Month: April 2019

Here in New Hampshire and the North East, the snow is finally gone and warm weather is on it’s way. With that being said mushrooms are finally starting to fruit, allowing for us to forage them and gaze upon them. If you find some mushrooms that you want to harvest, leave some to allow spores to be spread, giving you consistent mushrooms in that spot. One of the most prized mushrooms, the morel is finally starting to grow in the area.

Since it’s the beginning of the season you will most likely find them in open areas on slopes. Once the season progresses you will find them near a multitude of types of trees in the forest. Some may forage mushrooms for their own consumption, while others may sell theirs, making a profit. People may even just walk around to look at mushrooms, whatever it may be, happy hunting!

The toxin found in the Death Cap mushroom may be able to kill cancer cells. Researchers/scientists based in Germany took the toxin, known as a-amanitin and attached it to an antibody.

These antibodies allowed for the toxin to get into the body without being detected by the immune system. They tested this compound through mice with multiple different types cancer.  In 9/10 of the mice cancer cell growth was slowed and reduced.

This is amazing news hearing that this compound can basically kill cancer cells in mice, but can it work with humans? It would be a huge leap in medicine and science if the compound was regulated and safely tested on humans. If we were able to reach this equilibrium, many lives would be prolonged and even saved.

Source: https://www.the-scientist.com/the-nutshell/poisonous-shrooms-battle-cancer-41151

 

We all know death caps to be the most poisonous/toxic mushrooms in the world, at least that we know of.  The mushroom is known for being a European mushroom, but has seen to be spreading all around the world. The mushrooms have made their way to the United States and now even Australia.

There has been a sudden increase in poisonings in Australia since it’s appearance. They say they have seen the mushrooms since 2002, but cases have increased over the years as the mushrooms spreads more and more. Multiple people have died since 2002, making it a serious concern to officials.

It is quite amazing to see how a mushroom can travel all around the world and colonize. By now the mushrooms is seen as an invasive species and has become a real problem. Overall I don’t see it to be a huge deal, but also I do at the same time. Firstly anyone that is foraging for mushrooms and knows about mushrooms knows what a death cap is and the potential poisonous and lookalike mushrooms in their area. No one that doesn’t know this information should even consider picking and ingesting mushrooms; stick to your local supermarket or farmers market. On the second hand a lot of tourists can mix up this mushroom for a different species, and children don’t know better unless told so.  Overall the problem can be solved through educating the population.

Sources:

https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2019/04/wild-mushroom-warning-in-australia-after-poisoning-cases/

The psychedelic compound fond in magic mushrooms, known as psilocybin  has remained to be a very mysterious and unknown compound. Scientists would know much more if the ‘drugs’ weren’t highly illegal in the 50’s-70’s.  Lately more research is able to be done on the substances, and rules/regulations are better. Scientists can finally find out the long-term effects as well as short-term effects of psilocybin and the genetic makeup of the compound.

Many recent studies have been searching for potential impacts on the brain that could relieve mental health issues. Thus far benefits are seen in patients with PTSD and other mental health problems. At Imperial College London researchers gave a dozen people psilocybin in controlled amounts over 3 months. These people all had treatment-resistant depression, meaning normal drugs had no effect on them. But to their surprise the psilocybin showed positive impacts in these people as well.

These advancements in the study of this amazing compound may lead us to a brighter future. More ways to combat mental health problems is an amazing thing. So many people struggle on a daily basis, and for some nothing helps, but this could lead to new possibilities!

 

Source:

https://www.the-scientist.com/the-nutshell/magic-mushroom-compound-eases-depression-33524