The Fly Agaric or Amanita muscaria is by far the most recognizable mushroom in the world. Its iconic red cap with white dots is known around the world as a classic “toadstool”. In popular culture it is associated with Christmas/Santa Claus, Vikings in a berserker rage, and as a trippy mind altering mushroom (Through the Looking Glass/Alice in Wonderland). However, not all the popular assumptions made about this mushroom are true.
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In my most recent podcast episode I debunk some of the most common Amanita muscaria myths while talking about the chemistry of this mushroom. Amanita muscaria is a common mycorrhizal mushroom that grows worldwide (thanks to the timber industry). It is toxic, trippy, and edible depending on how it is processed. Unlike deadly Amanitas (Death Cap/Destroying Angel), muscaria does not contain amatoxins. Instead, it contains ibotenic acid which is a potent neurotoxin and muscimol which can exert entheogenic (mind altering) effects. Ibotenic acid can be chemically converted (decarboxylated) into muscimol using heat and low pH (no need to drink pee). Dried muscaria can be brewed into a tea to access the entheogenic properties of muscimol.
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Sami shamans did use Amanita muscaria for rituals, but that’s where any actual evidence for this mushroom being associated with Christmas ends. Theresa red and white motifs of Santa Claus came about from Coca-Kola ads in the 30s. Given that muscaria can act as a dissociative sedative, I think it’s highly unlikely that Vikings ate this mushroom before battle, more likely that consumed henbane.
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Wishing everyone a happy holiday season, feel free to send this video to your friends and family who blindly accept the myths surrounding muscaria. My aim is to educate and inject some critical thinking into the myths surrounding this infamous mushroom.
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