Religious use of hallucinogenic fungi: A comparison between Siberian and Mesoamerican cultures
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Historical analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Veneration Hallucinogen Amanita Traditional medicine |
| Citations | 28 |
| Key points | Nyberg argues that although northern Eurasian and Mesoamerican cultures both used hallucinogenic mushrooms religiously, only Mesoamerican Psilocybe mushrooms received ritual veneration, while the Fly Agaric of northern Eurasia did not. Nyberg attributes this contrast to differences in the mushrooms' pharmacological and clinical effects and to broader cultural differences between the two regions. |
Abstract
NYBERG, H.1992: Religious use of hallucinogenic fungi: A comparison between Siberian and Mesoamerican cultures.-Karstenia32:71-80.The religious uses of hallucinogenic mushrooms in northern Eurasian and Mesoamerican cultures are compared.In northern Eurasia, some shamanistic cultures have used the Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria (L.) Pers.);Mesoamericans, mainly mushrooms of the genus Psilocybe (Fr.) Kummer.The hallucinogenic potency of the former is due to isoxazole compounds and of the latter, psilocybine-type compounds.Despite similarities between ihe uses in these two cultural areas, there are also marked differences: the Fly Agaric did not seem to have been an object of religious, ritual veneration in northern Eurasia, whereas this was true for the Psilocybe mushrooms in Mesoamerica.This is suggested to be a result of the difference between these two mushroom groups in their pharmacological and clinical effects on man and also a result of vast cultural differences between the areas in question.The cultural and religious differences between northern Eurasian and Mesoamerican use of hallucinogenic fungi and the significance of these differences are discussed.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on psilocybin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| REBUS and the Anarchic Brain: Toward a Unified Model of the Brain Action of Psychedelics | 2019 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Psychedelics as Medicines: An Emerging New Paradigm General population | 2016 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Theorizing that Psychedelic Assisted Therapy May Play a Role in the Treatment of Trauma-Induced Personality Disorders. | 2024 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| What Geometric Visual Hallucinations Tell Us about the Visual Cortex | 2002 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Psilocybin-assisted therapy of major depressive disorder using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as a therapeutic frame | 2020 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cited by 12
- Amanita muscaria: chemistry, biology, toxicology, and ethnomycology. Mycological research February 1, 2003
- Horizontal gene cluster transfer increased hallucinogenic mushroom diversity Evolution Letters February 27, 2018
- Amanita muscaria: Ecology, Chemistry, Myths Encyclopedia September 2, 2021
- Do Differences in Chemical Composition of Stem and Cap of Amanita muscaria Fruiting Bodies Correlate with Topsoil Type? PLoS One December 1, 2014
- Classification schemes of altered states of consciousness. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews August 1, 2025
and 7 more in the library