Agarikon – Health and Spirituality in a Mushroom Fomitopsis officinalis, most commonly known as Agarikon or Quinine Conk, is a fungus that grows mainly on coniferous hosts. This hefty and bracket mushroom has fruiting bodies that become longer as they grow. It can be found worldwide and it is known on different names, including Agarikon, Quinine Conk, Eburiko, Brown Trunk Rot and Larch Bracket Mushroom. The uses of this mushroom have been recorded over 2000 years ago, when documentation proves that the Greek pharmacist Dioscorides found this fungus as being effective for treating Consumption, which is nowadays known as Tuberculosis. Additionally to its medical uses, Agarikon was also used by Shamans, as a key part of certain rituals. Image …show more content…
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fomitopsis_officinalis_483579.jpg Health uses of Agarikon There is documentation that shows Agarikon has been used over the years ny Europeans and Central Asian people, as treatment for certain ailments and infectious diseases.
Some of the most common uses of this fungus for health reasons included: - Coughing …show more content…
illnesses - Asthma - Infected wounds - Bleeding - Rheumatoid arthritis The most important active compound of Agarikon is Agaricin, also known as agaric acid. It is a white powder that is water-soluble and can be administered topically and orally. Many pharmaceutical companies synthetically produce Agaricin, which is an anti-inflammatory, anhidrotic and parasympatholytic agent. Uses for spirituality In North America, Agarikon was believed to have spiritual and supernatural powers and it was known as the “tree biscuits” or the “bread of ghosts”.
Shamans considered this mushroom as an important resource for some of their rituals. Additionally, Shamans also used Agarikon as a powder that they would apply to cure ailments that they considered to be caused by supernatural forces. Shamans used this fungus to carve various spiritual figures and also spirit catchers. The carved figures were usually hung from the ceiling to protect people during rituals that took place in special dance houses. Given the spiritual nature of this mushroom, it also served as a mystical element that was meant to accompany the Shaman in the afterlife. For this purpose, the sporophores of this mushroom were carved as jewelry and it was either painted, or coated in a protective substance, and then it was placed at the Shaman’s head at his grave site, as it was considered to play a key role as his “grave guardians”. Additionally to protecting the Shaman’s burial site, this mushroom was also meant to warn people that the site was occupied by spirits and thus they shouldn’t approach
it. From Spirituality to Medicinal Use Commonly used by Shamans for their rituals, Agarikon was also known for its heathy powers. With an extremely bitter taste, this mushroom was known for treating different ailments and infectious diseases.
During a visit to Mexico, Gordon Wasson, a mycologist, discovered the use of psilocybin mushroom in spiritual ceremonies by Indian tribes. Upon experiencing the spiritual and hallucinatory effects of the mushroom, Wasson returned to the area accompanied by an experienced mycologist, Roger Heim, who managed to cultivate the mushroom once in France and send samples of it to the scientist who had discovered lysergic acid, Albert Hoffman. From the mushrooms, Hoffman successfully isolated two compounds which he further named psilocybin and psilocin. Analogs of these compounds were further synthesized and were employed mainly for psychotherapeutic uses. Many tests on psilocybin were made at Harvard University in the early 1960’s. However, along with LSD, psilocybin became a scheduled substance in 1970, making it illegal. During this time, psilocybin mushrooms became a part of the psychedelic and hippy movement and were used for recreational and spiritual purposes. Research on psilocybin ended in the late 1980’s because of strict rules imposed by the government but recently scientist have started researching on this chemical once more.
Although farmers were aware of the fungus ergot, they did not know that ergot is the result of a mold that’s very toxic and fatal to humans. (Clark 2). They called it cockspurs, because the fact that ergot looks like black whole grains, they believed that it was just grains cooked by the sun and that they were completely harmless. (Clark 2). But they were wrong. Ergot contains alkaloids including lysergic acid isoergine (the main ingredient in LSD) so when ingested, the fungus begins to affect the central nervous system and can cause vasoconstriction. (Vogel 1 and Clark 3). It can lead to sudden death, limit fertility, and it damages the immune system making the body more susceptible to get other diseases because it’s too weak to fight off infection. (“5.1 Poisons of the Past/Ergotism.” 1). Symptoms caused by ergot are feelings of numbness, hallucinations, and feelings of suffoca...
the native cultural practices of the use of the pipe. Herb than was able to find true
In Cherokee medicine, it is believed that councils of animals created diseases in order to avenge the loss of their families and living spaces. The plants, being sympathetic to humans, decided to each furnish a cure for these diseases. It is believed that the spirit of the plant will tell a sick person which one to use to cure his illness.
