Amanita muscaria is a mushroom that naturally exists in the northern and southern hemispheres. It is widespread in the temperate regions of both hemispheres. You will hear the words Fly amanita or Fly agaric for this mushroom.
Although it is not legal to buy and purchase this mushroom because it poses harm to humans. But this is not the case everywhere. Despite the harmful effects, there are other aspects to it that you need to know. So if you are interested in buying it and it is legal in your country to do so, you can get it from amanitamuscariastore.com.
You can buy dried pieces in different weights. So whether you want to buy small quantities or large, you can do so. And the interesting thing is that you will get free shipping on it. So you will be paying only for your order.
However, because of its harmful effects, you should know some important things about this mushroom before buying it. Learning is the first step of consumption especially if it includes something harmful.
So here is what you need to know.
1 – Appearance
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The first thing that you need to know about this mushroom is its appearance, which is quite attractive. It has a beautiful red color for the cap. You will also see white dots on this red cap. In addition to this, the stem is also white.
This appearance is similar to the ones that you see in the “Mario Brothers” game. The beautiful looks are what makes it famous and cinematographers use them in their cartoons and movies. You will see a similar mushroom in “Alice in Wonderland”. So there is no doubt that it has a cultural significance.
2 – Intoxicating substance
It has been known as an intoxicating substance because of the presence of alkaloids. The main alkaloids present in it are Muscimol and ibotenic. Furthermore, the interesting thing is that both these alkaloids are known to be psychoactive. Therefore, it is not safe to be in direct contact with these mushrooms. There is a high risk of intoxication. This is also the reason that this mushroom is used in divinations and shamanic contexts.
3 – The origin of the name
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You might find the name interesting because it sounds magical. However, its origin is not magical at all. Amanita muscaria has a paralyzing effect on insects and therefore, it has got this name. Other than this, it has got many different names. The English name for this mushroom is Fly Agaric.
4 – Its Chemical composition
The pharmacology of Amanita muscaria is quite complex. Therefore, we cannot understand it completely and the thing that we know about them is the presence of alkaloids. Other than ibotenic and muscimol, there are muscazone and muscarine in these mushrooms.
Muscarine is responsible for causing the feeling of intoxication and undesired effects. Therefore, you will get discomfort, upset stomach, and will vomit. Likewise, ibotenic and muscimol are known to be psychoactive.
These effects can vary depending upon the area of growth. The chemical composition can vary depending on the altitude. If a mushroom is growing at a high altitude, the level of chemicals (ibotenic and muscimol) will increase in them. On the other hand, if the mushrooms are at a lower altitude, the concentration of muscarine will be high in them.
Thus, the effect will vary depending on the area of the mushroom that you are consuming.
5 – The effects of these chemicals
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If you accidentally eat A. muscaria from a higher altitude, it means that you will have ibotenic and muscimol in your body. The oral administration of these alkaloids will take around 2 to 3 hours to show its maximum effects. Therefore, if you do not feel well, you should immediately run down.
Furthermore, the effects of the alkaloids will be visible for around 6 to 8 hours. However, this also depends on the dose. If you have a small quantity, you will recover quickly. On the other hand, if the dosage was high, it will take some time for you to recover.
The different effects that you will experience include:
- The first phase. Usually, the effects in the first phase are not severe but you will feel a stimulation and increased level of energy. You might also feel muscular vigor but this is not something that everyone suffers from.
- After the first phase, the second phase starts. This is where the drowsiness will start to appear. Thus, your body will feel lazy and sleepy because of the tranquilizers present in it.
- Afterward, the third phase starts. This phase is more serious because it will take your mind into the magical world. And there, you will feel the psychedelic effects. Thus, you will experience the mystical nature and the non-ordinary realities. However, this is nothing pleasing as it may sound right now. Because you will have both blissful and terrifying sensations.
Lastly, the serious effects will begin, which include:
- Visual distortions
- Loss of balance
- Muscle spasms
- Dizziness
- Experiencing dream-like nature
- Auditory impairment
- Nausea and vomiting
- You will perceive things out of their size. Either they will appear very big or very small
- You will have difficulty concentrating on your external tasks.
6 – Legal status
Amanita Muscaria is not legal in many countries. It has psychoactive effects and therefore can result in serious accidents. For example, in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, the possession and sale of this mushroom are completely prohibited. Likewise, in Romania, its sake has been prohibited since 2010.
7 – Ways of use
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There are different uses of this mushroom. Therefore, to reduce the harmful effects, the stem is discarded and the cap is dried completely. A dried cap is used for different purposes and drying reduces intestinal discomfort. Thus, after that people can intake the dried cap directly or make an infusion with hot water.
