The first new book on psychoactive mushrooms in 10 years. Introducing a rich variety of psychoactive mushrooms from around the globe -including some rare and little-known species - the author describes dozens of species and covers a broad range of mushroom- related topics, from distribution maps to comparisons of cultural attitudes to laboratory analyses of active ingredients.

One of the book's most remarkable features is its multi-disciplinary approach: chemistry, botany, biology, history, anthropology, religion, pharmacology, medicine - all of these are among the fields contributing a diversity of data, questions and information that are assembled into one of the most comprehensive and intriguing portraits of psychoactive mushrooms ever created.

Lavishly illustrated, well-organized and enriched by numerous accounts of mushroom experiences, this book explores the psychoactive mycoflora on five continents and reconstructs a continuity of psychoactive mushroom use throughout history, from as early as 10,000 years ago to the present day. You will also find detailed chapters on mushroom cultivation techniques, psychotherapy applications, the bluing phenomenon, the dangers of accidental poisonings caused by misidentification of species, and more. A treasure trove of information, illustrations and magnificent color photography, the book contains much novel information as well, such as the first report on the psychoactivity of baeocystin and up-to-date findings on the use of plant growth hormones to accelerate growth.
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"Jochen Gartz has made an outstanding contribution to the field of mycology by embracing the Magic Mushrooms of Germany and from around the world and by pursuing their scientific study and investigation." - Christian Ratsch, from his Introduction
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130 pages, 8"x11", sturdy softcover

30 color plates

36 black & white illustrations

3 maps of geographic distribution patterns

10 tables

18 reprodu! ctions of historic source materials and citations from the early mycological literature Bibliography of 250+ citations and sources FROM THE TABLE OF CONTENT:

"Who Was the First Magician?" - Foreword by Christian Rtsch

1. Introduction

2. Fancy of Fools or Flesh of the Gods: Reflections on the History Study of Magic Mushrooms

3. The Current State of Knowledge About European Species

3.1 Psilocybe semilanceata - The Classic Psychotropic Species of Europe

3.2 Psilocybe cyanescens - Potent Mushrooms Growing on Wood Debris

3.3 Panaeolus subbalteatus - Mycology & Myths about the Panaeolus Species

3.4 Inocybe aeruginascens - Fast-Spreading New Arrivals

3.5 Gymnopilus purpuratus - Magnificent Mushrooms from South America

3.6 Conocybe cyanopus - Tiny Mushrooms of Remarkable Potency

3.7 Pluteus salicinus - A Little-Known Wood-Inhabiting Species

4. Mushroom Identification: The Potential for Deadly Mistakes

5. The Bluing Phenomenon and Metol Testing - Reality vs. Wishful Thinking

6. Mushroom Cultivation - Classic Findings and New Techniques

7. Psychotropic Mushroom Species All Around The World

7.1 Spotlight on North America and Hawaii

7.2 Mycophilia in Central and South America

7.3 Australia's Mycoflora Attracts Attention

7.4 European Customs and Conventions

7.5 Japanese Experiments

7.6 Intoxications and the Oldest Known Mushroom Cult in Africa

7.7 Usage in Asia and Oceania

8. Remarks About Effects of Mushrooms from the Category Phantastika

9. Psychotherapy

10. Outlook

11. Bibliography (Reference Section with over 250 entries)