccharides of high molecular weight, vitamins B1 and B2, proteins in the form of amino acids, niacin, iron, and calcium. There are many verified reports from around the world of this mushroom being used successfully in late stage cancers that had been determined hopeless and some clinics in Europe base their entire treatment protocols on agaricus blazei murrill mushroom extracts and other complimentary botanicals. In fact, in many published studies, the rate of cure for all types of cancer has been in the high ninety percentile range, even for stage 4 lung cancer, where many complete remissions are often seen in just a few weeks.
Coriolus Versicolor extract - Commonly called the Asian Turkey Tail mushroom. Contains polysaccharides [PSK] and polysaccharopeptides [PSP])-- effective for acute leukemia and stomach, esophagus, colorectal, lung cancer; PS is effective with many types of cancer (at least early and mid-stage cancer), including lung cancer and particularly stomach & colon cancer; NCI reportedly stated that PSK has been "contemplated for use against...mammary cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, such as those of the esophagus, stomach...colon; lung...brain tumors" and that PSP "has...antitumor activities, inhibiting Ehrlich ascites tumors, leukemia, and sarcoma...gastric tumor, lymph, and monocytic leukemia"; good to take during chemo & radiation - including acute leukemia patients.
Shitake Mushrooms - The Shitake mushroom lowers cholesterol and improves immune system function, good for preventing high blood pressure and heart disease, for controlling cholesterol level, building resistance against viruses, and fighting diseases such as AIDS/HIV and cancers. Often available fresh, Shitake mushrooms are very flavorful when used in cooking! If you cannot find fresh, available as a supplement also.
Maitaike Mushrooms - High in nutrients including Vitamins B-2, C, D, niacin, magnesium, potassium, fiber, and amino acids, Maitake mushrooms contain the polysaccharide compound beta-1.6-glucan which naturally stimulates the immune system and lowers blood pressure. Beneficial for obesity and diabetic patients, the Maitake mushroom may be best known for its cancer fighting ability. Tests in mice prove that it blocks tumor formation and boosts the immune system. Available fresh or as supplement)

Photo courtesy of David W. Fischer / AmericanMushrooms.com


Reishi Mushrooms - The Reishi mushroom can increase the production of interleukin1 and 2, resulting in inhibition of tumor growth. Studies show that Reishi can have a number of other positive effects on the body such as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-viral (through its interferon production), lowers blood pressure. It also acts as a cardiotonic by lowering serum and increasing the production of interleukin 1 and 2, which results in inhibition of tumor cholesterol, expectorant, anti-tissue, liver protecting and detoxifying, protection against ionizing radiation, antibacterial, and anti-HIV activity. Available fresh or as supplement.


Cordyceps Oglossoides Mushroom - Cordyceps, like many other medicinal mushrooms, contains complex sugars (especially beta 1,3 glucan) and other nutrients (nucleosides, triterpeniods) which seem to strongly nourish and activate various components of the immune system, useful in treating cancer, chronic fatigue and other immune disorders. It also seems to have value in treating nephritis, may help the immune system recognize tumors that otherwise might escape immune surveillance, and has positive effects on the cardiovascular and nervous systems, and an anti-aging effect.


Phellinus linteus - Made up primarily of polysacharrides, the Phellinus linteus mushroom suppresses cancer growth, angiogenesis and invasive behavior of breast and other cancer cells through the inhibition of AKT signalling. It also stimulates the immune system and induces apoptosis (cell death) in cancer cells.

The world of natural health has an abundance of botanicals, vitamins, minerals and supplements to help fight illness and boost the immune system. As you can see, the so-called "medicinal mushrooms" are important parts of that world.

[toddao]

Facts about the elusive morel mushroom

Springtime is here, singing loud and clear, with bird's song and a green brushstroke awakening yards and trees to a new rhythm. As beauty colors in the landscape, wild varieties of plants, herbs, and mushrooms begin to appear. One of the most mysterious species coming up this time of year is the great morel. Morels are a sneaky mushroom that come up and disappear within a small time frame in the spring. They are conically shaped, with white, hollow stems and pitted caps. They "pop up" in many different colors. They range from grey, black, yellow, tan, white, or golden. They are well known for their woodsy, earthy fragrance and delicate nut-like flavor.

Science behind the morel
People trek out in search of the morel with their own personal theories. The morel seems to surprise hunters every year, although it does seem to have its favorite spots. Morel growth depends primarily on moisture content in the ground, the perfect soil temperature, the existence of nutrients and an invisible root system.

