Since ancient times, narcotic properties have been widely used in the rites and rituals of nationalities. Images of fly agaric mushrooms were found in rock paintings in ancient chronicles.
In those days, shamans, before performing the ritual, ate fly agaric mushrooms to acquire new mental and physical strength. After eating such food, they experienced numerous hallucinations.
Reconnecting with spirits was the goal of their drug sessions. Through experiments with food, our ancestors learned about the mysterious properties of these plants.
The tribes of the Mayans, Aztecs and many other tribes also did not avoid this method of acquiring superpowers. Spiritualistic seances, rituals, ceremonies, meditations, shamanism, all this was accompanied by the use of narcotic drugs.
Referring to historical facts, it can be argued that to give fearlessness, the Vikings also ate mushrooms before important battles. A drink made from hallucinogens was often used in combat.
Warriors acquired bloodthirstiness and fearlessness with the help of this drink. The action of the active substances of the mushroom incited rage in the warriors, they became invincible, instilling numbness and horror in their opponents.
Despite all these very interesting mysterious events associated with these mushrooms, in the modern world they should not be used without the advice of specialists.
Useful information about the world of mushrooms
We all love to visit forests, just for a walk, or in search of something tasty and beautiful. Avid mushroom pickers know about all the intricacies of this species, but ordinary, inexperienced people may not get exactly what they were looking for.
There are many forested areas in Europe; more than 80 species have found their refuge in the forests, which cause harm to the human body when consumed as food. Even if you touch the mushroom with your hands, the poison from your hands can get into your mouth. About 30 species of these mushrooms are dangerous, many of them are deadly poisonous, the red fly agaric falls into this number. Beware of mushrooms if they are not familiar to you.
– What should we know first of all about his appearance so as not to confuse him with anything? Brief description, has a cap on a stalk, a fruit-bearing, dense, fleshy body.
The mushroom cap does not exceed 20 cm in diameter, is also fleshy, at the beginning of growth it acquires a spherical shape, after a while it becomes convex and outstretched, with a thin ribbed edge, sticky orange-red. When it begins to age, it acquires a yellowish tint and the colors fade.
There are large white spots and dots on the cap - there are mushrooms without them, but very rarely. Under the skin the cap is light orange, it is surprisingly tasty, the mushroom tastes sweet and exudes a pleasant aroma. In all books and booklets, red fly agarics are depicted very clearly; they are difficult to confuse with something else.
Many different species predominate in our area. It is important to know that absolutely all fly agarics are poisonous.
Where does it grow?
Fly agarics are not whimsical and are located in forests of all types. The color of the mushroom cap depends on the trees growing nearby.
Fly agarics are found on all continents; they are distributed throughout the world. Almost any forest soil is suitable for mushroom growth. Most likely, each of us who has visited our nearest forest has encountered a fly agaric on our way.
Is the red fly agaric dangerous?
A very potent poison, muscarine, is part of the chemical composition of the fly agaric. The slightest dose of this substance consumed by a person can cause terribly serious consequences, and death is not excluded. Muscarine is an alkaloid. All alkaloids can be used as a stimulant. The dose should not be large to avoid toxicity.
While studying fly agaric, scientists noticed that poisoning with pure muscarine differs from poisoning with a mushroom: muscarine does not affect the nervous system, delirium, rabies and hallucinations are excluded.
A complex of three active substances acts on the brain; we won’t go into chemical terms. The toxic protein substances of the fly agaric are fatal to flies, which is why the mushroom received such an original name. Even the smallest doses kill these insects.
Contraindications of red fly agaric
Always remember that fly agaric is a mushroom filled with poison. It must be used with great caution and dosage calculations must be done responsibly. After rubbing and using fly agaric products, be sure to wash your hands with soap and do not give them to children.
It is also not recommended to treat children with fly agaric; the dose for children is difficult to calculate, and you can easily get poisoned if you make a mistake. Do not use tinctures or decoctions that have not been tested, without recipes and dosage calculations. We can easily distinguish the red fly agaric from other mushrooms, so it is not so dangerous.
