# Fly agaric **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 11, 2010, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fly-agaric/524564 "2010-01-11T21:55:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dorothy\_Mantooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b77776/32.png) [@Dorothy\_Mantooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorothy_Mantooth)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fly-agaric/524564/1 "2010-01-11T21:55:05Z")
What’s the best way to prepare it in order to reduce the toxicity? ---
**Author:** ![capeo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@capeo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capeo)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fly-agaric/524564/2 "2010-01-11T22:00:48Z")
Prepare it for what? It’s a poisonous mushroom that shouldn’t be eaten under any circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fly-agaric/524564/3 "2010-01-11T22:01:13Z")
Apparently boiling it in several changes of water and draining it removes the toxic and hallucinogenic compounds rendering it safe as food, however… [ul] [li]I’ve only ever read that as an aside comment in my fungi books[/li][li]I don’t imagine the end result would be tasty[/li][li]I’m kinda thinking you’re not asking about how to prepare it as food. But I don’t think this is going to turn out to have been the right place to ask about the preparation of psychoactive compounds.[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![capeo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@capeo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capeo)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fly-agaric/524564/4 "2010-01-11T22:04:27Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Apparently boiling it in several changes of water and draining it removes the toxic and hallucinogenic compounds rendering it safe as food, however… > > [ul] > [li]I’ve only ever read that as an aside comment in my fungi books[/li][li]I don’t imagine the end result would be tasty[/li][li]I’m kinda thinking you’re not asking about how to prepare it as food. But I don’t think this is going to turn out to have been the right place to ask about the preparation of psychoactive compounds.[/li][/ul] If its for its psychoactive properties there are completely safe mushrooms to meet that need. Not that I would know anything about that… ---
**Author:** ![Dorothy\_Mantooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b77776/32.png) [@Dorothy\_Mantooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorothy_Mantooth)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fly-agaric/524564/5 "2010-01-11T22:06:06Z")
> [@capeo](#): > > If its for its psychoactive properties there are completely safe mushrooms to meet that need. Not that I would know anything about that… True, but those are illegal and as such we can’t discuss them here. Basically I’m looking for a way to reduce fly agaric to a minimal and non-lethal toxicity. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fly-agaric/524564/6 "2010-01-11T22:07:54Z")
> [@Dorothy\_Mantooth](#): > > True, but those are illegal and as such we can’t discuss them here. Basically I’m looking for a way to reduce fly agaric to a minimal and non-lethal toxicity. IANAMod, but as one member to another, I think you’re looking in the wrong place. ---
**Author:** ![Dorothy\_Mantooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b77776/32.png) [@Dorothy\_Mantooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorothy_Mantooth)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fly-agaric/524564/7 "2010-01-11T23:38:53Z")
Where should I look? ---
**Author:** ![fandango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b5ac83/32.png) [@fandango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fandango)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fly-agaric/524564/8 "2010-01-11T23:45:03Z")
Feed it to reindeer and wait for them to urinate…then enjoy a nice warm glass of reindeer wee. (It’s an old recipe!) ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fly-agaric/524564/9 "2010-01-12T00:32:13Z")
> [@fandango](#): > > Feed it to reindeer and wait for them to urinate…then enjoy a nice warm glass of reindeer wee. > > (It’s an old recipe!) Do the reindeer trip from eating it? Being mammals like us, I imagine they would hallucinate and feel weird, maybe euphoric. Maybe this is the origin of ‘flying reindeer’? I don’t think they laugh for three hours though. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fly-agaric/524564/10 "2010-01-12T00:58:55Z")
> [@Dorothy\_Mantooth](#): > > Where should I look? > **[Erowid Psychoactive Amanita Mushrooms (A. muscaria, A. pantherina) Vault](https://www.erowid.org/plants/amanitas/amanitas.shtml)** > > Information about Psychoactive Amanita genus mushrooms/fungi (A. muscaria, A. pantherina, etc) including basics, effects, dosage, history, legal status, photos, research, media coverage, and links to other resources. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fly-agaric/524564/11 "2010-01-12T01:54:13Z")
Huh. Learn something new every day. Up until now, I always knew fly amanitas (known in French as "fly \*killing \*amanitas, because flys that try to eat them end up dead) were horribly toxic, not to be picked up in any case no matter how often you run into them etc… but I never knew they were trippin’. Where were you guys when I was 14 and spending every summer at my gramma’s house in the country ? Rassum frassum keepin’ all the 'shrooms for themselves… ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fly-agaric/524564/12 "2010-01-12T02:38:46Z")
