Amanita Muscaria?

[NRG]

Anyone ever tried it? I never have, but am curious about others' experiences.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanita_muscaria

NRG

[Ancalagon]

As a (sort of) toxicologist AND as the sun of one a "mushroom expert" of a sort, I believe eating this mushroom is ill advised.

Ancalagon

[Limper]

As a (sort of) toxicologist AND as the sun of one a "mushroom expert" of a sort, I believe eating this mushroom is ill advised.

Ancalagon

I'd say thats a good call. Ergots fuck you up bad even if they do get you 'high'. Come to think of it most slow killing toxins get you high.

[Bagpuss]

But I've never got high of aspartame. :(

[Limper]

But I've never got high of aspartame. :(

Drink more. Around cans a day you start to forget things and get a dreamy sensation.

[Prorpger]

I've tried it... in Oblivion. It's one of the herbs you can gather.


Perhaps in my younger days...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b7/Mushroom.jpg

[bunny]

I have a friend who knows where to find it. It grows locally around the university campus and further up the island as well. He along with a few other friends have tried it because it is found locally. They have said their experiences were okay to good.

From what I understand, though, is that mushrooms such as these must be grown under the most sanitary conditions in order to control what sort of toxins may get into them. Because of that, I wouldn't pick them wild.

I personally have had no experience with them.

[Ancalagon]

At the right time of the year, they are easily found back home too.

This mushroom contains muscarine, which attacks the peripheral nervous system - yes, the same target that nerve gas goes after (in fact, it's mode of action is very similar to sarin). It's not the same compound than muscimol (the one that gives you a buzz, a GABA receptor agonist).

The problem is that the dose of muscarine and muscimol can vary a lot, and not in the same direction either. Establishing proper dosage is therefore a challenging and risky business. While you probably won't die from it, there is a possibility of permanent nerve damage (on top of the possibility of death). There is also variability between individual's sensitivity to toxins. I don't know what it is for this one, but in general it can vary by a factor of 10.

It seems to me there are easier and safer ways to get a buzz...

[Atropine Mama]

It seems to me there are easier and safer ways to get a buzz...

Seems like the consensus of wisdom here. I wouldn't try it, but then again, I'm all old and mother-like and stuff so I take fewer chances now than I used to. Maybe once the kids are grown I'll take up skydiving and try killer shrooms. :D

[Limper]

I'll take up skydiving and try killer shrooms. :D

It does make for an awsome day.

[doc]

Tried shrooms, drank shroom tea, everything went blue, I got naked and chased cows, last weekend was bad

[NRG]

It seems to me there are easier and safer ways to get a buzz...

This would be one of the reasons I haven't tried 'em. They also look very, very much like a couple of other species, one of which is quite fatal.

From wiki:

Deaths from A. muscaria are extremely rare. A historical journal article reported 2 fatalities occurring in North America. [43] With modern medical treatment the prognosis is generally good.[44]

The amount and ratio of chemical compounds per mushroom varies widely from region to region, season to season, further confusing the issue. It has been reported that spring and summer mushrooms may contain up to 10 times as much ibotenic/muscimol as compared to fall fruitings.[39] Many older books list it as deadly, giving the impression that it is far more toxic than it really is. The vast majority of mushroom poisoning fatalities (90% or more) are from having eaten either the greenish to yellowish to brownish mottled death cap (A. phalloides) or one of the destroying angels (Amanita virosa).

The amanita virosa looks very much like the fly agaric, if I recall correctly.

NRG

[Goblin Girl]

In my experience, substances that are supposed to be mind expanding actually aren't. If you throw in the possibility of permanent nerve damage or even death, then it doesn't seem like a good idea at all.