Unknown to people and almost indistinguishable from edible ones, they pose a mortal danger; they are very similar to champignons and russula; inexperienced mushroom pickers can easily mistake them for a good mushroom. Despite this, cases of poisoning were rarely recorded.
What to do if you couldn’t avoid poisoning?
The very first and necessary action is to empty the stomach of all contents. Drink at least a liter of water, induce a gag reflex in the familiar way (two fingers in your mouth). It is necessary to induce vomiting until the stomach is completely empty of food.
- Take a strong laxative.
- If you don’t have any suitable medications at hand, make an enema from a warm soapy solution (laundry or baby soap will do).
- You need to take any medications as directed by your doctors.
- A lethal dose of poison is contained in 3-4 fly agaric mushrooms.
- Despite the improvement in the condition, in any case you need to consult a doctor.
Using fly agaric in everyday life
Tinctures, decoctions, dry powders are made from fly agaric, mixed with various other drugs, and used in all areas of non-traditional medicine.
Disorders of internal organs, chronic illnesses. In this medicine, only mushroom caps are used; the entire mushroom is not used for medicine.
Photos of fly agarics
Amanita muscaria) - a poisonous mushroom of psychotropic and toxic action, which belongs to the class of Agaricomycetes, the order of Agaricales, the Amanitaceae family, the genus Fly Agaric and subgenus Amanita.
Red fly agaric gets its name from the ancient way of using this mushroom as a means of controlling flies. The species name muscaria comes from the Latin word for fly (musca), and this fly agaric is called red because of the characteristic bright red color of the cap.
Red fly agaric - description, characteristics
hat
Young red fly agarics have a spherical cap, which over time takes on the shape of a flat and sometimes concave saucer. The diameter of the cap ranges from 8 to 20 cm, rarely reaching 25 cm. The shiny skin is usually bright orange or red in color of varying degrees of intensity, and is often covered with a sticky, mucous secretion. In North America, there are varieties of red fly agaric that have a white or yellow cap.
The surface of the cap is strewn with layers of warty, scaly white flakes - the remnants of a blanket that protects the fruiting body of young mushrooms. In old fly agaric mushrooms, these characteristic growths can be washed away by rain, but in young ones they often fly off. There is also a species of red fly agaric that does not have flakes (for example, Amanita muscaria var. aureola).
The edges of the cap may be striped (covered with scars).
Records
The inner surface of the red fly agaric cap is formed by frequent, free plates 6-12 mm wide, between which there are many intermediate plates.
In young mushrooms, the color of the plates is pure white or cream; with age, they acquire a yellowish tint.
Leg
The leg of the red fly agaric is white or slightly yellowish, grows from 8 to 20 cm in height, has a thickness of 1 to 3.5 cm and is cylindrical in shape with a tuberous thickening at the base.
Young mushrooms have a dense stem, which becomes hollow as they grow.
Remains of the bedspread
At the top of the leg, a fibrous membranous ring-skirt with uneven edges and a ribbed surface, falling in a wide flounce, is clearly defined.
In the lower part of the leg there is an adherent multilayer vagina in the form of several rings.
Pulp
The flesh of the red fly agaric is white, under the skin of the cap it is pale orange or yellowish. Does not change color when cut. The taste is sweetish. The smell is inexpressive.
Spores and spore powder
The spore powder of the fruiting body is white. The spores are smooth, colorless, ellipsoidal in shape, measuring 10-12 x 6-7 microns.
Where does the red fly agaric grow?
Red fly agaric and its varieties can be in symbiosis with birches, spruces, oaks, poplars, and willows; they grow widely on damp acidic soils. The poisonous mushroom grows in abundance in coniferous, mixed and deciduous forests, along the edges of meadows and fields, and is often found in city parks and squares. Usually appears in the middle or end of summer and bears fruit until October; in good years, the first bright caps of red fly agarics begin to please the eye already in June. The habitat of the red fly agaric includes the countries of Europe and Asia, North and South America, the territory of Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.
