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What mushrooms were considered sacred by the Aztecs?
Mushrooms and Edible Fungi
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Mushrooms of the genus Conocybe and Psilocybin—both with hallucinogenic properties—were considered sacred by the Aztecs, an empire located in Mexico before the 1500s. Psilocybin, which is chemically related to lysengic acid diethylamide (or LSD), is a component of both genera and responsible for the trancelike state and colorful visions (or psychedelic properties) experienced by those people who ingest these mushrooms. In fact, they are still used in certain religious ceremonies by the descendants of the Aztecs.