A Vibrant Celebration of Science, Art, and Spirituality
This month, Mexico City embraced nature and knowledge during the Forest Festival, a vibrant celebration where science, art, and spirituality intertwined beneath the canopies of Chapultepec’s trees. Amidst talks, workshops, concerts, and sensory experiences, a clear and strong voice emerged: that of the Mexican Fungi Council, a non-profit organization—of which I am a board member—dedicated to reconnecting Mexico with one of its oldest and most potent treasures.
Beyond Culinary Ingredients and Ancestral Rituals
More than a simple exhibition, the Mexican Fungi Council transformed its participation into an opportunity to showcase that mushrooms are not merely culinary ingredients or elements of ancient rituals, but fundamental organisms for human and planetary health. Through panels, demonstrations, and dialogues, we shared with the audience their medicinal, ecological, cultural, and therapeutic potential in all forms: edible, adaptogenic, and psychoactive.
Promoting Knowledge, Conservation, and Valorization
Our mission is to foster knowledge, conservation, and valorization of mushrooms in Mexico, working alongside communities, scientists, authorities, and civil society. From micoremediation (using mushrooms to clean soils and waters) to implementing psilocybin-assisted therapies under medical supervision, we strive to demonstrate that mushrooms are not a fad but an ancient tool with modern, urgent, and necessary applications.
Three Key Fungal Revolutions
Speaking of mushrooms opens the door to a world operating beneath the surface, as well as within our cells, kitchens, therapies, and ecosystems. Here, we explore three key types of mushrooms and their impact:
1. Medicinal and Functional Mushrooms
Mushrooms like reishi, chaga, cordyceps, and melena de león have been used for centuries in oriental traditions and are now being validated by modern science. Recent studies have shown that these mushrooms can:
- Modulate the immune system
- Improve cognitive function and memory
- Reduce chronic inflammation
- Decrease fatigue
- Promote neuronal regeneration
As adaptogens, they help the body respond to physical and emotional stress, becoming increasingly common in supplements, coffees, tonics, and capsules.
2. Edible and Gastronomic Mushrooms
From huitlacoche to shiitake, edible mushrooms are not only an essential part of our culinary culture but also provide proteins, fiber, antioxidants, and bioactive compounds. The Council promotes their use in both high-end cuisine and daily meals, aiming to strengthen food sovereignty and regenerative agriculture models.
3. Psychoactive and Therapeutic Mushrooms
Mushrooms containing psilocybin, like the sacred mushrooms of the Mazatecs, are experiencing a scientific and cultural renaissance. Clinical studies conducted at universities like Johns Hopkins and the University of Zurich have demonstrated their effectiveness in:
- Reducing treatment-resistant symptoms of depression and anxiety
- Treating addictions such as alcoholism and smoking
- Strengthening self-connection, spirituality, and purpose
In Mexico, their traditional use in ceremonial contexts continues to be safeguarded by some indigenous communities, while the Council advocates for an ethical and safe legal framework for their therapeutic use in clinical settings with supervision.
Education, Community, and Regeneration
During the festival, we presented workshops on mushroom cultivation, sensory experiences exploring the mycelial connection with the human body, and dialogue spaces on the regulation and ethics of psychoactive mushroom use. We also initiated an essential conversation with representatives from indigenous communities, guardians of mycological knowledge.
One of the Council’s pillars is community empowerment, honoring these ancestral wisdoms while promoting economic development models based on ethical harvesting, habitat conservation, and fair commerce.
The Future is Mycelial
The success of the Forest Festival clearly showed that citizens are eager for proposals integrating science, spirituality, and sustainability. And mushrooms, though discreetly powerful, embody this convergence precisely. Their underground network—invisible yet interconnected—reminds us that as a society, we too must interconnect to heal, share, and grow together in community.
From the Mexican Fungi Council, we thank the Forest Festival for providing a platform to share our vision. Today, more than ever, mushrooms are speaking… and we are finally listening.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the Mexican Fungi Council? The Mexican Fungi Council is a non-profit organization dedicated to reconnecting Mexico with its ancient and powerful fungal treasures, promoting knowledge, conservation, and valorization of mushrooms.
- What are the different types of mushrooms discussed? The article highlights medicinal and functional mushrooms, edible and gastronomic mushrooms, and psychoactive and therapeutic mushrooms.
- What are the benefits of medicinal and functional mushrooms? These mushrooms can modulate the immune system, improve cognitive function and memory, reduce chronic inflammation, decrease fatigue, and promote neuronal regeneration.
- How are edible mushrooms important in Mexican culture? Edible mushrooms like huitlacoche and shiitake are essential to Mexican culinary culture, providing proteins, fiber, antioxidants, and bioactive compounds. The Council promotes their use in both high-end cuisine and daily meals.
- What is the significance of psychoactive mushrooms in Mexico? Psychoactive mushrooms containing psilocybin, like the sacred mushrooms of the Mazatecs, are experiencing a scientific and cultural renaissance. Their traditional use in ceremonial contexts is safeguarded by some indigenous communities, while the Council advocates for a legal framework for their therapeutic use.