Scientists believe the morel spreads by an underground, invisible root system called the mycelium. The highly sought after sponges reproduce by sending out between 250,000 and 500,000 microscopic spores. The spores drop into the ground and reconnect to their underground root system where they will draw in nutrients from the soil. Sclerotic, which are hardened nodules on the mycelium, swell during the spring season, forming the spongy morel fruits. Since the morel doesn't rely on photosynthesis, it obtains its nutrients from the ground.

For the morel to thrive for upcoming seasons, many advise to carry the morel in mesh bags, so the spores can freely release back into the ground.

Morel nutrition
According to the Department of Agriculture's national nutrient database, one cup of morel mushroom contains 59 grams of water and only 20 calories.

Their nutritional strength lies in their 136 IU vitamin D content. They also harbor B vitamins, including folate, niacin, pantothenic acid, riboflavin and thiamine.

A cup also contains 28 mg of calcium, 271 mg of potassium, 13 mg of magnesium and 8 mg of iron, 128 mg of phosphorus, 14 mg of sodium.

Many people celebrate the morel's flavor by slicing them and sauteing them in butter, coating them with flour or cracker meal. They can also be enjoyed on the grill, stuffed and baked with cheeses, onions, and garlic.

Knowing your morels
For safety reasons, it is important to properly identify various morel species. A Verpa bohemica, or wrinkled thimble cap, is filled with a white cottony fiber substance. These should be avoided.

The Gyromitra esculenta or the "Beefsteak Morel", usually fruits before the true morels. It has a wavy brainy like cap and is fleshy and brittle. These are very toxic.

The species Morchella semilibera, or half free morel, usually has a tall stem and a cap that is not fully connected to the stem. These can be eaten, but in moderation.

Know your morels: http://www.northerncountrymorels.com/morels.htm

Morel fever and beyond
Morels are wildly sought after across the United States. Finding a way to cultivate morel fever and share that same passion with other edible hunts will be a great way to celebrate all that is beneficial in the universe. There are thousands of edible medicinal mushrooms and herbs growing wild and free. Obtaining books and learning how to properly identify wild plants, berries, and mushrooms will be a valuable learned skill in this age of disease. Knowing what to eat in times of hunger and illness is a great way to live simple, happy, and free. People everywhere can thrive on what is natural and existing just outside the door.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.nutritionvalue.org

http://www.ehow.com/info_8342730_do-morel-mushrooms-grow-roots.html

http://www.mushroomthejournal.com/bestof/firstmorel.html

http://www.northerncountrymorels.com/morels.htm

http://www.naturalnews.com/040079_morel_mushrooms_facts_hunting.html#ixzz2RcPlScnk

[b4atf]

You guys down south should be seeing morels by now!!! Report please! Still a few weeks away here.

b4

[b4atf]

LONDON (Reuters) - The world's first clinical trial designed to explore using a hallucinogen from magic mushrooms to treat people with depression has stalled because of British and European rules on the use of illegal drugs in research.

David Nutt, president of the British Neuroscience Association and professor of neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College London, said he had been granted an ethical green light and funding for the trial, but regulations were blocking it.

"We live in a world of insanity in terms of regulating drugs," he told a neuroscience conference in London on Sunday.

He has previously conducted small experiments on healthy volunteers and found that psilocybin, the psychedelic ingredient in magic mushrooms, has the potential to alleviate severe forms of depression in people who don't respond to other treatments.

Following these promising early results he was awarded a 550,000 pounds ($844,000) grant from the UK's Medical Research Council to conduct a full clinical trial in patients.

But psilocybin is illegal in Britain, and under the United Nations 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances it is classified as a Schedule 1 drug - one that has a high potential for abuse and no recognized medical use.

This, Nutt explained, means scientists need a special license to use magic mushrooms for trials in Britain, and the manufacture of a synthetic form of psilocybin for use in patients is tightly controlled by European Union regulations.

Together, this has meant he has so far been unable to find a company able to make and supply the drug for his trial, he said.

"Finding companies who could manufacture the drug and who are prepared to go through the regulatory hoops to get the license, which can take up to a year and triple the price, is proving very difficult," he said.

Nutt said regulatory authorities have a "primitive, old-fashioned attitude that Schedule 1 drugs could never have therapeutic potential", despite the fact that his research and the work done by other teams suggests such drugs may help treat some patients with psychiatric disorders.

Psilocybin - or "magic" - mushrooms grow naturally around the world and have been widely used since ancient times for religious rites and also for recreation.

