Usos recreativos, medicinales y etnobotánicos de hongos alucinógenos: una revisión
Érika A. Chillogallo–torres, Marcos D. Calle‐morán, Karen P. Cando–andrade, Álex R. Morocho-Malla, E. Noemí Luzuriaga-Rodríguez
Multidisciplinary Collaborative Journal July 1, 2026 DOI: 10.70881/mcj/v4/n3/164 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Literature review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 60 |
| Population | Scientific papers in Spanish and English on hallucinogenic mushrooms |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Ethnobotany Hallucinogen Recreational drug Traditional medicine Tourism Ethnology |
| Key findings | Hallucinogenic mushrooms have recreational, medicinal, and ethnobotanical uses across cultures, with psilocybin showing therapeutic potential for several mental health conditions. |
Abstract
This research involved a literature review on the recreational, Western medicinal and ethnobotanical uses of hallucinogenic mushrooms. Search engines such as PubMed and Google Scholar, among others, and Boolean operators were used. A total of 60 scientific papers in both Spanish and English were analyzed. Since the 11th century, Japan has recorded the consumption of the butterfly mushroom, Panaeolus papilionaceus, known for its hallucinogenic effects. In Mexico, the water baby mushroom, Psilocybe aztecorum, is commercially available, demonstrating its recreational use. In the United States, variability in the levels of alkaloid substances such as psilocybin and psilocin, among others, affects the recreational experience. The fly agaric mushroom, Amanita muscaria, although risky, is also used recreationally. In Ecuador, the use of the North American variegated mushroom, Panaeolus antillanum, has been reported in the Galapagos Islands. Psilocybin shows benefits in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, addictions, and has anti-inflammatory effects. Furthermore, the ritual use of hallucinogenic mushrooms in Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, Asia, and other countries reinforces their historical and cultural significance. These findings highlight not only its cultural and recreational value, but also its capacity to offer new perspectives in psychological and pharmacological medicine
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on psilocybin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. General population | 2019 | Integrative review | |
| The pharmacology of psilocybin | 2002 | Review | |
| Serotonin research: contributions to understanding psychoses | 2008 | Review | |
| Psychedelics, Meditation, and Self-Consciousness | 2018 | Review | |
| The abuse potential of medical psilocybin according to the 8 factors of the Controlled Substances Act | 2018 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cites 36
- Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance Psychopharmacology July 7, 2006
- Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression New England Journal of Medicine April 14, 2021
- Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder JAMA Psychiatry November 4, 2020
- Pilot Study of Psilocybin Treatment for Anxiety in Patients With Advanced-Stage Cancer Archives of General Psychiatry September 7, 2010
and 31 more in the library