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Mushrooms: Poisons and panaceas
B A mycophile’s treat Mushrooms:
Poisons and
Panaceas by DenisR.
Benpmin, W. H. Freeman and Corrp?ny. 1995. f54.95 hbk, f24.95 pbk (xxiv + 422 pages) ISBN 0 7167 2MH) 9 (hbk) 0 7167 2649 1 (pbk)
Mushrooms are very spe&L to the boosviunr, they may provide a gastro““tic treat second to “one; the chemist is fascinated by the exotic natural products that they produce; and the pharmacologist must explain their psychedelic or toxic properties. Huma”cultores havealways experimented with mushrwms and many believe that the soma of the ancient Vedic culture (circa 800 BC) may have bee” Amnnitn rnnsmria. Central and South American lndians certainlv used Psilocvbe swcies as adjuncts tomagicc&ligio& cewmw nies. Their nutitional value was often overlooked especially by the ‘mycophobic’ Anglo-Saxons, though the Russians and peoples of South East Asia have apparently always bee” mushroom lovers. But experimat&ion wi+% mushrooms has always been fraught with danger. and this hookcombinesa fatinatbx account of the historical uses 07 mushrooms with a comprehensive description of the toxic effects of
certain species. The first part of the book provides a” analysis of the “se of mushrooms by different cultures as, for example, poisons, panaceas and medicines. It also includes a superb intmluction to the biology of mushrooms and advie for those who wish to identify andcollect edibles+es.The se”o”s information is int;rspersed with anecdotes, quotations and perwnal experiences of the author. Certain mushrooms of the Bolehrs species were so favoured in Roman times that special silver vessels, boletaria. were reserved for their preparation. Hence the epigram from Martial
0
0
K
-Ii
nuaUy leads to liver failure and ieaath; renal failure caused by orel1a”ine from Cortittaritrr Spades; the ‘Antabuse’ effect caused by coptine; Elizabethan herbalist, was less the effects of hydmzines from enthusiastic and stated in his ilerl& Gyrmnitrn speziez.; the inebriation ‘Few mushrcans are good to be eaten caused by ib.xe”ic acid and mus and most do s”ffo& and strangle nmol; and the hallucinations pm the ezter.’ All of this make both dxed by tryptamine derivatives informative and fascinating reading. from Psilqbe and Panueolns species. The second part is concerned with Each chapter is mmprehensive and the diagnosis of mushroom poisoncontains historical reports, diagnosis, ing and, in particular. differentiation treahnent and prognosis, and a full between this condition and poisonxm”“t of the phar”laCoigy and ing resulting from other causes. A toxicology of the active comshort section. printed on grey paper. wmds involved. There is also a will be especially useful to staff short sectian with important chemin cas”alty/emerge”cy deparhnents ical stNctures. since it provides key information for This is a” all-encompassing bwk rapid diagnosis, identificatinn 01 andwillco”tainMmethingforeve~ mushroom species a”3 first-lint one whether they am a professional treabnent. This is probably the least mycologist, physician, phammcolinteresting part of the book for the ogist or simply an amateur chef whc cawal reaher, but essennal reading wish- to enrich his or her menu without poisoning the recipients. far physicians. The final part deals with the vatiJ.?#am ous types of poiwning syndromes oepa”ment of llrgamc Chemisny that areawxiated with mushrooms. “niversiw o‘fteading, Whiteknights These include: amatoxl” poisoning, PO Box 221. which is by far the most serious and UK R366*0 ~boutacrokingpot: ‘AlthoughBoleh nave eive” me w noble a name.
I am
Reading
people 6” the USA) who look fo expert opinion abaut maw things $iC”&~~&II@. With this in mind, the book i aimedattheintelligentlaypelsonan: dixussesanextensiverngeoftopio Understanding Medications: The”? is Covemge, in a NrpriSini What the Label Doesn’t Tell amoont of detail for such a slim vol You “me, of much of mainstream phat mamlogy, therapeutics and m& hv Alrrfn B!w
Mastering medicines
I
Poisons and
Panaceas by DenisR.
