Fly agaric- poisonous or halluecigenic

[Mushroomman]

There are alot of different ideas about amanita muscaria, some people say its poisonous yet some say its phychodellic, what do you think?

[NickCantle]

Both!

Amanita muscaria is reknowned for its hallucinogenic properties. From the Samu of Scandinavia, to the Chavs of Norfolk, this iconic 'Toadstool' can be known to take you into a 'loose state of hallucination'. The psychoactive substance, Muscimol is found in both this species and Amanita panterina, though the latter species is more likely to have a fatal effect if consumed. The mushroom contains toxins, though I'm unsure which toxins, that render it as poisonous. If eaten or consumed in large quantities, you'll probably not recover.

I have a feeling that others will have more to add!

Cheers,

Nick

[cybershot]

Ho ho matey - Amanita panterina - is that the one that leaves you gasping for breath?

David

[kiff]

Originally Posted by Mushroomman

There are alot of different ideas about amanita muscaria, some people say its poisonous yet some say its phychodellic, what do you think?

Well it's the toxin (poison) muscimol that gives you the psychedelic effect,
so you poison your self to get the high just like alcohol which is a poison that gets you high (drunk)
and to much of any poison will kill you

[KeenTeen17]

Reindeer in Norway eat fly agarics during the autumn because of a lack of food. The reindeer are more tolerant of the toxins and just go loopy. The Norweigians then drink the urine of the reindeer and get the hallucinogenic symptoms e.g. feeling like they are flying. this is possibly where the Father Xmas legend came from. If a human ate a fly agaric directly they would most likely die.

[FungiJohn]

Originally Posted by cybershot

Ho ho matey - Amanita panterina - is that the one that leaves you gasping for breath?

David

It all depends who's wearing them

[kiff]

Originally Posted by KeenTeen17

Reindeer in Norway eat fly agarics during the autumn because of a lack of food. The reindeer are more tolerant of the toxins and just go loopy. The Norweigians then drink the urine of the reindeer and get the hallucinogenic symptoms e.g. feeling like they are flying. this is possibly where the Father Xmas legend came from. If a human ate a fly agaric directly they would most likely die.

yes and in Sibera the Shaman eat them and then everyone else will drink his urine, Muscimol is passed through the body and comes back out in your urine as Moscimol, so if you keep drink your pee you will keep getting high yuk

[Fungalpunk]

Someone I know told me a guy used to turn up on walks and munch away quite happily on fly agarics and get quite 'bombed'. This was all well and dandy as he seemed to have built up an intolerance and handled his fuzzy state quite well. However when he attacked someone with an axe it became clear that things were a trifle awry in the old grey matter.

The red skin is sold at colleges and taken regularly but is a dangerous game indeed. You lose your inhibitions and believe you can do things that are not possible thus putting yourself in danger. Your stride length will increase as your whole awareness becomes distorted and exaggerated. Before the poison does you harm the product of your behaviour will do a great deal more either to yourself or others.

Shamans use it to foresee the future and all such bilge when basically they are smashed out of their heads uttering nonsense.

It is a fascinating mushroom though and these tales are great when doing a foray - the look on peoples faces when you relate some of these anecdotes is great. It all adds colour to the fungal world and also they are always a great find. One of nature's real treasures!

Fungalpunk Dave - Amanita pie anyone

[cybershot]

Originally Posted by Fungalpunk

Someone I know told me a guy used to turn up on walks and munch away quite happily on fly agarics and get quite 'bombed'. This was all well and dandy as he seemed to have built up an intolerance and handled his fuzzy state quite well. However when he attacked someone with an axe it became clear that things were a trifle awry in the old grey matter.

The red skin is sold at colleges and taken regularly but is a dangerous game indeed. You lose your inhibitions and believe you can do things that are not possible thus putting yourself in danger. Your stride length will increase as your whole awareness becomes distorted and exaggerated. Before the poison does you harm the product of your behaviour will do a great deal more either to yourself or others.

Shamans use it to foresee the future and all such bilge when basically they are smashed out of their heads uttering nonsense.

It is a fascinating mushroom though and these tales are great when doing a foray - the look on peoples faces when you relate some of these anecdotes is great. It all adds colour to the fungal world and also they are always a great find. One of nature's real treasures!

Fungalpunk Dave - Amanita pie anyone

Has this been reported to John Cleese at his Ministerial Department?

[Paul mabbott]

Yes it's an hallucinogen which is toxic in high doses (or a toxin which is hallucinogenic at low doses). Like so many other things.

John Allegro had a theory that early Christians were mushroom eaters - Sacred Mushroom - 1970 Sunday Mirror - John Allegro - indeed that many orgiastic religions (the worship of Dionysus, for instance) used Amanita sp..