Similar species
Caesar's mushroom (edible Caesar's fly agaric) ( Amanita caesarea)
Inexperienced mushroom pickers can sometimes confuse the red fly agaric with the edible Caesar mushroom, which is found in the Caucasus, Crimea, Transcarpathia and Mediterranean countries. Caesar's mushroom, or as it is often called Caesar's fly agaric, differs from the red fly agaric in the absence of characteristic flakes on the cap, as well as the stem and plates, painted in a golden yellow color.
Varieties of red fly agaric, photos and names
Mycologists distinguish several varieties of red fly agaric, which differ in their color and places of growth:
- Amanita muscaria var. muscaria
Some foreign authors use this name to designate fly agarics, whose range covers Eurasia and the western part of Alaska. Mushrooms of this variety have a traditional appearance for the red fly agaric: a red cap covered with characteristic white flakes.
- Fly agaric yellow-orange ( Amanita muscaria var. formosa)
a subspecies of the red fly agaric, the cap of which is yellow or light orange and covered with a characteristic flake-like coating - the remains of a protective blanket. Young fly agarics have a spherical cap, and over time it straightens out to almost flat. The inner surface of the cap is formed by frequent, loosely seated white or cream-colored plates. The flesh of poisonous mushrooms is dense and always white. The leg is smooth, cylindrical in shape, its surface and ring in the upper part are white, and there are also remains of a white blanket at the base. Fly agaric grows in summer and autumn in coniferous and deciduous forests of North America.
- Amanita muscaria var. alba
a rare variety of red fly agaric, distinguished by a white cap strewn with layers of white flakes. The caps of young mushrooms have a dome shape, later the surface of the cap is completely straightened. On the stalk of poisonous fly agarics there is a smooth white ring. Below the ring the surface of the stalk is fibrous, above the ring the stalk is smooth. The plates under the cap are frequent and loose, the flesh is white and dense. A variety of this red fly agaric is found in summer and autumn in both coniferous and deciduous forests.
- fly agaric golden (Amanita muscaria var. aureola, Agaricus aureolus)
a species of red fly agaric, very similar in appearance to the edible Caesar mushroom. A distinctive feature of the poisonous mushroom is its smooth, glossy orange skin, devoid of a coating of characteristic white flakes. Initially, the cap of the golden fly agaric has a round shape, over time it becomes saucer-like; in some mushrooms, remnants of a cover may be observed on the surface. The diameter of the cap usually does not exceed 3-8 cm; frequent white plates grow on its lower surface. The height of the leg is from 6 to 12 cm, the diameter is from 0.9 to 1.2 cm. The surface of the leg is white, at the base there is a short volva (remains of a protective blanket). At the top of the leg there is a ring, white on top and yellowish below. The flesh of the fly agaric can be white or yellowish. The mushroom bears fruit in summer, found in both deciduous and coniferous forests.
- Amanita muscaria var. flavivolvata
a species of red fly agaric, whose habitat extends from southern Alaska through Central America and to Colombia. Fruits in summer and fall, but is occasionally found in winter in California. At the beginning of growth, the cap of the red fly agaric has the shape of a dome, then completely flattens. The diameter of the cap is 5-25 cm. The skin is bright red, with grooved edges, covered with layers of white or yellowish flakes. The lower surface of the cap is formed by frequent, free white plates, between which there are intermediate plates. The length of the leg reaches 5-18 cm, the thickness is 1-3 cm. The upper part of the leg is surrounded by a ring, the surface above the ring is smooth, the bottom is fibrous. The flesh of the red fly agaric is dense, white, with a weakly expressed taste and aroma.
