Amanita Muscaria

Amanita muscaria aka Fly Agaric

5g $13.95 dried

This mushroom is sedative, relaxing and introspective in small doses. It is a mild hallucinogen and dream inducer in higher doses, to the point of euphoria, confusion or space/time altering. Too much it can be toxic, but that is very rare, and you'd have to eat a ridiculous amount. However if you make a tea and brew with lemon, some neat science occurs and it becomes palatable and safe to drink. (see recipe below)

But first here's some cool facts and history bits:

This mushroom contains psychoactive compounds like muscimol and ibotenic acid. It has been revered for thousands of years for its spiritual importance. It played a significant role in indigenous religious and cultural traditions in North America, Northern Europe, Scandinavia, Siberia and Northern Japan.

Reindeer in Scandinavia actively seek out and consume this mushroom. When reindeer metabolize Amanita muscaria, their urine retains a concentrated form of muscimol, the psychoactive compound. The Sami people in Northern Scandinavia used to consume the urine in certain ceremonies. This had less of the mushroom's toxic effects while preserving its hallucinogenic properties. (Some believe this ultimately led to our holiday flying reindeer and a red and white Santa!)

Some historians believe that Amanita muscaria was used 3500 years ago by the Indus Valley civilization. Given its long-standing use by different cultures throughout the world, some believe that Amanita muscaria may be soma, a plant, god, and intoxicating drink frequently described in the ancient Hindu text, the Rigveda. Exactly what soma was made of has been lost over time, but there are compelling theories and arguments in favour of Amanita muscaria being the mind-altering drink.

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Here's a quick recipe for Amanita Tea so you don't have to drink reindeer pee! The Sami people obviously didn't know this trick because lemons weren't introduced to the area until this past century. 

● 250ml-500ml clean filtered water for every 2 - 5g dried hand ground amanita mushrooms. The amount of water doesn't meed to be exact, it just needs to be enough to cover the material used while simmering. The more liquid you use the more you'll need to drink, but the less bitter it will be.

● Fill up a small pot of water with the mushrooms. Bring to a soft boil, then immediately reduce heat to maintain simmer for 30 mins.

● Take off burner and then add 1 tsp lemon juice for every gram used. Let it stand with the lid on for 15 - 20 mins. Give it a whisk every few mins while it cools.

● Strain the matter through a sieve or cheesecloth. 

● Drink warm or cold. You can add honey, cinnamon or more lemon juice for flavour.

● Store in one or multiple containers. You can keep a week's worth in the refrigerator and keep the rest in the freezer. It can get very science-y on the internet with double extractions and adding this and that, but for the average psychonaught, this recipe will do the trick! 

Note: I am not an herbalist, doctor, physician, chemist, scientist, psychologist, visionary, witch, shamen, or really an expert in anything. I'm just an ordinary person sharing information about plants that worked for me and people I know! Do research and see for yourself! Just sayin'...