Halloween is originated from Ireland, and Day of the Dead was started in Mexico. During Halloween, people usually have various types of candies. Kinds of candies include chocolate, caramels, sugar candies, gummy candies, and much more. On Day of the Dead, Calaveras and pan de los muertos is served, along with many other candies in shapes of coffins, skulls, and skeletons. The symbol for Halloween is the classic jack o’ lantern. Back in the Middle Ages, ritual harvest festival in Welsh, Irish and Gaelic cultures. They were used to guide trick or treaters through the night and keep way evil spirits. Not all the jack o’ lanterns were pumpkins. Some were made out of radishes or squash. The symbol Day of the Dead is the classic skull or skeleton. If you went to a Day of the Dead celebration, you would see happy skeletons on display practically everywhere across city streets. Another important symbol of the Day of the dead is the marigold flower. It is said that the flower draws back to souls of the dead and leads item to the homes of their families. Believe it or not, Halloween is a holiday that is nearly 1300 years old, and it originates from Welsh and Gaelic cultures. It was a holiday evolved from the Samhain, an ancient Celtic holiday. This was a time where the harvests were collected for the winter, and it was believed that since winter was approaching, it would allow the souls of the dead to breach tohe world of the living.
the story of the superstition from the spider in the candle to the rattle-snake skin and the hair-ball.
Almost all of the medications that we have today are due to the ancient greeks who were the first to use potions for healing and a wide variety of other reasons Herbs were used widely across the world but were especially used in greece. Many things from the greeks we can still find in our daily lives today. Ancient greek potions were one of the most important items in greek culture because they had an interesting mix of ingredients, were used for different reasons, and are the baseline of many of the medications we have today.
The Greek Minoans believed the snakes in the Goddesses hands represented protection; and the "renewal of life" since snakes shed their skin every so often, to reveal newer skin.
The elaborate sarcophagus is an indication of how important Etruscan funerary customs were to the Etruscan Elite and how they took careful preparations to ensure the deceased entered the afterlife in good standing. Although this piece may be stylized in appearance it still shows that the artist took care to incorporate local customs as well as worldly features in this sculpture.
A spiritual ritual would be performed while the ill received medicine. A spiritual ritual would be performed to rid the ill of bad spirits and cleanse the spirit. Native Americans believed that a person became ill when a bad spirit entered the body. It is the shaman’s job to try to purify the ill’s spirit. Every tribe across the nation has a shaman. A shaman or medicine man/woman would perform this ritual. A shaman uses the spiritual world to help heal the sick. Shaman were highly regarded as chiefs and tribal spiritual leaders. Shaman were often born into a family with many generations of shaman. Shamans who were not born into, they had visons that lead them to study medicine. Being the shaman was a full-time job. In return of their services to the tribe, the tribe would provide food, shelter, and any assistance needed to the shaman.
One plant with medical use from the Apiaceae plant family was the carrot. It was used to treat Jaundice. I find this interesting because it is a plant considered to be a common food. One would not think it was anything special since it is so commonly found. It may have been used to treat Jaundice because of its color, or maybe because people who ate plenty of carrots never had eye problems.
The first clinical trial of a novel therapy was conducted unintentionally by the Renaissance surgeon Ambroise Parè in 1537. He used a concoction of turpentine, rose oil and egg yolk to prevent the infection of battlefield wounds, noting that the new treatment was much more effective than the traditional formula. The first trial using properly randomized treatment and control groups was carried out in 1948 by the Medical Research Council, and involved the use of streptomycin to treat pulmonary tuberculosis. This trial also featured blind assessment (2).
-It is a very powerful symbol used for Protection by the practitioners. Also, many rituals, ceremonies or magickal work require evoking of the spirits and thus Pentacle is used.
...mary example of a plant that has been used throughout history for multiple purposes. It was initially a plant that was only of importance to the Native peoples of the Americas. What was once considered a plant that was only useful in tribal folklore and ritualistic practices, is now being considered very valuable in the modern world. Current inquiries and research into natural alternatives to the many chemicals utilized in the modern food and drug industries is shining a light on the effectiveness and the many potential uses of B. Orellana. Its uses have expanded from its original intended purposes to an array of purposes because of its valuable properties. Although at this current point, more research is needed on B. Orellana to enhance its effectiveness and successfully implement it into more foods and medicines, the possibilities this plant presents are promising.
Aconite is useful as an antidote to poising. Its root is analgesic, anodyne, antirheumatic, diaphoretic, diuretic, irritant and sedative. Aconite can be used for example, against fevers, inflammation and bronchitis. Aconite is a really important ingredient of Wolfsbane potion. This potion re...