Benpmin, W. H. Freeman and Corrp?ny. 1995. f54.95 hbk, f24.95 pbk (xxiv + 422 pages) ISBN 0 7167 2MH) 9 (hbk) 0 7167 2649 1 (pbk)
Mushrooms are very spe&L to the boosviunr, they may provide a gastro““tic treat second to “one; the chemist is fascinated by the exotic natural products that they produce; and the pharmacologist must explain their psychedelic or toxic properties. Huma”cultores havealways experimented with mushrwms and many believe that the soma of the ancient Vedic culture (circa 800 BC) may have bee” Amnnitn rnnsmria. Central and South American lndians certainlv used Psilocvbe swcies as adjuncts tomagicc&ligio& cewmw nies. Their nutitional value was often overlooked especially by the ‘mycophobic’ Anglo-Saxons, though the Russians and peoples of South East Asia have apparently always bee” mushroom lovers. But experimat&ion wi+% mushrooms has always been fraught with danger. and this hookcombinesa fatinatbx account of the historical uses 07 mushrooms with a comprehensive description of the toxic effects of
certain species. The first part of the book provides a” analysis of the “se of mushrooms by different cultures as, for example, poisons, panaceas and medicines. It also includes a superb intmluction to the biology of mushrooms and advie for those who wish to identify andcollect edibles+es.The se”o”s information is int;rspersed with anecdotes, quotations and perwnal experiences of the author. Certain mushrooms of the Bolehrs species were so favoured in Roman times that special silver vessels, boletaria. were reserved for their preparation. Hence the epigram from Martial
0
0
K
-Ii
nuaUy leads to liver failure and ieaath; renal failure caused by orel1a”ine from Cortittaritrr Spades; the ‘Antabuse’ effect caused by coptine; Elizabethan herbalist, was less the effects of hydmzines from enthusiastic and stated in his ilerl& Gyrmnitrn speziez.; the inebriation ‘Few mushrcans are good to be eaten caused by ib.xe”ic acid and mus and most do s”ffo& and strangle nmol; and the hallucinations pm the ezter.’ All of this make both dxed by tryptamine derivatives informative and fascinating reading. from Psilqbe and Panueolns species. The second part is concerned with Each chapter is mmprehensive and the diagnosis of mushroom poisoncontains historical reports, diagnosis, ing and, in particular. differentiation treahnent and prognosis, and a full between this condition and poisonxm”“t of the phar”laCoigy and ing resulting from other causes. A toxicology of the active comshort section. printed on grey paper. wmds involved. There is also a will be especially useful to staff short sectian with important chemin cas”alty/emerge”cy deparhnents ical stNctures. since it provides key information for This is a” all-encompassing bwk rapid diagnosis, identificatinn 01 andwillco”tainMmethingforeve~ mushroom species a”3 first-lint one whether they am a professional treabnent. This is probably the least mycologist, physician, phammcolinteresting part of the book for the ogist or simply an amateur chef whc cawal reaher, but essennal reading wish- to enrich his or her menu without poisoning the recipients. far physicians. The final part deals with the vatiJ.?#am ous types of poiwning syndromes oepa”ment of llrgamc Chemisny that areawxiated with mushrooms. “niversiw o‘fteading, Whiteknights These include: amatoxl” poisoning, PO Box 221. which is by far the most serious and UK R366*0 ~boutacrokingpot: ‘AlthoughBoleh nave eive” me w noble a name.
I am
Reading
people 6” the USA) who look fo expert opinion abaut maw things $iC”&~~&II@. With this in mind, the book i aimedattheintelligentlaypelsonan: dixussesanextensiverngeoftopio Understanding Medications: The”? is Covemge, in a NrpriSini What the Label Doesn’t Tell amoont of detail for such a slim vol You “me, of much of mainstream phat mamlogy, therapeutics and m& hv Alrrfn B!w
Mastering medicines
I