Amanita Muscaria, known as the “Fly Agaric,” stands apart from magic mushrooms. This unique psychoactive mushroom interacts with specific brain receptors, offering soothing effects rather than intense hallucinations. Ancient cultures have used it for therapeutic purposes, while modern anecdotes point to Amanita’s benefits for various physical and mental health issues. Emerging research hints at Amanita’s promising medicinal potential, particularly for stress, sleep, and pain relief.
This article delves into Amanita muscaria’s history, therapeutic uses, potential benefits, and the importance of responsible consumption.
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What is Amanita Muscaria?
Amanita muscaria mushrooms are the iconic red-and-white spotted psychoactive mushrooms containing muscimol as their primary active component. Muscimol’s effects differ significantly from magic mushrooms’ key ingredient, psilocybin. Read more about Amanita muscaria effects by Qwin.
- Psilocybin, found in classic magic mushrooms, interacts with a specific serotonin receptor in the human brain, which affects mood, cognition, and perception. It causes hallucinations and visuals like vivid colors and geometric patterns.
- Muscimol interacts with GABAa receptors, which have more to do with the central nervous system. That action inhibits and alters neuronal activity in multiple regions of the brain. The effects tend to be more soothing, similar to a muscle relaxant.
Amanita mushrooms’ milder hallucinogenic effects have earned them the nickname “the delta 8 of psychedelics.” Delta 8 produces a high, but the experience is gentler than traditional Delta 9 THC. Amanita’s muscimol content typically elicits the following effects:
- Physical relaxation
- Feelings of euphoria and tranquility
- Altered sense of hearing and taste
- Changes to sensory perception
- Vivid dreams
Amanita muscaria: A History of Medicinal Effects
The medicinal abilities of Amanita muscaria mushrooms are not a new discovery. Various cultures have employed the Amanita species for centuries as a well-being agent, associating it with longevity and using it to reduce stress and pain.
People have reportedly used Fly Agaric mushrooms as:
- A stimulant, providing the user with stamina and staving off fatigue, similar to coffee
- A pain reliever, whether as a topical remedy to treat bruises or other pains or ingested to relieve headaches and stomachaches
- An anti-inflammatory to treat rheumatic pains
- A sleep aid to help with insomnia
- A treatment for epilepsy and various nervous disorders
Preliminary research on the mushroom’s pharmacology supports these traditional uses, demonstrating the muscimol in Amanita muscaria could have several medicinal benefits, including:
- Treating stress and anxiety
- Easing muscular pain
- Promoting restorative sleep
- Exhibiting anti-tumor and memory-protecting activities
Untapping Amanita muscaria’s Medicinal Potential
Anecdotes of self-medication with Amanita muscaria have increasingly appeared online in Facebook groups, discussion boards, blogs, and other social media platforms. Individuals claim muscimol tinctures, teas, and extracts can help with physical symptoms related to various diseases and conditions, such as:
- Skin conditions found in Lyme disease, eczema, and psoriasis
- Arthritis, swelling, and gingivitis
- External infections, like nail fungus
- Female menopause, intestinal cramps, and menstrual pain
- Pain from sciatica, joints, swollen lymph nodes, and migraines
Other reports indicate that microdosing with Amanita muscaria can boost mood and energy, imbuing users with stress resilience and strength and helping them overcome issues related to:
- Substance dependence and withdrawal
- Depression
- Social anxiety
- Finding significance in life experiences
These accounts suggest an increased public interest in the Amanita muscaria mushroom and its potential therapeutic applications. Scientific studies on the mushroom’s medical properties are in the early stages but show promising results, especially those related to muscimol, Amanita muscaria’s primary active ingredient.
- A 2022 animal study showed muscimol could protect against systemic inflammatory responses, highlighting the compound’s potential anti-inflammatory effects.
- Research on muscimol indicates Amanita muscaria could benefit brain health, treating symptoms associated with Huntington’s Disease and Alzheimer’s.
- A study on the potential antioxidant properties of muscimol shows it has possible applications in a broad range of health conditions.
Amanita muscaria Legality
Unlike psilocybin mushrooms, which are illegal in the United States, Amanita muscaria’s active ingredients don’t appear on the DEA’s controlled substances list. As such, Americans are free to possess this mushroom and its extracts.
The FDA has not approved the mushroom for human consumption, but all states except Louisiana allow A. muscaria sales, making A. muscaria extracts and products easily accessible.
Amanita muscaria Risks
Amanita mushrooms contain ibotenic acid, which can cause various adverse effects if ingested raw or improperly prepared. Consuming unprocessed Amanita mushrooms can lead to symptoms like:
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Loss of balance
- Involuntary body movements
- Bizarre cognitive and perceptual changes
Consumers should never eat raw Amanita mushrooms or attempt to process the fungi at home. Instead, they should only purchase high-quality muscimol extracts from trusted brands with third-party lab results.
The Bottom Line
Amanita muscaria mushrooms, also known as “Fly Agaric,” have been used for wellness purposes for centuries. These mushrooms don’t contain the psilocybin found in “magic” mushrooms. Instead, Amanita muscaria contains muscimol as its main active compound, which has positive implications for various mental and physical health issues, including sleep, insomnia, addiction, and pain. Studies and anecdotal reports on Amanita muscaria’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects show the mushroom has therapeutic potential to treat everything from stress to skin conditions. Because Amanita muscaria is legal everywhere in the U.S. except Louisiana, consumers can readily explore its therapeutic potential with guidance from an experienced medical professional.