- Amanita muscaria var. guessowii
A species of red fly agaric native to northeastern North America. According to some mycologists, this fly agaric is an independent species, others consider it a synonym for the fly agaric Amanita muscaria var. formosa. The cap of young mushrooms is dome-shaped and becomes almost flat with age. The surface of the cap is yellow or orange, but the center is always darker - orange or reddish. The white flakes characteristic of most fly agarics acquire a dirty tint over time. The diameter of the cap ranges from 4.5 to 18 cm; its lower surface is formed by particularly frequent, free white plates. The leg, 6-15 cm high and 0.6 to 2.1 cm in diameter, is white or yellowish and widens downward. At the top there is a white ring resembling a skirt. Above the ring the surface of the stalk is smooth, below it is fibrous. The flesh of red fly agarics is white and dense. The color of the Volva is white or yellowish; often the Volva is completely invisible and is located almost underground. This variety of red fly agaric grows in coniferous and deciduous forests in summer and autumn.
- Amanita muscaria var. persicina
a species of red fly agaric, which, according to researchers, can in the future be isolated as an independent species. The diameter of the cap of the fruiting body ranges from 4 to 13 cm. At first, the cap has a convex surface in the shape of a hemisphere, but in mature mushrooms it becomes flat. The cap is distinguished by a peach or orange-peach hue, unusual for fly agarics, with a darker, often reddish center. The edges of the cap are initially smooth, but in adulthood they become covered with grooves. The surface of the cap is dotted with pale yellow flakes. The underside of the red fly agaric cap consists of loose plates with slightly shaggy edges, colored cream with a slight pinkish tint. The height of the leg reaches 4-10 cm, and its thickness is about 1-2 cm. The upper part of the leg is painted yellowish, becoming noticeably lighter towards the bottom. In some fly agarics, the stem tapers towards the cap. The ring under the fly agaric cap is very small and almost invisible; in some mushrooms it is completely absent. The surface of the ring, like most fly agarics, is yellowish below and pure white above. At the base of the leg there are rings of irregular shape, which are the remnants of a protective blanket; in some fly agarics they may be completely absent. The flesh of the mushroom is white and does not change color when damaged. The poisonous fly agaric grows under pine and oak trees in North America (in the southeastern United States, from Texas to Georgia and north to New Jersey). It usually bears fruit in autumn, but is sometimes found in spring and summer.
- Amanita muscaria var. inzengae
a type of red fly agaric with an orange-red cap, the center of which has a darker shade. In young mushrooms, the cap is dome-shaped and becomes prostrate as the fruiting body develops. Old and young red fly agarics have skin covered with characteristic flakes of white or yellowish color. The lower surface of the cap is represented by frequent, wide, free plates. The flesh of the fly agaric is white, without a pronounced taste or aroma. The leg of these fly agarics is quite high, widened at the base, and almost at the very bottom contains the remains of a bedspread, transformed into grooved rings. At the top of the stem there is a noticeable wide white ring; in some mushrooms, the edges of the ring are surrounded by a yellow border. In the lower half of the leg there is a volva formed by overlapping yellowish rings.
- Amanita muscaria var. fuligineoverrucosa
a poisonous variety of red fly agarics with a red-orange skin on a cap covered with white flakes. Representatives of this variety form mycorrhiza exclusively with willow and poplar.
Properties of the red fly agaric
Dangerous toxic compounds with a pronounced psychotropic and poisonous effect were found in the pulp of the red fly agaric:
- ibotenic acid is a psychoactive and neurotoxic substance that has a hallucinogenic effect and causes damage and death of brain cells;
- muscimol is a powerful psychoactive substance with a pronounced hypnotic effect, the highest concentration of which is found under the skin of the cap;
- muscarine is an alkaloid that causes poisoning with characteristic symptoms: from decreased blood pressure, nausea and vomiting to suffocation and death;
- Muscazone is a psychoactive toxin that causes memory loss, disorientation and loss of vision.
Due to its remarkable appearance, serious poisoning by the red fly agaric occurs extremely rarely, since everyone knows that the red fly agaric is a poisonous mushroom. If this mushroom accidentally gets into food along with edible mushrooms, the concentration of poisons and toxins is relatively small. The lethal dose for adults is about 15 caps; a child will need much less, so it is necessary to introduce children to a beautiful, but very dangerous mushroom from early childhood.
