Support the PsiloSoma indipendent research and divulgation project

Hello everyone, I'm Dr. Naturalist Fabio Mao Valletta. I'm the mentor, research director, coordinator and promoter of the Traveling Hemp Museum Farro&Valletta, as well as, of the PsiloSoma research and divulgation project, that aims to contribute to fulfill the lack of knowledge of the Psilocybe genus and the so called “magic mushrooms” species. Since 2005, I've been conducting independent research with a naturalistic, ethnobotanical and mycological approach observing and studying environments, ecosystems and related human cultures in the three continents around the Mediterranean region and the rest of the globe.

Our planet is rich in wild psycoactive mushrooms specimens, findings, datas and materials that merit further ethnomycological, taxonomic, biogeographical and biochemical studies as well as possible medicinal/pharmaceutical and bio-remedial applications. Thanks to self-supported researches, and by the contributions of collaborators and donors, I'm investigating, sampling and mapping the global psychoactive fungal diversity, local strains, distribution, biocompounds, as well the ethnomycological uses knowed or witnessed in artefacts, cultures and mythologies of the past and current civilizations. The first research related to these studies has recently been published ( https://doi.org/10.6093/2724-4393/10411) and I am editing other scientific publications about Italian, Spanish and Portuguese entheogenic mushroom distribution and uses. Currently the observed specimens are shared into the platform “Inaturalist” within the “psilosoma project” and I am carrying out exploring mission to observe and to sample specimens to study in herbarium collections about the Balkan indolic forests and mountains. I am using a car, as moving lab with few equipment and materials to be able to carry out some of the goals of the "PsiloSoma project".

I wish that this fundraising campaign will contribute to achieve and boost further interesting results and publications, as well, to build up a more equipped moving lab and a working team with others micophyles and professionals, so that, while realizing observations, collecting and examining samples, we can perform other exploring missions, chemical analysis and divulge some interesting data, such as videos, pictures, documents, maps, trails, bivouacs, and events.

To concrete supporters and donors, I can offer prizes, rewards, services and other benefits to be determined on a case-by-case basis according to availability; for example I can offer for donations up: 50€ little gadget as wild shrooms cards or poster, natural medical mushrooms tinctures and products; up 100€ wild mediterranean psilocybin mushroom spore print ( Psilocybe serbica or other taxa according to availability) or services realization as 30min. online thematic counseling or lesson (about psilocybin mushrooms, wild harvest collection and recognition of psychotropic mushrooms; history and development of ethnomycology; Amanita muscaria and other “magic mushrooms''; introduction to wild shrooms in your country; introduction to the benefits and development to entheogenic therapies with mushrooms; entheogenic therapy session and setting; introduction to medical mushrooms and preparation of basic extracts; introduction to mushroom growing; non-sterile domestic cultivation of beneficial mushrooms; outdoor growing; introduction to domestic bioremediation through mushrooms; mushroom composting, ...); up 200€ 60min. online counseling or lesson; up 500€ 180min. online counseling, lessons or workshop; up 1000€ conferences and other available services determined on a case-by-case basis according to availability.

Thank you and Mush love Dr. Fabio Mao Valletta

#shroom #psilocybin #mushrooms #research #naturalmao #psilocybe #PsiloSoma project

“PsiloSoma project”, an indipendent research and divulgation project, by Dr. Fabio Mao Valletta 11/11/2023

