Secrets of the Fly Agaric: From Rituals to Lucky Charms
Fly Agaric: From Shamanic Rituals to a Symbol of Good Luck 🍄 🍄
Fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) is a mystical mushroom that has played an important role in various cultures around the world for centuries. Known for its hallucinogenic properties, it has been used by shamans in numerous ritualsto communicate with spirits and enter trance states. strong> The fly agaric is often depicted in art and literature as a symbol of good luck. However, since its consumption involves great risks due to its toxicity, it is necessary to know exactly how to prepare and consume it correctly to avoid dangers. Below you'll find information on how to properly prepare and the potential benefits of microdosing this extraordinary mushroom.
It should be noted that we only deal with fly agarics as a motif for our oil paintings, and everything we write about rituals is intended merely as a curiosity. Due to their numerous travels around the world , Dr. Magdalena Laabs and Ing. Adam Laabs are interested in the beliefs of different cultures, their concept of luck, and the rituals and medicinal plants used.
Preparation and consumption of the fly agaric 🍄
The fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) is known for its hallucinogenic properties, but its consumption carries great risks due to toxicity. The following information is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as advice on eating the fly agaric. Before attempting microdosing, an appropriate professional should be consulted.
It is also important to be careful not to confuse the fly agaric with the green death cap, which can be fatally poisonous.
1. Drying:- Drying process: Drying the fly agaric is one of the first steps in preparing it for consumption. Drying at around 60-70% helps break down some of the toxic compounds present in the mushroom, such as ibotenic acid.
- Long storage: After drying, the mushrooms should be stored for at least 2 months. During this time, the toxic substances are further broken down, which increases the safety of consumption.
- Ibotenic acid: The main toxic compound in fly agaric is ibotenic acid, which occurs during drying and storage is converted into the less toxic muscimol.
- Process: The decarboxylation of ibotenic acid to muscimol can be done by drying the mushroom at a temperature of about 60°C can be accelerated.
3. Microdosing:
- Safe dosing: Eating the fly agaric in very small quantities (microdoses) can increase the risk of Reduce poisoning. Microdosing means taking subhallucinogenic doses that may have potential health benefits without triggering the full psychoactive effects.
- Recommendations: Before starting microdosing, you should always consult a doctor or natural medicine specialist.
Warnings and precautions
1. Toxicity:
- Poisoning risk: The fly agaric is highly poisonous, and improper preparation or consumption in large quantities can cause serious symptoms of poisoning, including nausea, vomiting, hallucinations and, in extreme cases, death.
2. Lack of standardization:
- Variability of toxin content: The content of toxins in fly agaric can vary depending on the location, season and others Factors vary, making accurate dosing difficult.
3. Medical advice:
- Advice from experts: Before deciding to consume fly agarics, you should always consult a doctor or toxicologist be consulted in order to avoid dangerous health consequences.
Summary
Fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) Theoretically, after appropriate preparation, such as drying at around 60- 70% and long storage, reducing its toxicity. Microdosing is a method that can minimize the risk of poisoning. However, due to the potential health risk, special caution should be exercised and an appropriate specialist should be consulted before consuming this mushroom.
"Dose makes poison" - Die Dosis macht das Gift
Paracelsus' law is: “Dosis facit venenum”, which translated from Latin means “the dose makes the poison”. This means that a substance that may be harmless or even beneficial in small amounts can become toxic in larger amounts. Paracelsus, a Renaissance physician and alchemist, emphasized that it is not the substance itself that is the poison, but its quantity.
As they say, everything is a cure or a poison - the dose makes the difference. This principle, known as Paracelsus' Law, states that any substance can be beneficial or harmful depending on the amount taken. Even substances that are normally considered healthy can become dangerous when consumed in excess. Examples include vitamins, which can be toxic in large quantities, or water, excessive consumption of which can lead to hyponatremia. Understanding this principle helps us approach nutrition and health with greater caution, paying attention to the correct dosage of each substance consumed.
Understanding Toxicity: Potatoes, Coffee and Fly Agarics
Although the fly agaric is considered poisonous, ordinary potatoes are also poisonous because they contain solanine. Without cooking they are harmful to our body. Likewise, a large amount of salt or coffee in high doses is not only harmful but also toxic. The secret lies in the right dose.
Additionally, many everyday foods can be toxic in large quantities. For example, chocolate contains theobromine, which can be dangerous in large quantities, and Brazil nuts are high in selenium, which is toxic in excess. Even water, so essential to life, can lead to a condition known as water poisoning if consumed in excess. Understanding and applying the principle "dosis facit venenum" helps us with nutrition and health It is important to be more careful and pay attention to the correct dosage of each substance consumed.
