If you’ve spent any time online recently, you’ve probably seen Amanita muscaria (the red-and-white “Mario mushroom”) being sold as a legal psychedelic alternative.
It’s marketed as natural, spiritual, and “gentle.” But two recent medical case reports tell a different story.
In one, a 44-year-old man bought dried Amanita muscaria mushrooms online, ate several caps as part of his “holistic medicine” practice, and never woke up again. In another, a 75-year-old man foraged and ate one large cap, ended up in intensive care, and was lucky to survive.
Both cases were published in Wilderness and Environmental Medicine in 2022. Together, they’re a sobering reminder that “natural” doesn’t mean “safe,” and that fungi, for all their beauty and wisdom, demand deep respect.
What makes Amanita muscaria unique
Unlike magic mushrooms, which contain psilocybin, Amanita muscaria contains two very different chemicals: ibotenic acid and muscimol.
Ibotenic acid excites the brain. It’s considered stimulating, confusing, and sometimes hallucinogenic. Muscimol, on the other hand, depresses the brain, slowing things down, including breathing. Normally, these effects balance out. But in large doses, that balance collapses.
That’s what happened to the 44-year-old in the U.S. He ate six to ten caps, fell asleep, began convulsing, and eventually stopped breathing. By the time paramedics restarted his heart, his brain had been without oxygen for too long. He was kept alive on machines for nine days before doctors confirmed irreversible brain damage.
The second man, in Turkey, survived because he only ate one cap and received hospital care quickly. He still needed to be intubated and treated for low blood pressure and slowed heart rate.
Why this matters right now
Amanita muscaria has become trendy again, showing up in gummies, capsules, and “microdose chocolates” across the internet.
But lab tests have found that many of these products don’t even contain real Amanita compounds. Some are contaminated with synthetic tryptamines, or even prescription drugs like pregabalin.
Even when it is genuine Amanita muscaria, the chemistry varies wildly depending on where and when it was picked, and how it was dried. One mushroom might be mildly psychoactive; another could be strong enough to cause serious health issues.
From 2011 to 2018, the American Association of Poison Control Centers reported 312 exposures to ibotenic acid-containing mushrooms. Of these, only 15 had a major outcome with 1 death.
The first reported UK hospitalisation occurred in July 2023 following raw mushroom consumption.
Potental benefits of microdosing Amanita Muscaria
Amanita muscaria has seen a surge in recreational and “microdosing” use online, with people claiming it brings euphoria, calm, and introspection like psilocybin. In reality, it works on a completely different system in the brain.
Its main compound, muscimol, activates GABA receptors rather than serotonin, leading to sedation, confusion, muscle twitching, and poor coordination rather than reliable psychedelic effects.
Case reports continue to show tremors, delirium, and breathing issues, and adverse reactions often outweigh any benefits.
Microdosing trends claim anxiety relief and cognitive enhancement, but no controlled human trials exist to support this. The few self-reported cases are anecdotal, often shaped by placebo and expectation bias, and even small doses can cause nausea or neurotoxic effects.
Claims of therapeutic value, like muscimol’s supposed neuroprotective effects, come only from animal studies with no human validation. For now, the hype around Amanita muscaria far exceeds the evidence.
The lesson isn’t “avoid mushrooms.” It’s “respect them.”
Mushrooms can be extraordinary teachers and healers. But the line between medicine and poison is thin, and often invisible.
Amanita muscaria has a deep cultural and mythological history - from Siberian shamans to Vedic soma - yet modern internet sellers have turned it into a novelty high.
If you’re drawn to exploring your consciousness, do it safely and intentionally. Know your species, your source, your dose, and your body. Understand that even ancient medicines can become dangerous in the wrong hands, in the wrong amounts, or for the wrong reasons.
The man who died was curious, idealistic, and wanted to heal naturally. But he made a fatal mistake in assuming that “natural” meant harmless.
Make sure you don't make the same mistake.