Introduction

It is well reported that psilocybin mushrooms are plausibly one of the psychoactive substances that humans have been using since the Palaeolithic around the world; to show that we have a large number of findings, studies and related interpretations of elements and data in rock art, petroglyphs, archaeological documentation and findings, mushroom trees, mushroom-stones, tales and mythology associated with psychotropic mushrooms. During the last few years, a growing number of studies and data report that wild psychoactive mushroom specimens are much more widespread than we knew, potentially representing an abundant, free and natural renovable source of useful compounds with potential applications in well being, medicine, mycorestoration and agroforestry. Different studies, mostly focused on the beneficial mushrooms tryptamines, are showing that they can be useful tools with the potential in treating countless mental health ailments, such as severe treatment-resistant depression, substance abuse disorders and addictions, anxiety, anorexia nervosa and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), cluster headaches. Psilocybin and psilocin are the two main hallucinogenic compounds of the “magic mushrooms'', they are DMT molecules with something extra at position 4 and they act as agonists or partial agonists at 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)2A subtype receptors. Some Psilocybin mushroom species and strains have been cultivated in patches around the world for more than 20 years for consumption as psychedelics or sacramental tools and their use is raising interest among people all around. C onsiderable physiological variability between samples and individuals that can influence dose-response and toxicological profile has been reported suggesting the need to establish more detailed studies to realize a proper treatment protocol and the better efficiency of controlled and assisted treatments with synthetic psilocin. Still little is known about psilocybin fungi chemistry, ecological interactions and potential uses; indeed, notwithstanding the already available large body of literature on this subject, a lot needs to be verified, supported and upgraded.

These species may contain other useful compounds, including toxins, with potencial phytochemical cytotoxicity, antioxidant and anti-Inflammatory effects, consequently its required to perform further chemical analyses and studies on the improvement of identification criteria.

The risk of misidentification with other taxa (some of which are potentially poisons or toxic) that share the same habitat and fruiting season, makes it necessary to educate about the taxa characters, the ecological interactions and potential uses, by this mycological investigation and divulgation too.

The project will develop adapting to the resources, permissions and suitable cooperations. I will try to establish short, medium and long time cooperations with several entities and professionals like Web operator/moderator, video makers, mycologists, carriers, nature guides, editorials, lawyers, accountants, associations.

Funding will be used to reach the following aims too

• Evaluate and explore the worldwide distribution, uses and effects of psychoactive fungi, as sacramental tools, as well for their potential therapeutic bioremediative and recreational uses.
• Harvest, conserve samples, spore prints and mycelial culture of magic mushrooms distributed around the world to share with interested herbariums, mycotecques, germplasm banks, universities, mycologists, other researchers, companies and supporters entities.
• Realize preliminary studies about taxonomy, chemistry and when possible the analysis and isolation of biocompounds, their properties, toxic effects on the humans and psychic symptoms of intoxication.
• Support the knowledge, corology and of wild magic mushrooms, with macrosopic and microscopic mushroom taxon identification.
• Joint research initiatives, knowledge centres and data portals, cooperating and sharing materials and datas to study as well local observations and checklists.
• Contribute to renewing the lists of the strains and species of entheogen fungi producing predominantly psychoactive tryptamines (indolealkylamines) and the related beneficial uses reported from humanity.
• Dynamize actions and divulgations to reduce the risk of misidentification with potential toxic and danger other taxons.
• Documentate, investigate and promote the knowledge about mushroom uses and applications with publications, conferences, workshops, pictures, videos, online social pages, guide/books, maps and eventually a proper application as a container of this information.
• Investigate into ethnomycology, anthropological knowledge and artifacts about the possible sacramental uses of “magic mushrooms”.
• Establish facilities, events and retreat centers along strategic mushrooms places in the countries where the laws and collaborators are interested in participating, cooperating with facilitators and personnel to set up “PsiloSoma centres”.
• Create a working team to perform the ims and develop the different phases of the project.

Methods

The project research is being conducted and developed since 2005 by the Naturalist Fabio Mao Valletta carrying out the following steps and methods:

• Dynamize a working team (volunteers, professionals, supporters) and cooperations with universities and related companies. During explorations and field missions are ideally required a camera and video maker; 1 mushroom specialist, 1 skilled biochemist, 1local guide.
• Investigate the current knowledge and distribution about magic mushrooms into the related literature, including publications, documents, monographs and books and biodiversity catalogs or inventories, about the genus Psilocybe and others psychotropic fungi.
• Gathering and mapping the traced observations with interviews to mycophiles, interest groups and and online communities related to the topic, as well into collection herbariums and virtual resources on internet Dataset as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, the Global Soil biodiversity, MycoBank, Index Fungorum, Inaturalist...
• Preliminary assessment and feasibility study of habitat survey missions, explorations and sampling campaigns set up. In order to locate areas of interest for expeditions, the evaluation of pluviometry, geological and satellite maps, biodiversity dataset, phytosociological correspondences and anthropogenic disturbance studies are considered necessary during the preliminary phases. Before most field surveys, it is a set of suitable materials and consumables for short and long-term safe mission accomplishment. Contact is tried to establish with local bureaucratic entities, mycological groups as well the natural parks, in which the explorations are developed, to obtain the relevant permits, facilities as well check about previous local reports.
• Realization of contacts and interview, during the field explorations and consultations into web pages, addressed to specialist mycologists and mycophiles, enthusiasts of biodiversity and ethnomycology, psychonauts, mushrooms collectors and growers, forums (online) and discussion groups focused on the topic as www.mushroomobserver.org, www.mycoportal.org, www.shroomery.org, www.ultimate-mushroom.com, www.mycotaxon.com/resources. When possible it starts a discussion of data and suggestions about distribution, phenology and potential areas for the development of related studies based on the author’s own observations. As a rule, it has been considered appropriate not to disclose the names of the interviewees in the respect of the legal framework of the law on data.
• Sampling observed collections identified in the field, habitat features as the macro characters are recorded, when possible, with support of digital material shared online into the social network “Inaturalist'' within the project named “Psilosoma Project (mediterranean area)”. During this project fresh samples are photographed, collected and studied from hundreds localities around the Mediterranean and world. Of some samples it will be possible to take the spore print while most of the fresh samples are dried trying to not rich temperatures upper of 50 C°, and conserved in an isolated environment with glass jars or zip-lock plastic bags.
• Microscopic observations, with the support of digital photographs, DNA sequencing for unambiguous identification and chemical analyses are carried out whenever possible and of interest to the author and other scholars. The samples collected, supported by digital material, are generally preserved in the naturalist's private collection and visible on line at https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/psilosoma-project-mediterranean-area-759e2919-6e44-46f9-a22b-834a341c7d08, they can be shared to local nature conservation entities, mycoteques, other scholars or universities when are required.
• Promote and establish the maintenance of transparent accounts based on trimestral, annual and project phases costs and incomes.
• Realization of explorations and preliminary studies about chorology, taxonomy and chemistry with a mobile laboratory.
• Support the investigations and divulgation with videos, documentaries, books, publications, web page, YouTube, a fundraising campain and other funding to be established.
• Share publication and updates about the local researches and project phases on the social platforms and communication channels (Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, LinkedIn, Inaturalist, gogetfunding, YouTube, ...).

Some Needs

Exploration:

• A LabMobile able to go offroad with 3 seats, sleeping bads and enough space to safely host the lab tools (for example VW Grand California 680 with 4Motion four-wheel drive £78,145) . Ideally hybrid engine with eco solutions for example gas/electric, ...;
• Elementary self sufficiency about energy (solar system >400w + accumulator + inverter + power station), gas stoves and bottles, water (tank 100L), international internet connection and sim cards, gps trackers, ensurances (health, vehicles, tools,...), foods, igyenic, travel costs, fuel, ...;
• Electric mountain bike, to help in explorations, with accessory bags and a cart to carry the materials, ...;
• Bureaucratic agreements and permissions to research and move the psilosoma crew, the LabMobile and samples over the countries, ...

Samples harvest and conservation:

• exploring mission kits, local maps access, sleeping tend, sleeping bag, trekking shoes, boots and others rain clothings, mushroom knife, amplifier 60x, scale/meter, table of colors, brushers, razors, bisturi, ...;
• camera for outdoor shoots with support, good macro lens and eventually the tool to adapt it to the microscope, ...;
• tubes, containers, sample boxes, zip bags, aluminium foils, ..;
• dryer and refrigerator system and tools to conserve samples, spores and mycelium, ...;
• computer laptop and data storing tools (2 hard disks of 2 terabyte), ...

