What in the Shroomz World are Amanita Mushrooms?
Amanita mushrooms are a big trend right now – but at the same time, they’ve also been around for quite some time, so they’re not exactly new. If you’re seeing mushroom gummies popping up online, it’s because the explosive success of the legal psychoactive hemp market has allowed companies to explore other legal, natural intoxicants. Amanita mushrooms, of course, fit the bill. Because you may have never tried them before, or even heard of them, we’re here to share everything there is to know.
What are Amanita Mushrooms?
When discussing amanita mushrooms, we’re usually talking about amanita muscaria. Amanita muscaria is the most popular species of the amanita family. Amanita muscaria is distinctive for its red cap and white polka dot-like spots. In fact, this mushroom is so distinctive, it has been a huge part of pop culture for decades. Don’t believe us? Check out that mushroom emoji on your phone, or go play some vintage Mario.
Amanita mushroom grows wild in Asia, Europe, and North America. For thousands of years even, it has been a mainstay of cultural ceremonies of a spiritual or religious nature. This mushroom is psychedelic, due to its key compound muscimol. This acts sorta like a dissociative.
What Effects are Associated with Taking Amanita Mushrooms?
Muscimol is responsible for the majority of effects you will get from muscimol, which’s a known GABA agonist. Meaning, it produces distinctive effects associated with the brain and greater nervous system. GABA is a neurotransmitter associated with feelings of calm and relaxation. Hence, why muscimol is recognized for its dissociative and sedative qualities. Thus, making it distinct from psilocybin, the hallucinogenic compound found in “magic mushroom” species.
Because of this, amanita mushrooms are extremely popular among people who are looking to experience relief from stress, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms – as well as depression symptoms, because the effects can also be very euphoric. The mushrooms are intoxicating, and of course, the nature of the high is going to be very dose-dependent. Generally low doses will give you more calming, sedative-like effects. On the other side, higher doses can put you into a full-on hallucinatory state with visual distortions, big changes in perspective, deep introspection, and a sense of spiritual connectedness. People often say that higher doses are great for processing past traumatic events. How come? Well, this is likely because of the manner in which muscimol enhances neuroplasticity. In other words, the “flexibility” of neural pathways, enabling the brain to become more resilient to traumatic stimuli.
Another key potential benefit of amanita mushrooms is their ability to alleviate discomfort in the body. Much like cannabinoids from the hemp plant, muscimol seems to offer a feeling of tension release in the muscles and joints for the duration of the high.
Are There Any Side Effects?
Amanita mushrooms have been used for thousands of years, and never found to cause any major harm – as long as they’re prepared properly. These mushrooms must be boiled for an extended time to remove all toxic compounds, and the mushroom gummies and other edibles you’ll find on the open market have undergone this process to ensure safety.
The most common side effect of amanita mushrooms is impairment, due to the nervous system effects. This effect can make things like driving, using sharp objects, and operating heavy machinery dangerous. Of course, getting too high off of them can also cause anxiety and paranoia, which is common with psychedelics. The key to avoiding this is taking the mushrooms only when you feel mentally prepared to experience a potentially powerful introspective experience. Plus, doing so in an environment where you feel safe and comfortable. Otherwise, monitor your dosing to avoid taking too much. In general, these mushrooms are not addictive, and are not associated with any toxicity.
Where are These Mushrooms Legal?
We know it may come as a surprise, but amanita muscaria mushrooms, and all amanita varieties, are totally legal in the good ol’ USA. Unlike psilocybin, which’s a federally banned substance, and illegal in all but one state in the country, amanita muscaria mushrooms are totally legal to enjoy in all 50 states – with one exception being in Louisiana. In that state, amanita muscaria mushrooms strictly prohibited.
Amanita Mushrooms: The Next Big Legal, Plant-Derived High
Amanita mushrooms have been utilized for a long, long time, and there’s clearly a reason why they remain so sought-after. If you’re ready to seek out your own amanita experience, you’ll want to apply the same standards that you do to hemp products – like looking for a trusted brand, reading up on reviews, and checking third-party lab reports for quality and safety, to know you’re getting nothing but legit, top-quality, and safe mushroom products.
Amanita mushrooms are totally worth exploring. Especially, if you’re someone who enjoys natural psychoactives, and simply wants to go a bit deeper into a psychedelic experience. Assuming you dose properly (by following the label’s instructions), you can have a surprisingly profound experience, or, at the very least, get some well-deserved relief from your daily stress and worries.
At Wild Orchard Co, we’re launching our own amanita muscaria products. These come in user-friendly formulas such as gummies. That way, dosing is amazingly simple. Prepared properly to ensure maximum safety, they offer mouthwatering flavor. Not only that, but also come in doses that will give you the full potential of benefits associated with this long-beloved mushroom species.