Amanita Muscaria : what is it and what are its effects ?

The Amanita Muscaria, commonly known as fly agaric or false morel, stands as an iconic hallucinogenic mushroom. With a vivid presence in pop culture, from Mario’s world to emojis and even Alice in Wonderland, this psychedelic fungus holds a rich history. In medieval times, it earned the name “fly agaric” because it was used as an insecticide. Sliced into milk, it attracted flies, leaving them intoxicated, stumbling, and ultimately eliminated.

Where does it thrive?

The false morel predominantly thrives in the Northern Hemisphere, spanning Europe, including Northern Europe, and extending to diverse locations like Brazil, South Africa, Central Asia, and North America.

Flourishing in both high and low altitudes, especially in coniferous and beech-birch forests, it emerges from July to October. Recognizable by its white stem and red-orange, white-spotted cap, this mycorrhizal species forms a symbiotic relationship with trees, exchanging water and nutrients for fructose.

Description and characteristics

Indeed, the fly agaric lives in symbiosis with trees; in the case of mushrooms, this is called mycorrhiza. Symbiosis occurs between two living beings when they provide mutual benefits for each other to survive. Here, the Amanita Muscaria provides water and nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, etc.) to the tree, and the tree, in turn, provides it with fructose.

Visually, as explained earlier, the fly agaric is probably the most well-known mushroom (after perhaps the common button mushrooms, and even then) since it has been featured numerous times to represent its species: it is a real symbol. It has a white stem and a red-orange cap with raised white spots, and its cap measures between 10 and 20 cm in diameter, with the mushroom itself reaching 20 to 30 cm in height.

Effects of Amanita Muscaria

While initially offering stimulating and energizing effects, the fly agaric later induces tranquility, culminating in sought-after hallucinations. Dispelling misconceptions about its lethality, ingestion primarily poses risks of severe gastroenteritis or, in extreme cases, coma with minimal chances of fatality.

Indeed, Amanita Muscaria can lead to what is called the “pantherine syndrome“, which is specific to this type of mushroom. It occurs from 30 minutes to 2 hours after ingestion when the mushroom is eaten raw. This results in sedative and depressant effects, nausea, vomiting, sometimes seizures and confusion, all accompanied by hallucinations. Quite an exhilarating cocktail!

This is due to the substances it contains, which, contrary to what one might think, are neither psilocin nor psilocybin, the psychoactive molecules usually present in hallucinogenic mushrooms. Here, they consist of elements considered toxic: ibotenic acid, muscimol, muscarine, mescaline, and other alkaloids, present in varying concentrations depending on where the mushroom has grown.

As in nature it is possible to find various psilocibin mushrooms with different effects; if you visit our Smartshop you can get all the magic mushrooms you wish.

Uses and consumption methods

Despite unpleasant side effects, the fly agaric has historical use in extreme shamanic rituals in India, Iran, Siberia, and potentially among Native American, Papuan, and Celtic communities. To mitigate stomach discomfort, avoiding raw consumption is crucial; boiling or drying before consumption is recommended. Some suggest infusion, smoking, or oil extraction. Caution is paramount when foraging, as mushrooms may resemble lethal varieties.

Myths and legends about the Amanita Muscaria

The fly amanita stars in various myths and fairytales, housing fairies, elves, or Smurfs in children’s stories. It is even attributed a surprising legend: the fly agaric is said to be at the origin of a large part of the Christmas folklore as we know it today.

Indeed, some claim that the red and white colors of Santa Claus are owed to Amanita Muscaria. This is followed by numerous fabrications: the flying sleigh would be a hallucination, the reindeer would eat these mushrooms, Santa Claus’s clothes would come from gatherers of Amanita Muscaria, the story of the chimney would be explained by those who smoked the fly agaric on the roof, and so on.