Psilocybe mexicana is an malabar magic mushrooms ancient mushroom with a storied history. It was the first mushroom to have its psilocybin characterized by scientists and is an important species in today’s psychedelic renaissance.
Psilocybe mexicana are straw-colored mushrooms that have convex or cone-shaped caps. They bruise blue when touched and have a purplish black spore print. They grow best in nutrient-rich conditions.
What is Psilocybe Mexicana?
Psilocybe Mexicana, commonly referred to as “Mexican liberty cap” or simply "Psilocybe," is an edible mushroom that contains the psychedelic compounds psilocin and psilocybin. These compounds are known to have spiritually uplifting and mind-expanding effects, causing users to feel connected to nature and experience feelings of euphoria, enlightenment, and empathy.
The fungus is indigenous to Mexico and has been used by various ethnic groups in religious, medical, and divination ceremonies since pre-Columbian times. There are many depictions of mushrooms in ancient Mexican art that survived colonization, including the Codex Vindobonensis and the famous frescoes at Tepantitla. In addition, early written accounts of shamanic mushroom use in Mexico come from the works of Harvard botanist Richard Evans Schultes and the Mazatec shaman Maria Sabina.
Both psilocybin and its metabolite, baeocystin (4-HO-DMT), are present in Psilocybe mexicana and other Psilocybe species. The shamans of the Mazatec people of Oaxaca, who used psilocybin in ceremonies, called the mushrooms teunamacatlh (teonanacatl), meaning “flesh of the gods”.
Mushrooms were typically eaten on an empty stomach and only one species was consumed at each ceremony. In some cases, Cordyceps and Elaphomyces mushrooms were combined with Psilocybe for enhanced spiritual effects. The shamans also imposed restrictions on the participants before and during the event, including abstaining from alcohol and other drugs, medical or otherwise.
Although a few other species, such as Amanita muscaria, are known to have been ceremonially used in Mexico, it is generally agreed that most of the entheogenic mushrooms with a confirmed ethnomycological history of use in Mexico belong to the genus Psilocybe. Psilocybe mexicana forms sclerotia, hardened masses of mycelium that function in nature as survival structures during unfavorable conditions like drought, freezing temperatures, and nutritional depletion.
In laboratory experiments, mycelia of sclerotia from Psilocybe mexicana are capable of fruiting when exposed to sunlight and nutrient-rich medium. For this reason, the spores of Psilocybe mexicana (and other Psilocybe species) are often sold with sand in kits for home growers to cultivate. Once spores are added to a suitable substrate, mycelia will begin producing mushrooms in a few days.
Why is Psilocybe Mexicana so popular?
Psilocybe Mexicana is a very popular species of magic mushrooms that is known for its spiritual effects and psychedelic trip. This mushroom was one of the first to be introduced to Western cultures and is believed by many to have triggered the Psychedelic Era in the 1960s. It has been used in traditional indigenous spiritual practices for over 2,000 years. The Aztecs called it teotlnanacatl, which is a combination of the Nahuatl words teo (“god”) and nana (“flesh”). It was also the mushroom from which Albert Hofmann (the man who first synthesized LSD) isolated psilocybin in 1959.
The cap of Psilocybe mexicana is 0.5 to 3 centimeters in diameter and it is conic to campanulate to subumbonate in shape when young, becoming slightly convex with maturity. It is pale brown to beige or straw-like in color and can develop bluish or greenish tints when it ages or is damaged. On the underside of the cap are grayish-purple gills that are white at the tips. Psilocybe mexicana bruises blue and has a dark ring at the base when picked or damaged.
These mushrooms grow alone or in small groups nested among moss along roadsides, trails, and cornfields at higher elevations. They are also found in grassy areas alongside deciduous forests. Psilocybe mexicana grows best in nutrient-rich soil that has been disturbed by livestock or agricultural machinery.
It is a hygrophanous mushroom, meaning that it changes color depending on the amount of water or light it receives. Its color ranges from a pale yellow to yellow-brown when dry, and it can become opaque with bluish or greenish hues when it ages or is damaged. It is the only mushroom in the Psilocybe genus that does this.