Identification, Microscopy set and tools:

• Trinocular head microscope, with camera for capturing observations, 2000x magnification with eyepiece WF stands (for Wide Field and offers a larger field of view) + Objective Lenses types Semi-Plan (has a 80% flat field) or Plan (has a 95% flat field but are more expensive; mechanical stage a coarse and fine focusing knob to precisely manipulate focusing in on a specimen and the depth of focus) with an Oil Immersion objective and a filter holder sets of 3D printed filters like Darkfield (Darkens the background and lights the specimen with indirect light from the side), Rheinberg (to Manipulate the color of the specimen and background), Oblique (The light enters from a sideways angle producing a high contrast image giving a 3D effect) https://bolioptics.com/100-1000x-led-coaxial-transmitted-light-eyepiece-field-of-view-dia-22mm-trinocular-biological-microscope-bm13010323/ $2,764.88 ;
• 8X-50X Widefield Zoom Stereo Microscope, Trinocular, Track Stand (Track Length 300mm) LED Ring Light and Bottom Light $2,771.88 ;
• Focussing Eyepiece with Reticle Scale;
• microscope slides and coverslips (also known as cover glasses) Slide Storage box and Mailing Boxes, tubes and reagents, …;
• identification guides, publications, books and dichotomic monographies about studied genres, local mushrooms identifications and uses/ethnomycology (Psilocybe monograph and its supplement Guzman 1983-1995; Strophariaceae Nordeloos Candusso; Olah Panaeolus; Fungi of Temperate Europe: Volume 1+2; …), …;
• open access to scientific publications and libraries.

Mycelial culture, sterilization tools and preliminary biochemicals study:

• Isopropyl alcohol to clean your hands, clean the work area, wipe the outsides of bags and jars before opening, and to clean any other surface that might harbor contamination.
• Safety goggles and safety equipment, beakers, Erlenmeyer flasks, AKA conical flasks, Florence flasks, AKA boiling flasks, Test tubes, tongs, and racks, Watch glasses, Crucibles, funnels, graduated cylinders, Volumetric flasks, Droppers, Pipettes, Burets, Ring stands, rings, and clamps, tongs and forceps, good scalpel blade, surgical scalpels, spatulas and scoopulas, thermometers, Bunsen Burners, Balances, squeeze bottle, alcohol lamp, disposable nitrile gloves, mini fridge ziploc bags, impulse sealer, ...;
• petri dishes, agar/epa, pressure cooker, parafilm to seal and masking tape, ...;

• extraction equipment: laboratory botanicals grinder, ultrasonic extractor, vacuum rotary soxhlet, magnetic stirrer and regulable hot plate, …;
• HPLC Analyzer (optional) with software and reporting system, autosampler, ...

Realization of a Mycotheque:

• Establish a space to store properly conserved samples of specimens, spore prints and media cultures of magic mushrooms. To maintain the postharvest quality and availability of the mushrooms bioactive compounds, secondary metabolites and nutraceutical compounds, appropriate preservation techniques are required as the use of hygrothermics controllers and measurement tools, vacuum cooling system and the use of polybags (polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride).
• Building a workable mushroom laboratory with essential Lab equipment and accessories
• shelves, boxes, containers, conservants
• data storing tools

Development times and phases

The project will develop adapting to the resources, permissions and cooperations aviables. We will try to establish short, medium and long time cooperations with several entities and professionals.

During the preliminary phases of the project, the activities have been carried out and dynamized so far by Dr. Naturalist Fabio Mao Valletta and occasional voluntaries. Summary of activities carried out until november 2023:

