Human use Mushroom

1 human use

1.1 edible mushrooms
1.2 toxic mushrooms
1.3 psychoactive mushrooms
1.4 medicinal properties
1.5 other uses

human use

edible mushrooms


the agaricus bisporus, 1 of cultivated , popular mushrooms in world



culinary mushrooms available in wide diversity of shapes , colors @ market stand @ san francisco ferry building

mushrooms used extensively in cooking, in many cuisines (notably chinese, korean, european, , japanese). though neither meat nor vegetable, mushrooms known meat of vegetable world.

most mushrooms sold in supermarkets have been commercially grown on mushroom farms. popular of these, agaricus bisporus, considered safe people eat because grown in controlled, sterilized environments. several varieties of a. bisporus grown commercially, including whites, crimini, , portobello. other cultivated species available @ many grocers include hericium erinaceus, shiitake, maitake (hen-of-the-woods), pleurotus, , enoki. in recent years, increasing affluence in developing countries has led considerable growth in interest in mushroom cultivation, seen potentially important economic activity small farmers.

china major edible mushroom producer. country produces half of cultivated mushrooms, , around 2.7 kilograms (6.0 lb) of mushrooms consumed per person per year on billion people. in 2014, poland world s largest mushroom exporter, reporting estimated 194,000 tonnes (191,000 long tons; 214,000 short tons) annually.

separating edible poisonous species requires meticulous attention detail; there no single trait toxic mushrooms can identified, nor 1 edible mushrooms can identified. people collect mushrooms consumption known mycophagists, , act of collecting them such known mushroom hunting, or mushrooming . edible mushrooms may produce allergic reactions in susceptible individuals, mild asthmatic response severe anaphylactic shock. cultivated a. bisporus contains small amounts of hydrazines, abundant of agaritine (a mycotoxin , carcinogen). however, hydrazines destroyed moderate heat when cooking.

a number of species of mushrooms poisonous; although resemble edible species, consuming them fatal. eating mushrooms gathered in wild risky , should undertaken individuals knowledgeable in mushroom identification. common best practice wild mushroom pickers focus on collecting small number of visually distinctive, edible mushroom species cannot confused poisonous varieties.

toxic mushrooms


young amanita phalloides, death cap mushrooms

many mushroom species produce secondary metabolites can toxic, mind-altering, antibiotic, antiviral, or bioluminescent. although there small number of deadly species, several others can cause particularly severe , unpleasant symptoms. toxicity plays role in protecting function of basidiocarp: mycelium has expended considerable energy , protoplasmic material develop structure efficiently distribute spores. 1 defense against consumption , premature destruction evolution of chemicals render mushroom inedible, either causing consumer vomit meal (see emetics), or learn avoid consumption altogether. in addition, due propensity of mushrooms absorb heavy metals, including radioactive, european mushrooms may, date, include toxicity 1986 chernobyl disaster , continue studied.

psychoactive mushrooms

psilocybe zapotecorum, hallucinogenic mushroom

mushrooms psychoactive properties have long played role in various native medicine traditions in cultures around world. have been used sacrament in rituals aimed @ mental , physical healing, , facilitate visionary states. 1 such ritual velada ceremony. practitioner of traditional mushroom use shaman or curandera (priest-healer).

psilocybin mushrooms possess psychedelic properties. commonly known magic mushrooms or shrooms , openly available in smart shops in many parts of world, or on black market in countries have outlawed sale. psilocybin mushrooms have been reported facilitating profound , life-changing insights described mystical experiences. recent scientific work has supported these claims, long-lasting effects of such induced spiritual experiences.

there on 100 psychoactive species of psilocybe genus mushrooms native regions around world.

psilocybin, naturally occurring chemical in psychedelic mushrooms such psilocybe cubensis, being studied ability people suffering psychological disorders, such obsessive–compulsive disorder. minute amounts have been reported stop cluster , migraine headaches. double-blind study, done johns hopkins hospital, showed psychedelic mushrooms provide people experience substantial personal meaning , spiritual significance. in study, 1 third of subjects reported ingestion of psychedelic mushrooms single spiritually significant event of lives. on two-thirds reported among 5 meaningful , spiritually significant events. on other hand, one-third of subjects reported extreme anxiety. however, anxiety went away after short period of time. psilocybin mushrooms have shown successful in treating addiction, alcohol , cigarettes.

a few species in amanita genus, recognizably a. muscaria, a. pantherina, among others, contain psychoactive compound muscimol. muscimol-containing chemotaxonomic group of amanitas contains no amatoxins or phallotoxins, , such not hepatoxic, though if not cured non-lethally neurotoxic due presence of ibotenic acid. amanita intoxication similar z-drugs in includes cns depressant , sedative-hypnotic effects, dissociation , delirium in high doses.

medicinal properties


ganoderma lingzhi

some mushrooms used or studied possible treatments diseases, particularly extracts, including polysaccharides, glycoproteins , proteoglycans. in countries, extracts of polysaccharide-k, schizophyllan, polysaccharide peptide, or lentinan government-registered adjuvant cancer therapies, though clinical evidence of efficacy in humans has not been confirmed.

historically in traditional chinese medicine, mushrooms believed have medicinal value, although there no evidence such uses.

other uses

a tinder fungus, fomes fomentarius

mushrooms can used dyeing wool , other natural fibers. chromophores of mushroom dyes organic compounds , produce strong , vivid colors, , colors of spectrum can achieved mushroom dyes. before invention of synthetic dyes, mushrooms source of many textile dyes.

some fungi, types of polypores loosely called mushrooms, have been used fire starters (known tinder fungi).

mushrooms , other fungi play role in development of new biological remediation techniques (e.g., using mycorrhizae spur plant growth) , filtration technologies (e.g. using fungi lower bacterial levels in contaminated water).