🌊 A tidal wave of mutant mushrooms

Hey there, shroomers 🍄

Happy Friday! Here’s what we found while foraging ‘round the mushroom world this week…

Eye candy 👀

Cracking the enigma 🕵️‍♂️ Doma Nunzio of Magic Myco isolated unique blob mutations from a flush of Tidal Wave-variety Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms. The brain-like blobs soon became nicknamed “enigma” mutations — and now more cultivators are finding success replicating the bizarre mutations.

Growing gourmet 🍲

So long, sawdust 🌱 New research found that wheat straw (supplemented with 20% wheat bran by weight) is the most effective substrate for shiitake mushrooms.

Got shiitake? Let’s cook! 🍽 Homegrown shrooms or not, check out this raw vegan pho recipe that uses shiitake instead of meat. Prep work is super simple on this one!

Psychedelic news 🤯

Shroom reform 📜 Thailand’s Public Health Minister, Cholnan Srikaew, signed a directive that allows psilocybin use for medical treatment and research.

How mainstream is too mainstream? ⚠ Shaman and public speaker Sylvia Benito raised concerns about how “ketamine bro culture” can trivialize and detract from the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. (More) I’m reminded of when investor and psychedelic philanthropist Carey Turnbull highlighted the risk of natural medicines being corporatized by pharma’s frantic efforts to patent psychedelics … and even to reformulate the psychedelic experience. (More)

More than a trip sitter 🤝 Clinician-patient bond may be the most important factor in having an insightful experience during psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Research roundup

Flexible 🧠 A first-of-its-kind trial found that psilocybin therapy positively impacts psychological flexibility — how one copes with changing circumstances — which plays a key role in using psilocybin to combat depression.

Shrooms vs. SSRIs 💊 Psilocybin has been shown to help treat Major Depressive Disorder, but unlike typical SSRI treatments like escitalopram, psilocybin can significantly improve sexual satisfaction.

Cordyceps for endurance 🚣‍♀️ In a Stetson University study, Cordyceps militaris mushrooms improved the endurance performance of NCAA rowers by significantly reducing how much oxygen their muscles consumed during exercise.

Across the shroomer-verse 🌌

Suntanned shrooms 😎 Research suggests eating UV-exposed mushrooms could balance out Vitamin D deficiencies. Just 100 grams of ultraviolet-grown mushrooms can provide over 100% of the daily recommended vitamin D intake!

Functional mushrooms for epilepsy 🏄‍♀️ Check out shroomer’s exclusive interview with Lily’s Lighthouse Founder Sarah-Kate Boylan, who used functional mushrooms to help her daughter Lily-Kate’s treatment-resistant epilepsy.