AMANITA MUSHROOMS
Chapter: Entheogens
AKA: Amanita muscaria (bolond gomba, fly agaric, Gluckspilz, ha ma chun, mukhomor, Narrenschwamm, tu ying hsin), Amanita pantherina (panther mushroom).
The amanita family of mushrooms can range from those that are harmless (and actually quite delicious) to those that are deadly poisonous; the above are the only two that are psychoactive. The name "fly agaric" is derived from the fact that flies will drop into a helpless stupor after sucking on its juices. It is also noteworthy that the mushroom is believed to have contributed to the frenzied behavior of the Norse Vikings known as Beserkers. The degree of psychoactivity is related to its color - yellow is the weakest, red is the strongest, and orange is in between - on where and when it is grown, and on what trees it grows near. It can be dried and smoked; eaten fresh, cooked, or dried; or it can be brewed in a tea. In reindeer-hunting communities in Siberia, only the shamans were allowed to eat the fly agaric mushrooms, but others found they could participate in the experience by drinking the shaman's urine; supposedly, the unpleasant side effects of nausea and vomiting were lessened in this manner. This is because the kidneys detoxify muscarine, a toxin found in the mushroom, but allow muscimole, the hallucinogen, to pass into the urine largely intact (reindeer, who aggressively seek out this mushroom, will likewise consume the fly agaric-filled waste, and travelers are advised not to urinate in their presence out of fear for the person's safety). Urine can be recycled four or five times in this manner.
In Japan, there is mention in ancient literature of the maitake, or "dancing mushroom," which caused those who ate it to laugh and dance giddily; it has been identified as either Paneolus papilionaceus or Pholiota spectabilis, though the former is also known as waraitake, or the "laughing mushroom," and was once used as a cheap high in the U.S. and allegedly by witches in Portugal. Another "dancing mushroom" is Gymnopilus (Pholiota) spectabilis.
Effects: A pleasant, dreamy intoxication - accompanied by vivid hallucinations and giddiness - that lasts four to eight hours. The main psychoactive ingredients include muscazon, ibotenic acid, muscimole, and bufotenine.
It may work synergistically with the juice of the bog bilberry (Vacinium uliginosum).
Precautions: There are often unpleasant physical symptoms. An overdose can produce twitching, trembling, minor convulsions, numbness of the limbs, delirium, paranoia, aggression, nausea, vomiting and even death. Amanita pantherina has been known to make people sick for up to twelve hours, though these side effects usually start and end quickly. Other varieties of amanita (Amanita phalloides, Amanita verna) and other similar-looking mushrooms can be lethal when ingested, so extreme care must be taken when picking them in the wild.
Any mushroom should probably be sauteed before eating because in its raw state, it may contain methylhydazines, compounds similar to rocket propellants (which are, of course, carcinogenic and potentially deadly). Mushrooms may also accumulate such toxins as arsenic and cesium, though not in dangerous levels; cooking will not remove or deactivate them.
The use of atropine by some medical professionals to treat the negative effects is counterproductive; it intensifies, rather than nullifies, them. Mushrooms should not be combined with alcohol, either.
Dosage: One medium-sized mushroom is taken initally, to determine tolerance, with 1 to 3 mushrooms per dose thereafter. They are thoroughly dried first, and under no circumstances are more than 3 mushrooms taken at any one time.
Questions and Answers
Do Amanita Muscaria mushrooms grow in New England?, I am doing a paper and need to know if Amanita Muscaria mushrooms (the fairy tale toadstools) grow in the New England region of the United States (Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, etc.)
If not, where do they grow?
Thanks.
Amanita muscaria will only grow in conjunction with various species of birch, fir, pine, spruce, and other similar trees. In Australia it has formed a new association with southern beech (genus Nothofagus).
Varieties of Amanita muscaria can be found throughout most parts of the globe. The mushrooms will grow in most climates that are capable of sustaining plants and fungi.
It is found throughout North America, but is most common in northeastern North America, from Newfoundland and Quebec down to Tennessee
Do Amanita muscaria mushrooms really make you hallucinate, and how much is the average dosage?, I want to try the LEGAL Amanita Muscaria mushrooms, but do they really make you hallucinate? What happens on the "trip"? How much is the average dosage??
cannabliss crush does NOT know what she's talking about.
