DESCRIPTION The most common psychoactive amanita mushrooms are the striking fly-agaric (Amanita muscaria) and the panther mushroom (A. pantherina). Both contain the ibotenic acid and muscimol, which produce inebriating effects. Amanita intoxication is quite different from that caused by psychedelic psilocybin mushrooms, which are primarily found in the Psilocybe genus. The effects of amanitas are sometimes considered unpleasant, and are often accompanied by nausea, chills, and other negative side effects. Amanita muscaria mushrooms have been used in Siberian shamanism for centuries, or perhaps as long as thousands of years. Some authors have speculated that the mushroom could be associated with other historical and cultural phenomena such as the mysterious magical plant “Soma” described in early Hindu scriptures. Note: Some of the deadliest mushrooms known are in the Amanita genus - do not eat wild mushrooms unless you know what you are doing. [ Main Mushroom Vault ]

AMANITAS IMAGES

Dose
Amanita muscaria: Recreational doses range from 3-10 grams of dry mushroom material depending on the strength of the specimen. Fresh mushrooms are considerably heavier. One medium-size cap of an Amanita muscaria is sometimes considered a moderate dose, but potency varies widely, depending on the season in which they are picked and significant regional variations.

Amanita pantherina: In North America the average potency of the A. pantherina is greater than that of the A. muscaria. Data is limited, but Ott reports that approximately one-half cup of sauteed material was a strong dose. [Ott J. Pharmacotheon. Natural Products Co. 1996. pg. 339]

Price
Dried Amanita muscaria averages around $20-$30 per ounce on ethnobotanical vendor web sites. Psychoactive amanitas are rarely found in underground markets.

Law
Amanita mushrooms and their active ingredients are uncontrolled in the United States and in most countries. If sold for consumption as a food or drug, sales are regulated by the FDA in the US.

Chemistry
The primary effects of amanitas come from ibotenic acid and muscimol. Muscimol affects the GABA system, while ibotenic acid simulates glutamate in the brain. When baked or dried, ibotenic acid transforms into the more-potent muscimol through decarboxylation.

The alkaloid muscarine was believed to be the primary psychoactive agent in A. muscaria for nearly a century, but it usually occurs in amounts that are too small to have an effect. Muscarine contributes to some of the negative side effects such as increased sweating and salivating.

Production
Psychoactive amanitas grow wild across the United States and throughout the northern hemisphere. They are sometimes sold by ethnobotanical vendors or at head shops, but remain relatively uncommon. A. muscaria has a mycorrhizal (symbiotic) relationship with coniferous trees. Attempts to cultivate A. muscaria separate from coniferous tress have been largeley unsuccessful.

History
Amanita muscaria mushrooms have a long history of shamanic use in some parts of Siberia. possibly dating back thousands of years. The earliest-known documented account of Siberian mushroom use dates to 1658 when a Polish prisoner-of-war wrote "They eat certain fungi in the shape of fly-agarics, and thus they become drunk worse than on vodka, and for them that's the very best banquet."

Controversial theories have been advanced about other possible historical uses of psychoactive amanitas. Most famously, R. Gordon Wasson argued in his book Soma that the A. muscaria was an entheogenic sacrament described by early Hindus in the Rig Veda.

Slang
(A. muscaria) fly-agaric, (A. pantherina) panther mushroom

Onset
Onset is generally slow, typically taking two to three hours.

Duration
The primary effects of amanitas last for 6-8 hours when taken orally.

The Experience
The potency and effects of amanitas vary widely among individuals and among mushroom specimens. Strong nausea and/or vomiting are common, particularly in the first few hours. Some users report euphoria and a sociable feeling of inebriation with some similarities to alocohol intoxication. Users may experience mild visual distortions, loss of balance, and sedation. Some report feeling a sense of internal clarity, while others feel disoriented or confused.

Addiction Potential
Psychaoctive amanitas are neither physically addicting nor likely to cause psychological dependence.

Contraindications

• Do not operate heavy machinery. Do Not Drive.