The mycology Is responsible for the study and knowledge of fungi and everything related to them, that is, their forms, ways of appearance. Fungi are considered as parasitic beings, formed mainly in environments of putrefaction.
They are considered as living organisms of great importance for nature, because they help in a certain way to dry and absorb the chemicals produced by these finished bodies, turning them minerals or proteins so that other animals can eat them and are not harmful to their health and system digestive.
However, mycology is a somewhat more complex and comprehensive study that analyzes and includes different branches and edges of study.
For example, there is the pharmaceutical mycology that is simply a part of medicine and health sciences, which seeks to understand what those components are found in fungi, including a microscopic level.
In addition, it studies the process of the decomposition of different living organisms, and why fungi emerge in these environments of dirt and putrefaction.
It has been scientifically Healing and regenerative properties Which may exist in fungi.
The idea is to make the most of all these properties and create a medicine less dependent on antibiotics or pre-made medicines and that more and more, you can resort to those powerful tools that are in the wide nature that surrounds us and that we often do not know.
Also, some species of fungi can serve to make different Psychotropic substances Which alter the consciousness and normal acts of human beings.
On the other hand, there are mycologists who explore every corner of nature, searching among the flora and fauna for those fungi or derivatives that have not been discovered and that may have some medicinal use, contributing health care.
They also try to get different mushrooms that can be used at the culinary level, and in this way, get somewhat more exotic and sophisticated preparations.
Something similar to what happened with the mushroom : A fungus of medium size and white color, which is edible and is mainly used to make different dressings and is popular in Mediterranean diets.
History and beginnings of mycology
To some historians and scientists who support evolutionary theory, fungi have existed even before us and animals, and it might be thought that from there various plants were derived.
Fungi and hedgerows were one of the main living beings existing in the Cambrian Era and over the years they have played an important role for diverse cultures.
For example, the Greeks used these organisms on a daily basis and perhaps they were unconscious or unfamiliar with the concept of fungus and did not know how many forms they can adapt to each type.
In this case, we are talking about the yeast used for the fermentation of alcoholic beverages, such as wine or beer.
At this time they were very consumed, because the water was contaminated and did not know the necessary measures to provoke its purity, which caused serious stomach infections, like diarrhea, that at the time was a mortal disease.
So, what they did most was to consume alcohol. If we analyze the situation well, it can be determined that the fungi saved many people's lives in antiquity. Also, this substance (the yeast ) Was used to grow bread.
On the other hand, fungi have played an important role in the creations of various religions. In this sense, it has been to create the psychotropic substances mentioned above and alter the state of consciousness and manipulate the actions of certain people.
It is known the history of the shamans of the tribes in Siberia, that used a mushroom known like Amanita muscaria And they made people hallucinate in different rituals.
In antiquity, some fungi were worshiped because they were considered to be the creation of the gods of Jupiter and other planets and created different figures that for these societies were divine.
Famous Mycologists
The main mycologists who have made great contributions to this branch have been:
- First Name , Who in 1981, discovered a fungus called Coccidioides immitis .
- In 1986, Guillermo Seeber Met the fungus better known today as the Rhinosporidium seeberi .
- The Brazilian Adolpho Lutz Reported the fungus known as Paracoccidioides brasiliensis , Which originated from many systemic mycoses in the region of Brazil. This happened in the year 1908.
- On the other hand, in Venezuela the advances in mycology progress from 1909. Thanks to a discovery of R. Pino Pou , We begin to build a specialized laboratory for mycology.
Advances in pharmaceutical mycology
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, pharmaceutical mycology studies the possible uses that can be given to fungi or mushrooms in the medical field, verifying if some diseases could be cured in whole or in part thanks to this creation of natural .
In addition, it tries to define what are the possible damages that can cause some of these organisms in the human body or of animals.
Most of the known advances are infections or allergic reactions caused by fungi, of course some affect different areas of the body, and therefore have different names.
There are simple allergic reactions due to the hypersensitivity of some people and is produced by the friction of the fungus with the skin.
On the other hand, the mixotoxicosis is due to the infection caused by consuming any type of wheat, corn, rye, rice, among others, that has been contaminated by fungi.
Mythism occurs when a person consumes poisonous mushrooms, believing them to be edible. This could happen to someone who confuses the mushroom, with some other white fungus or similar.
Also, there is superficial mycosis and subcutaneous mycosis, both infections caused by fungi, but their depth is due to whether it is caused in the skin or in the deeper tissue of this large organ.
References
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- Campins, H. (1980). Venezuelan medical mycology in retrospect. In Scientific Publication, 396. 6-11. PAHO.
- Galvis Pérez, Y., Cano Restrepo, L. E., & Vásquez Valencia, M.F. (2013). History of medical micology in Colombia, 1930-1970.Iatreia, 26 (2), 221-231. Retrieved from: org.co.
- Guarner J, Brandt Histopathologic diagnosis of fungal infections in the 21st century. Clin Microbiol Rev, 24 (2): 247-80. Doi: 10.1128 / CMR.00053-10.
- Guzmán, A., & Guzmán, R. A. (2008). Psychology: medical illustrated. Mc Graw Hill. Recovered from: net.
- Koneman, E. W. R., Koneman, G. D. E. W., & Roberts, G.D. (1987).Micology: Laboratory Practice. Recovered from: net.
- Lacaz, C., Porto, E., and Martins, J. (1991). Medical mycology: fungi, actinomycetes and algae of medical interest.Review of the Institute of Tropical Medicine of São Paulo, 33 (4), 332-332. Recovered from: scielo.br.