The average dosage is about 10 grams, but you can take up to 30 grams to experience a really hardcore trip. Aminitas DO make you hallucinate, but they are also a very powerful deliriant, which isn't something everyone enjoys.
I've had full blown deliriant-based hallucinations where I was talking to multiple friends that looked and acted as if they were actually my real friends in my room, yet I was imagining them. The worst part is you don't know you're imagining them. I went to give one a high five, and he vanished into a puff of dust, and I was like "Oh my God, none of that was real".
Another example, my mother flung my bedroom door open and came rushing into my room screaming at me for doing drugs, and I was arguing with her. I turned away for a second and when I turned back around, she was gone, the door was closed. It didn't really happen.
It sounds like it's a lot of freaking fun, but it's not the coolest, it can seriously freak you out something awful, giving you a very unpleasant experience.
They give you the type of trips that you'll literally jump off the roof thinking you can fly, and I wouldn't say that about any other drug known to man. I was convinced that going upstairs naked at 6 a.m. to read a book while sitting indian style in the middle of my living room floor was a perfectly normal thing to do, with my reason being "Well it's Sunday!!!"
Psychoactive Amanita Muscaria mushrooms in GA?, what kinds of psychoactive Amanita mushroom grows in georgia? And what are the host trees of each one that can be found?
I have half an ounce of Amanitas in my apartments
Amanita's are the EASIEST mushroom to mistake for their IDENTICLE, DEADLY POISONOUS cousins. I'd highly advise against picking them yourself
Plus, it's not a trip like on shrooms, it's complete disassociation, delirium and schizophrenia. Most people find it very unpleasant.
If you're really interested in them, go to www.iamshaman.com. I've gone there a bunch of times. They're a legit site, and experts in what they do.
what enviroment do you look for Amanita Muscaria mushrooms?, i live in south carolina. do they grow here? i beleive they do but what kind of enviroment should i look in? would be rain forest like wooded areas?
muscaria is a cosmopolitan mushroom, native to birch, pine, spruce, fir and cedar woodlands throughout the temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere,
Do either psilocybin or amanita muscaria mushrooms cause your brain to bleed?, I heard a myth that magic mushrooms make your brain bleed and was wondering if this is true or not. Please cite credible sources, I don't want to hear what a friend of a friend has to say.
No... neither dose LSD... compleate myth...
it works by binding to seritonin recepters in the brain.
If marajuana grows with Amanita mushrooms is it still ok to smoke?,
The poisionous toxins from the mushroom will not get into the plant if that's what you mean.
Can amanita muscaria mushrooms interact with prescription medications?, specifically Lexapro (escitalopram an SSRI) & Abilify (arpriprazole an atypical antipsychotic)?
SSRI's have been to known to reduce the psycadelic and euphoric effects of hallucinogenic drugs. I have verified this answer with my sister who takes SSRI's and often delves into the occasional hallucinogenic experiance once in a while. Other than a decrease of effects there are no harmful interactions between these drugs and hallucinogens. There are no known causes of hallucinogens interacting with abilify either. Be safe and happy tripping =D
Why is Amanita Muscaria not sold for human consumption?, I was thinking about ordering Amanita mushrooms and an eighth of 10:1 extract from http://amanitanet.info/ but they are not sold for human consumption. Why is that? is it for liability or legality?
I'd just like to clarify the fact the A. Muscaria is very unlikely to be fatal, more likely it is the misidentification and consumption of the wrong mushroom that is the cause of the fatality.
Otherwise A.Musc would not have been used as an entheogen for hundreds of years !
This is why it has a bad rep, because of bad information.
Sorry dudes.
Never consume any mushroom unless you are totally sure you know what it is before you eat eat. If your not sure, DO NOT EAT IT !
They are sold, not for human consumtion for liability perposes, but they put that on everything they sell. Seriously, it will have the same on morning glory seeds as it does amanita.
If you going to try it, please do you will not diebut just be careful, try a bit first as some people are simply intolerant of mushrooms altogether. I also recommend having a sitter present.
It's not a great trip to be honest, too many con's rather than pro's. Stick to P. cubensis !
Does anyone know where to purchase Amanita Muscaria Mushrooms cheap? I want to have them shipped to me?,
dude seriously bad idea posting that on here, just look for spores. And be verrrrrrrrry careful, they can invade the surrounding areas and never stop once in the walls.
