Amanita Muscaria mushrooms are one of the most iconic mushrooms known today. You’ll recognize them by their signature red cap with white spots.
When processed, these mushrooms produce a combination of 3 active ingredients that, when combined, can induce psychoactive or hallucinogenic effects.
Active Ingredients: Muscimol, Muscarine, and Ibotenic Acid
Benefits of Muscimol
Over the past 10 years, there has been a significant increase in the research of psychedelic compounds in relation to treating mental and physical health conditions. Recently, a Canadian wellness company worked to identify compounds not in the mainstream psychedelics, and was able to successfully purify a legal compound with psychoactive properties. Muscimol has been shown to decrease stress and anxiety, ease muscular pain, and promote healthy sleep. When ingested, Muscimol interacts with our GABA-A receptors to provide feelings of euphoria, altered sensory perception, and vivid dreams. Research is limited on this compound, as in the past it has been improperly labelled as poisonous. As an agonist to GABA-A receptors, muscimol could show promise for various health issues including sleep and insomnia, addiction, and pain. Read more about the benefits of muscimol in this interview of Psyched Wellness’ CEO, Jeff Stevens.
What is Ibotenic Acid?
Ibotenic Acid is a powerful neurotoxicant that resembles the major stimulatory neurotransmitter, glutamic acid (glutamate).
Ibotenic Acid and Muscimol are often found together in mushrooms, and have the potential to balance each other out to produce enjoyable hallucinogenic effects.
Amanita Muscaria are considered a food, and therefore are principally regulated under the the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the Nutrition Labelling and Education Act.