A stunning lecture on mushrooms as medicine, by Paul Stamets

I ate my first wild edible mushroom a few days ago. Chicken of the Woods, dipped in egg and flour and fried. It was tasty. I took the smallest one to carefully check for ID. You should also check for the type of tree it grew on in case of poisonous tree such as yew or conifers, generally. I went back a few days later ... they were all taken.
 
I used to hunt morel mushrooms but gave it up because of the deer ticks which are out in force in the springtime. I have heard that the Native Americans for the most part did not eat mushrooms because of the poisonous ones.
 
Deer ticks are spreading here quite quickly for the last few years. I've got both repellents and 30% DEET product for shoes and clothing and use elastics to seal off the cuffs. Speaking of Pests of the Woods, for me something interesting has occurred...I no longer get much reaction to mosquito bites. Mid-June and I haven't had even one itchy swollen mosquito bite even though I have been bitten. I've been eating carnivore diet, the only change I can think of.
 
I used to hunt morel mushrooms but gave it up because of the deer ticks which are out in force in the springtime. I have heard that the Native Americans for the most part did not eat mushrooms because of the poisonous ones.
I can't remember seeing any morels, but then, I never hunted for them - never paid much attention to wild mushrooms before. I'm looking for them now, but they are far less easy to spot than other varieties I find.
 
Michael Pollan has written a chapter in one of latest books on Stamets…and the whole book on the mental health benefits of psilocybin and mescaline. How to Change your Mind might be the title though anything by him is illuminating…try The Botany of Desire for one
 
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