Amanita Muscaria Research: What’s the Latest?
Amanita muscaria is gaining popularity, making it more important than ever to understand this mushroom’s uses, potential benefits, and side effects.
Unfortunately, Amanita muscaria has long been overlooked as a source of bioactive compounds, and studies are thin on the ground. However, the situation is steadily changing, and more amanita research is emerging each year.
This article summarizes some of the current evidence on Amanita muscaria, its chemistry, effects, and safety. It is not an exhaustive list, but we have attempted to include the most relevant studies to date.
Reasons for Use, Ingestion Method, and Side Effects
A 2023 study investigated the most common reasons, ingestion methods, and side effects associated with Amanita muscaria use. The authors analyzed the reports of 684 people posting on Amanita Facebook groups.
They found that the most common reasons for use, ingestion methods, and side effects varied between males and females. The results are summarized in the table below:
| Gender | Reasons for Use | Ingestion Method | Side Effects |
| Male | Intestinal problems Depressive symptoms Insomnia Stress Pain Skin Problems |
Dried mushrooms Ambrosia Tincture |
Nausea Vomiting Kidney problems Abdominal pain Diarrhea Lack of strength Somnolence Stimulation Decreased appetite Hunger Headache |
| Female | Skin problems Pain Stress Insomnia Depressive symptoms Intestinal problems |
Tincture Ambrosia Dried mushrooms |
Headache Hunger Decreased appetite Stimulation Somnolence Lack of strength Diarrhea Abdominal pain Kidney problems Vomiting Nausea |
This Amanita muscaria study had many limitations, but it provides an interesting insight into why people use the mushroom, how they ingest it, and the possible adverse effects. The authors concluded the study by stating that more detailed Amanita muscaria research is necessary to identify which components are responsible for its effects.
Active Compounds: Research on Ibotenic Acid and Muscimol
Research into Amanita muscaria’s active compounds is ongoing.
It appears that the chemicals responsible for most of its effects are ibotenic acid and muscimol. However, the mushroom likely contains other, as yet unknown, active components. For example, a 2023 study found that an Amanita muscaria alcohol tincture contained neither of these compounds but still had biological effects.
Below, we will explore some of the current research on ibotenic acid and muscimol. We hope to see many more studies into its other components and their significance in the future.
Ibotenic Acid
Ibotenic acid is structurally similar to the neurotransmitter glutamate and acts correspondingly in the brain, producing excitatory effects.
Ibotenic acid is neurotoxic, and since the 1970s, it has been used as a brain lesioning agent in research studies. This has raised concerns about the safety of ingesting this chemical.
However, these studies involved injecting ibotenic acid directly into the brains of laboratory animals. Its effects on the human brain, when taken by mouth, remain underexplored.
Muscimol
Muscimol is structurally similar to the neurotransmitter GABA and acts specifically on GABA-A receptors in the brain to produce inhibitory effects.
A 2021 study suggests that the chemical causes significant behavioral changes in several species, including sedation, decreased motor activity, and increased time spent at rest. It is also thought to have neuroprotective effects and has been researched as a treatment for several medical conditions, as we will discuss in the following sections.
Neuropathic Pain
One key area of interest is muscimol’s potential as a remedy for neuropathic pain. In a 2014 study, rats with spinal injuries were given muscimol intrathecally (directly into the spinal canal) and experienced temporary reductions in neuropathic pain symptoms.
Similarly, a 2020 study found that muscimol administered with endomorphin-1 significantly increased the pain threshold in injured rats compared to either chemical alone. The study’s authors suggest that the combination could be a “new candidate for alleviation of pain resulting from spinal cord injury.”
Essential Tremor and Parkinson’s Disease
Muscimol has also been investigated as a treatment for essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease.
A 1999 study involving six patients with essential tremor showed that microinjections of muscimol directly into the brain areas associated with tremors reduced symptoms in each patient. However, the effects were short-lived. There does not appear to be any further research, perhaps due to the short duration of benefits or impracticality of the administration method in real-world medical settings.
Another 2001 study showed that muscimol microinjections suppressed limb tremors in two patients with Parkinson’s disease. However, a 2009 phase 1 clinical trial of muscimol for Parkinson’s disease was withdrawn, and no further evidence is readily available at present.
Epilepsy and Seizures
Muscimol has been researched as an anti-seizure drug since the 1970s. One early study showed that it abolished seizures in rats and was more potent than the anticonvulsant drugs phenobarbital and phenytoin. These results were supported by a 2002 study that tested the efficacy of muscimol-containing microparticles in rats.
However, a 2019 study on three patients with drug-resistant epilepsy did not confirm that muscimol effectively suppressed seizures in human subjects.
Safety and Side Effects
Many are concerned about the safety of Amanita muscaria, particularly due to it containing neurotoxic ibotenic acid. The mushroom also contains small amounts of muscarine, which can cause severe side effects when consumed excessively. Indeed, many consider the mushroom poisonous due to its potentially unpleasant effects, especially when large amounts are ingested raw.
In addition to the side effects reported in the 2023 study detailed above, a 2021 case report described some of the possible symptoms of Amanita muscaria poisoning as follows:
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Agitation
- Loss of coordination
- Hallucinations
- Heart rate and blood pressure changes
- Body temperature changes
- Increased salivation and airway secretions
Consuming large amounts of Amanita muscaria can cause comas and may be fatal, although it is not a common occurrence. In fact, many argue that Amanita muscaria is safe when prepared correctly and used in sensible amounts.
The Canadian supplements company Psyched Wellness conducted research into the safety of its proprietary Amanita muscaria extract AME-1. It tested the extract over 90 days and found “no adverse clinical signs of toxicity.”
These results are promising, but it should be noted that they were published in a press release rather than a peer-reviewed journal, and the details of the study are unclear. We hope to see more reliable evidence emerging soon.
Amanita Muscaria Research: Summary
Amanita muscaria research is in its early stages but is steadily picking up pace. This is essential as more products containing the mushroom hit the market and consumers become aware of its effects and possible benefits.
It seems that Amanita muscaria’s active compounds could have some therapeutic potential, but far more study into its safety and effectiveness is required. Until we know more, it is advisable to treat Amanita muscaria with caution and consult a medical professional before use.
Lynn Marie Morski
Reviewed by Lynn Marie Morski, MD, JD, who is a president of the Psychedelic Medicine Association and host of the Psychedelic Medicine Podcast. She sits on the advisory boards of Psychedelics Today, Cybin, VETS, Inc (Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions), the Oxenberg Foundation, and the Ketamine Task Force. Dr. Morski is also a Mayo Clinic-trained physician in family medicine and sports medicine, as well as an attorney and former adjunct law professor.
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