Ethnomycology is the study of the historical uses and sociological impact of fungi, most specifically psychoactive mushrooms such as Amanita muscaria and those containing psilocybin, and can be considered a branch of both mycology and anthropology. The amateur researcher Richard Gordon Wasson rekindled interest in this field of study in the late '20's, inspiring later researchers such as James Arthur and Terence McKenna, whose book, Food of the Gods, is perhaps the best introduction to the subject. Binomial name Amanita muscaria (Linnaeus) Hook. ... Psilocybin (4-phosphoryloxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine) is a psychedelic alkaloid of the tryptamine family. ... Mycology (from the Greek mykes, meaning fungus) is the study of fungi, their genetic and biochemical properties, their taxonomy, and their use to humans as a source for medicinals (see penicillin) and food (beer, wine, cheese, edible mushrooms), as well as their dangers, such as poisoning or infection. ... Anthropology (from the Greek word άνθρωπος, human or person) consists of the study of humanity (see genus Homo). ... Richard Gordon Wasson (September 22, 1898 – December 23, 1986) was an author, amateur researcher and banker. ... Terence Kemp McKenna (November 16, 1946 – April 3, 2000) was a writer and philosopher. ...

Ethnomycology relies primarily on the study of cultural artifacts (such as cave paintings, sculptures and texts), this growing body of reference leading core proponents to hypothesise that rites and traditions based on the psychedelic experience were an integral part of many ancient cultures (Greek, South American, African, etc.) The word psychedelic is a neologism coined from the Greek words for mind, ψυχη (psyche), and manifest, δηλειν (delein). ...

While Wasson views historical mushroom use primarily as a facilitator for the 'shamanic' or 'spiritual' experiences core to these rites and traditions, McKenna takes this further, positing that the ingestion of psilocybin was perhaps primary in the formation of language and culture. There is indeed some research supporting the theory that psilocybin ingestion temporarily increases neurochemical activity in the language centers of the brain and, though this is hardly enough to substantiate McKenna's ambitious claim, it does indicate a need for more research into the uses of psychoactive plants and fungi in human history. Psilocybin (4-phosphoryloxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine) is a psychedelic alkaloid of the tryptamine family. ...

See also

• ethnobotany
• anthropology
• psychedelics
• mycology