[Opinions] Amanita muscaria aka fly agaric

Welcome to the kingdom of magic shrooms! :p

Amanita muscaria is not psilocybin. It is a sedative hypnotic.
I will spare you the chemistry lecture.
Suffice to know that it contains ibotenic acid and muscimol, and that every batch is chemically uneven. This is why the dose response curve is unstable and why a smile at 0.5g becomes a spinning room at 1.2g.

The “reduced anxiety” is due to GABA action. GABA agonists push the nervous system toward inhibition. People get a temporary sense of calm because the system is shut down.
It is similar to the effects of benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and alcohol. The difference is that those drugs are standardized.

There is no solid evidence that chronic microdosing improves long term mental health. No controlled trials, no neuroimaging, no pharmacokinetic data in humans at microdose levels. Anxious rodents don’t count.

Siberian shamans use this shroom for dissociation.

If you stay at 0.5g and feel calmer, that is simply your GABA receptors being blocked. Nothing mystical.
The spinning sensation at 1.2g is your vestibular system going crazy.

People keep hunting for shortcuts because life is hard. You do what you want, but use your brain, keep your dose low, and don’t glorify a mushroom that can’t keep itself consistent.
And don’t use it when you plan to have sex or you will have embarrassing surprises.

Why don’t you choose some species that you can cultivate yourself?

JohnnyDoe said:

Why don’t you choose some species that you can cultivate yourself?

For example?

Justit said:

For example?

psilocybe cubensis in all its declinations for example

Columbus said:

I would rather buy it, does it have any positive long term effects?

Clinical trials at Johns Hopkins and Imperial College tested psilocybin for depression, smoking cessation, alcohol use, and end of life anxiety. Results show that a single or double high dose session can produce measurable improvements for months.
There is no proof of permanent cognitive enhancement. You will remain as smart or as stupid as you are.
No guaranteed emotional upgrades.
Some say you get a shift in perspective.

It's always better to grow your own stuff. You never know who has handled it, how it was stored, if it's contaminated etc.
You can find grow kits online.