An emerging alternative to psychedelic mushrooms is more dangerous than advertised, public health researchers are warning.
But the mushrooms use as a drug was largely supplanted by the discovery of psilocybin-containing mushrooms in the Americas.
But unfortunately for potential consumers, the two fungi have some very important differences.
Amanita muscaria mushroomsPhoto: Bernard Spragg/Wikimedia Commons (Fair Use)
Both mushrooms can cause some similar symptoms, such as visual hallucinations.
They also cite several recent case reports of people being hospitalized or even dying from taking A. muscaria.
So there are no rules right now that govern how it can be grown or used.
And these supplements are often intentionally fostering confusion between the different kinds of mushrooms.
There is a lot of interest in the therapeutic potential for psilocybin and for good reason.
The time for a public health first response is now.
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