Research Keyword: ethnobotany

Corrigendum: Ayahuasca-induced personal death experiences: prevalence, characteristics, and impact on attitudes toward death, life, and the environment

This article corrects errors in a research study about ayahuasca, a traditional plant medicine. The study examined how experiences with ayahuasca that involve confronting death affect people’s attitudes about mortality, the environment, and life fulfillment. The corrections clarify how often participants used ayahuasca and adjust how the data was visualized in graphs, but the main findings about ayahuasca’s effects remain unchanged.

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“Plants of the Gods” and their hallucinogenic powers in neuropharmacology — A review of two books

This review examines two books about plants that have been used in religious and healing rituals across many cultures for their mind-altering properties. The author verifies that the hallucinogenic plants described in Carlos Castaneda’s popular books about a Yaqui sorcerer are accurately portrayed pharmacologically. The review explains how different sacred plants like peyote, certain mushrooms, and nightshade varieties affect the brain through various chemical pathways, while noting their dangers when misused.

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Psychedelics: From Cave Art to 21st-Century Medicine for Addiction

This comprehensive review examines how psychedelic substances, from magic mushrooms to LSD, are being studied as treatments for addiction. After decades of restriction, researchers are rediscovering what indigenous cultures have known for thousands of years: these substances can help people overcome alcohol, drug, and tobacco addiction. The research shows promising results, particularly when combined with therapy, with abstinence rates significantly higher than traditional treatments.

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Andorran ethnomycology: culinary uses and beyond

This research documents how people in Andorra traditionally use wild mushrooms for food and medicine. Researchers interviewed 131 older residents and found 50 different types of mushrooms being used, with over 150 local names for them. Most uses were for cooking (97%), with mushrooms being dried, pickled, or frozen. The study identified several mushrooms that might be valuable for future nutritional research and product development.

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The ethnomycological knowledge of Karajá indigenous people from Bananal Island, Brazil

Researchers studied how the Karajá indigenous people of Brazil understand and use fungi in their daily lives. While the Karajá don’t eat mushrooms as food, they recognize various fungi in their environment and use them for medicine, decorations in festivals, and childhood play. The study found that the Karajá have a neutral to slightly positive view of fungi, neither strongly liking nor disliking them, and their knowledge is passed down through families from childhood.

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