The stems of Psilocybe mexicana are short, and they can reach a length of up to 120 millimeters. They are also similar to the stems of other Psilocybe species, and they can be cut at any point to produce a new flush. The stems can also be dried and weighed into powder to make “magic mushroom tea.” This form of consumption is good for those who get an upset stomach from eating magic mushrooms or truffles whole, and it allows the user to consume a smaller quantity with the same effect.
What is the psilocybin content of Psilocybe Mexicana?
The psilocybin content of Psilocybe Mexicana ranges between 0.25 to 0.3 percent, placing this mushroom near the lower end of the psilocybin potency spectrum. Despite its low psilocybin concentration, this mushroom is capable of producing a wide variety of effects on the mind and body, from visual hallucinations to altered perception and spiritual journeys. This makes it ideal for users who are looking for a more mildly psychoactive experience.
In the past, Psilocybe Mexicana was a common fungus for ceremonial use in ancient North and Central America. In fact, stone artwork from the Pre-Columbian era depicts the ritualistic consumption of mushrooms (including Psilocybe mexicana) and reveals that these civilizations valued this substance for its ability to enhance spiritual connection and knowledge.
While this mushroom is still revered by modern shamans for its psychedelic properties, it is less popular than other psilocybin-containing species such as Psilocybe cubensis. It is possible that the low psilocybin concentration, along with its subtle and unpredictable trip profile, contributed to this mushroom’s lack of popularity in modern times. However, recent reports suggest that the psilocybin content of this mushroom has increased significantly over time. This may have contributed to its rising popularity in certain regions such as Europe and the Netherlands, where psilocybin-containing mushrooms and spores are widely available for cultivation.
As with other psilocybin-containing fungi, the psilocybin content in Psilocybe Mexicana can vary greatly depending on how the mushrooms are grown. This can make it difficult for experienced mushroom cultivators to accurately identify this fungus by sight alone. This is particularly true when dealing with sclerotia, which can be quite different in appearance from the mushrooms they contain. Sclerotia often have a yellowish tint and bruise blue when damaged.
Even so, skilled mushroom cultivators can grow this fungus with relative ease as long as they can accurately simulate the climate and nutrient conditions that it thrives in in nature. Psilocybe mexicana grows between May and October in the wild, but it can be cultivated year-round under controlled conditions. This mushroom is best consumed fresh, but it can also be dried and ground into a powder for culinary purposes.
How do I find Psilocybe Mexicana?
Psilocybe mexicana grows primarily in forest habitats, often close to oak trees (Arbutus). It also grows well in manure-rich grassland. Because of its affinities for these habitats, mycologist Paul Stamets dubbed it the “Mexican liberty cap.” It’s likely that the Aztecs used this mushroom species as early as 2,000 years ago, and they called it teonanacatl (Nahuatl: teo = god + nanacatl = flesh).
Like many other psychedelic mushrooms, Psilocybe mexicana produces sclerotia as well as mushrooms. These sclerotia are a form of storage, and they allow the mushroom to survive in poor growing conditions by releasing spores that can start new colonies in more favorable environments. Because of this, some home growers suggest that when cultivating this fungus it’s best to gather as much sclerotia as possible from different wild sources. They may then use these sclerotia as seeds to produce new colonies in their gardens.
The cultivation of psilocybin-containing mushrooms was popular among the indigenous peoples of Central America and Mexico. Evidence of this is found in stone carvings and statues, and there are numerous accounts of the ancient Mayans using various hallucinogenic plants and cacti to communicate with their gods. It is believed that the Mayans even regarded the psilocybin-containing liberty caps as sacred, and they are featured prominently in their art.
Mushroom stones were carved by the Mayans, who hoped to bring luck to their future endeavors with the help of these mystical creatures. These stone sculptures are now found throughout the Guatemalan highlands and central regions of Mexico. The Mayans used a number of different naturally-occurring psychedelics, and many pieces of artwork show them eating these mushrooms or holding them in their hands.
Mushrooms are a common delicacy in Huautla, where they are eaten fresh or dried. They are sold by locals in packages with one or two pairs of mushrooms wrapped in leaves, similar to a tamalito (by analogy with the Mexican corn dish tamal). Mushroom pickers avoid displaying their finds, as it is considered unlucky. In addition, some locals believe that prying eyes could cause the fungi to rot and lose their potency.
