Religious use of hallucinogenic fungi: A comparison between Siberian and Mesoamerican cultures
Karstenia January 1, 1992 Harri Nyberg 28 citations
The text compares the religious use of hallucinogenic fungi in Siberian cultures, focusing on the veneration of Amanita muscaria and other psychoactive mushrooms in traditional medicine and shamanic practices. It examines how these fungi were employed for spiritual and healing purposes, contrasting Siberian traditions with other cultural uses of psychedelics. The analysis highlights the role of alkaloids like muscimol and ibotenic acid in Amanita, and discusses chemical synthesis and chromatographic methods used to study these natural products. The work suggests that Siberian practices represent a distinct tradition of hallucinogen use, differing from psilocybin-based rituals in other regions.