Fly Agaric: A Compendium of History, Pharmacology, Mythology, & Exploration

Kevin Feeney

The fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) mushroom has been used medicinally for hundreds of years among tribal peoples in Siberia, as well as in parts of Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and Russia, where it has been used both topically and internally for its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, and stimulant properties. Recent research on the mushroom’s pharmacology supports these traditional uses of this mushroom and has also demonstrated that certain compounds exhibit anti-tumor and memory-protecting activities. While these are promising developments in understanding the ethnomycological uses of this mushroom, most of the world considers Amanita muscaria to be poisonous. Despite this general view, anecdotes of self-medication with this mushroom have been cropping up online in topical Facebook groups, discussion boards, blogs, and other social media platforms, with individuals claiming to treat symptoms related to Lyme disease (fatigue, cognitive deficits), tinnitus, substance dependence/withdrawal, depression, and other conditions. While these accounts are not prolific, they suggest an increased public interest in this mushroom and its potential therapeutic applications... continue reading.