• improvements on the currently available vehicle, Renault kangoo 1.5, in order to be used as a mobile laboratory (installation of secondary energy system with battery, inverter, plugs and adapters; bed/rack as a shelter in case of need during adverse weather or exploration missions, luggage racks, accommodation for the currently available instrumentation necessary for the collection and identification of samples, water tanks, kitchen camping stoves and tools, ...);
• purchase, based on economic availability, of the minimum equipment for the professional and safe carrying out of research and exploration activities ( gps, surviving equipments and tools, first aid materials and products, telephone with internet connection, ...);
• ethnomycological exploration and research mission in some locations in Italy, Spain, southern France, northern Portugal 2021-’22, sharing some results with the mycological association "pan de raposo", Chemi Traba and the University of A Coruña to establish the possibility of reviewing and publishing the data and samples collected;
• creation of the register of activities and expenses incurred to carry them out, as well as, a list of needs to ease and properly continue to develope the PsiloSoma research and divulgation project;
• creation and dynamization of the “PsiloSoma project” social profiles and pages on the internet platforms as Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Reddit, Inaturalist, gogetfunding;
• creation of the “PsiloSoma project” playlist and thanks to the voluntary collaboration and editing of Mehrdad Z, creation of a first video shared on YouTube at the link https://youtu.be/EXenHwH_TF8. In the video we show some of the local wild magic mushroom species that we found and discovered in Galicia and Portugal that need additional studies and support moreover we introduce what is about the project "PsiloSoma" and an invitation to get involved and to cooperate to in future studies and disclosures;
• sharing Fabio Valletta's current account IT70C 02008 32974 001254569516 to allow donations to support the researcher's studies, exploration and divulgation missions as part of the “PsiloSoma project”;
• collection of information, photos, videos for the future creation and development of both a web page and an application relating to the “PsiloSoma project”;
• establishment of interviews and a possible collaboration with individuals (passionates and professionals), associations and colectives entities interested and active in the field of mycology and in the current research and divulgation project;
• realization of thematic workshops (about psilocybin mushrooms, wild harvest collection and recognition of psychotropic mushrooms; history and development of ethnomycology; Amanita muscaria and other “magic mushrooms”; introduction to wild shrooms in your country; introduction to the benefits and development to entheogenic therapies with mushrooms; entheogenic therapy session and setting; introduction to medical mushrooms and preparation of basic extracts; introduction to mushroom growing; non-sterile domestic cultivation of beneficial mushrooms; outdoor growing; introduction to domestic bioremediation through mushrooms; mushroom composting, ...);
• exploration in southern Italy 2022-’23 with publication of the research in the scientific journal “BORNH Bulletin of Regional Natural History “ ( https://doi.org/10.6093/2724-4393/10411)
• 2023 Currently Fabio Mao Valletta is trying to establish and promote a while is carrying out an exploration mission and sampling specimens for herbarium collections in the Balkan indolic forests.
• Next steps include the Realization of a working team, web age and silosma project application for android and iOS. In the meantime you can stay updated by following our communication channels.

Terms of participation and support

I want to invite all the professionals and enthusiasts who can be interested to get involved in this project. To support and participate and get involved, you can contact the mentor, research director, coordinator and promoter of the PsiloSoma research and divulgation project, Dr. Fabio Mao Valletta. Among other things, you can add/share your observations, send us samples to study, dinamiese data sharing, suggest species and environments around you or invite us to explore the biodiversity of shrooms in your area. Moreover, you can offer your volunteer work and self employment suggestions, share and boost this project, videos and fundraising campaign into your your referred social channels, as well as, to ease and realize exploring missions, chemical analysis, and the others project aims too, you can donate materials, tools, services and money to the bank account Fabio Valletta IT70C 02008 32974 001254569516.

Contacts

You are welcome to contact, follow the updates, take part, and support the “PsiloSoma project” on our social channels, Internet platforms and pages as

Youtube channel "naturalmao" https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGFHQMXPf76PMPEYFyg8nFg

Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/psilosoma-project-844b11250/

Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/PsiloSoma_project/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/PsiloSoma-Project/...

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/psilosoma.project/

Inaturalist https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/psilosoma-project and https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/psilosoma-project-mediterranean-area-759e2919-6e44-46f9-a22b-834a341c7d08

If you have samples to identify, suggestions, questions, or you just want to get involved, contact the following email

[email protected] or the telephone number +39373488860.

Thank you and Mush love

Dr. Naturalist Fabio Mao Valletta 11/11/2023