[moderating] Let’s see here… GOOD advice in this thread will help you perform illegal acts. BAD advice will help you to end up dead. I don’t see much upside to leaving this thread open. [/moderating] ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fly-agaric/524564/13 "2010-01-13T19:37:30Z")
[moderating] After discussing this with the other moderators, I’ve decided to reopen the thread. Carry on! [/moderating] ---
**Author:** ![fandango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b5ac83/32.png) [@fandango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fandango)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fly-agaric/524564/14 "2010-01-13T21:16:46Z")
> [@BMax](#): > > Do the reindeer trip from eating it? Being mammals like us, I imagine they would hallucinate and feel weird, maybe euphoric. Maybe this is the origin of ‘flying reindeer’? I don’t think they laugh for three hours though. I’ve heard that is where the flying reindeer meme originated, but I’m not convinced. I’ve also heard the witches on broomsticks idea originated from those old pagan crones smearing their brooms with psychoactive chemicals and then riding them so as to absorb aforesaid chemicals through the nearby mucous membranes. I’m more of the opinion that not _everything_ in folklore is a corruption of an earlier reality. (Oh, and Grendel was a Neanderthal!) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fly-agaric/524564/15 "2010-01-13T23:11:19Z")
OK, since the mods have said this is OK… here’s the gist of what my best mushroom book (Roger Phillips) says on the subject: The fungus contains two main toxins in unpredictable, differing amounts - Ibotenic acid (dangerous inebriant) and Muscimol (psychoactive, but still dangerous). On drying, the ibotenic acid mostly breaks down into more muscimol. In Lapland, where the fungus is eaten purposely for its inebriant and psychoactive effects, the caps are cut into pieces and dried - the dried pieces are swallowed without chewing (dosage is quite critical, but difficult to measure due to variability). A short time later, dizziness and convulsions occur, followed by deep unconsciousness, during which the stomach contents are often vomited (risk of choking if unaccompanied). When consciousness returns, stupour and vivid visions and exaggerated physical reactions are experienced for several hours or more. The book repeatedly stresses the unpredictability of the effect - some people eat them and nothing happens, others experience the psychoactive effects they seek, some die. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fly-agaric/524564/16 "2010-01-13T23:19:15Z")
The site I linked above ([http://www.erowid.org/](http://www.erowid.org/)) has a huge amount of into on Amanitas, but I’d like to stress that it’s not to be messed with lightly. There are a huge amount of legal psychedelics that are easier to prepare, less dangerous if you get it wrong and probably a more pleasant experience as well. maybe try: [http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/ayahuasca/](http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/ayahuasca/) and [http://www.erowid.org/plants/salvia/](http://www.erowid.org/plants/salvia/) both currently legal in most countries. ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fly-agaric/524564/17 "2010-01-14T04:42:56Z")
So why on earth would anybody be using fly agaric for psychedelic effects, if it’s potentially dangerous and unpredictable and, from the description of the negative effects (convulsions and unconsciousness and vomiting) that accompany the hallucinations, probably very unpleasant? Is it a traditional kind of thing to help cause visions, like nicotine water and more familiar psychedelic mushrooms? Or is it just a case of desperation due to most other hallucinogens being illegal? ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fly-agaric/524564/18 "2010-01-14T05:49:56Z")
> [@chorpler](#): > > So why on earth would anybody be using fly agaric for psychedelic effects, if it’s potentially dangerous and unpredictable and, from the description of the negative effects (convulsions and unconsciousness and vomiting) that accompany the hallucinations, probably very unpleasant? Is it a traditional kind of thing to help cause visions, like nicotine water and more familiar psychedelic mushrooms? Or is it just a case of desperation due to most other hallucinogens being illegal? It’s traditionally been used by both Siberian and Native american Shamans. Some people want to try everything once… personally I wouldn’t touch the stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fly-agaric/524564/19 "2010-01-14T08:54:39Z")
> [@chorpler](#): > > So why on earth would anybody be using fly agaric for psychedelic effects, if it’s potentially dangerous and unpredictable and, from the description of the negative effects (convulsions and unconsciousness and vomiting) that accompany the hallucinations, probably very unpleasant? Is it a traditional kind of thing to help cause visions, like nicotine water and more familiar psychedelic mushrooms? Or is it just a case of desperation due to most other hallucinogens being illegal? I expect the Lapps - at least historically - had enough judgment to administer it a bit more safely than the average random doper, or maybe they just didn’t care. I guess death by stupefied misadventure is not unheard of even today - with alcohol (although the actual cause of death may be some physical accident) ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fly-agaric/524564/20 "2010-01-14T09:49:03Z")
If anybody was going to eat fly agaric, it would be **Mangetout**. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fly-agaric/524564.md?page=2)