Researchers in the United States have seen positive results in trials using MDMA, a pure form of the party drug ecstasy, in treating post-traumatic stress disorder.

"What we are trying to do is to tap into the reservoir of under-researched illegal drugs to see if we can find new and beneficial uses for them in people whose lives are often severely affected by illnesses such as depression," Nutt said.

The proposed trial would involve 60 patients with depression who have failed two previous treatments.

During two or three controlled sessions with a therapist, half would be given a synthetic form of psilocybin, and the other 30 a placebo. They would have guided talking therapy to explore negative thinking and issues troubling them, and doctors would follow them up for at least a year.

Nutt secured ethical approval for the trial in March.

In previous research, Nutt found that when healthy volunteers were injected with psilocybin, the drug switched off a part of the brain called the anterior cingulate cortex, which is known to be overactive in people with depression.

"Even in normal people, the more that part of the brain was switched off under the influence of the drug, the better they felt two weeks later. So there was a relationship between that transient switching off of the brain circuit and their subsequent mood,", he said. "This is the basis on which we want to run the trial."


http://news.yahoo.com/first-magic-mushroom-depression-trial-hits-stumbling-block-231805511.html

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[sumisu]

The 'forbidden fruit' of medicinal mushrooms

By Elizabeth Landau, CNN

September 27, 2012 -- Updated 2047 GMT (0447 HKT)

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/02/02/health/tedmed-mushroom-man/index.html

[b4atf]

Very good show. Kept me up all night and I listened again today. I subscribe.

b4

[sumisu]

Mushrooms Can Save The World

http://www.coasttocoastam.com/videos/19798/46273

b4, great show; heard part of it.

[b4atf]

Paul Stamets will be on Coast to Coast radio!!! A very rare chance to hear him. Saturday at midnight CST.

02-16-13
Growing more mushrooms may be the best thing we can do to save the environment, according to fungi expert, Paul Stamets, who joins John B. Wells. Stamets will discuss his discovery of how to use mushrooms to decompose toxic pollutants, control insect populations, and generally enhance the health of our forests, gardens and bodies.

http://www.coasttocoastam.com/show/2013/02/16

b4

http://www.coasttocoastam.com/stations If your area has a radio station with C2C you can find it here.

[b4atf]

Under perfect conditions the author may get some results.

Oysters will flush indoors but they need to get established outdoors for permaculture.

Oysters will grow in many places and I get them here in Zone 3.

Not the feeble store bought ones.

I recommend the home kit from FungiPerfecti.com. A great mushroom and one of my favorites! I just have not figured out how to move them outdoors.

b4

[sumisu]

Grow Your Own Oyster Mushrooms on Straw

Posted by Samuel Alexander on Jan 27, 2013



http://simplicitycollective.com/grow-your-own-oyster-mushrooms-on-straw

[b4atf]

Amusing and sweet too.

My Mom gave me a small bag of store bought dried Boletes for Christmas.

I can pick thousands in my yard each summer. Boletes are not that great for eating but are a nice filler for stews etc.

To fry them in butter you should scoop out the spongy bottom with a spoon and break off the stem where it gets hard.

b4

[b4atf]

Thanks AP!

I would not eat mushrooms I did not collect myself.

To kill someone is very rare as we have only a couple deadly mushrooms in north amerika. Amanatia is the bad one. It is very easy to spot once you have seen one.

Some are just mildly toxic and most people can eat them without any problems other than some diarrhea.

Best plan is to learn the ones in your yard first.

There is a process to test a new mushroom.

Sounds like the victims were very old and may have had other health issues.

For anyone worried about a bugout a good mushroom field guide will be very useful as they are prolific and filling.

b4

http://www.fungi.com

[alpinefrost]

Poisonous Mushrooms Kill Two at California Nursing Home

http://www.delish.com/food/recalls-reviews/poisonous-mushrooms-kills-two-seniors-in-california

Wild mushrooms were the cause of two deaths at Gold Age Villa, an assisted living facility in Loomis, California. According to the Scaramento Bee, in addition to the untimely deaths of Barbara Lopes, 86, and Teresa Olesniewicz, 73, four others were sickened after they were given a wild mushroom soup prepared by a caregiver who also consumed the poisonous potage. The caregiver and three elderly residents were hospitalized. While the local Sheriff's department deemed the incident an accident with no intended malice, the California Department of Social Services is investigating.

[b4atf]

Ha, I used the rest in a soup today and have determined that wood ears are a suck ass mushroom.

b4