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.
Anales de Antropología
May 14, 2025
Gastón Guzmán
17 citations
The traditional past use of Amanita muscaria in Siberia, the Americas, and Medieval Europe is considered, along with Psilocybe semilanceata in medieval Europe and ergot in Greek times. Mycological petroglyphs from Siberia and prehistoric murals from the Sahara and Spain are also discussed. The traditions and confusions surrounding Psilocybe species in pre-Hispanic America are reviewed, including the question of what teonanácatl is. The scarce ethnomycological information from Africa, Papua New Guinea, and China is examined. Finally, an analysis is made of the traditional use of these mushrooms in the present.
International journal of medicinal mushrooms
January 1, 2016
Yvonne Sommerkamp, Ana Margarita Paz, Gastón Guzmán
Guatemala has a long history of using mushrooms for food, medicine, and hallucinogenic purposes. This article reviews traditional mushroom use in the country and discusses scientific studies that validate both native and foreign mushroom species.