Red fly agaric: use among different nations
Much more often, red fly agaric poisoning occurs deliberately, during ritual ceremonies, or as an unconventional means of treatment. In folk medicine, red fly agaric tinctures are used to treat oncology, joint diseases, colds and to expel worms. It is important to keep in mind that there is no reliable scientific evidence about the effectiveness of such treatment, and self-medication can be very sad.
Many literary sources indicate that the peoples of the north and east of Siberia used red fly agaric as an intoxicating remedy, causing a sensation similar to severe intoxication, during which auditory and visual hallucinations appear, followed by fainting, lethargic sleep and subsequent loss of memory.
It is interesting that soma, a sacred drink in ancient Indian rituals, according to experts, was also prepared from red fly agaric, shamans of ethnic tribes used mushrooms to enter a trance, Finno-Ugric peoples revered red fly agaric as food for gods and spirits.
Symptoms of red fly agaric poisoning
Symptoms of red fly agaric poisoning can appear immediately after consuming fresh or processed mushrooms, and the use of alcohol tinctures has a cumulative effect when signs of poisoning appear over time. In any case, ibotenic acid and muscimol, which enter the body with the pulp of poisonous mushrooms, provoke a number of dangerous symptoms. A person experiences:
- nausea, repeated vomiting, increased salivation;
- increased sweating;
- lowering blood pressure;
- increased heart rate;
- difficulty breathing up to suffocation;
- convulsions;
- loss of consciousness.
In case of particularly severe poisoning and the lack of timely assistance from qualified doctors, death inevitably occurs.
- The toxic effect of the red fly agaric on insects has been actively used since the Middle Ages, when chopped mushroom pulp was placed in a container of water and then placed in the kitchen and other rooms with a large concentration of flies. It was believed that insects died due to exposure to substances contained in red fly agaric mushrooms. But actually it is not. The cap of a mature red fly agaric growing in the forest collects moisture on its surface, in which alkaloids dissolve, and the insects, having drunk this liquid, simply fall asleep and drown. The same thing happens in a plate with pieces of red fly agaric: if you take out the sleepy fly and put it next to it, after 10-12 hours the insect will sleep off and calmly fly away.
- Some forest mammals (deer, elk, bears and squirrels) enjoy eating red fly agarics, but the importance of mushrooms for the animals’ bodies has not yet been established.
A poisonous mushroom such as fly agaric can be used for a variety of diseases, if prepared correctly, taking into account existing contraindications and the required dosage. Some of its types are edible, but in order to avoid consequences, they must undergo full heat treatment.
Description of the mushroom and its features
Fly agaric belongs to the lamellar mushrooms of the Amish family. The bright, elegant appearance of this forest dweller is very deceptive - it is a poisonous fungal root, which is a symbiosis of mycelium (mycelium) with the roots of various plants and trees. At the moment, there are more than 600 species of fly agarics in nature, and their color is not always bright red; the caps can be brown, yellow and white. The most famous varieties are royal, Caesar, panther, and red fly agaric.
Externally, the ordinary red fly agaric is a large, fleshy mushroom; its cap can be thinner or thicker, sometimes with a small tubercle. White flakes are located along it - these are preserved tissue segments in the process of formation. The base of the leg expands towards the ground. The ring or “skirt” in the upper part of the leg is a shell in which young individuals are enclosed; reproduction occurs with the help of spores.
Not everyone knows that the most poisonous mushroom, the toadstool, poisoning with which can lead to death, also belongs to the fly agaric family. The diameter of its cap can be 10-14 cm, the leg is high - up to 12 cm. Just a few grams of this mushroom are enough for poisoning to lead to death. A special feature of the toadstool is the presence of a filmy ring, thanks to which it can be distinguished from such similar floats, russula and champignons.
Composition and properties
The body of the mushroom contains several types of toxic components, which are mainly found in the cap and its skin; the stem has a lower content.
The chemical composition of the most common red fly agaric is represented by the following substances:
- muscimol– a hallucinogen that has a hypnotic, sedative effect and can disrupt the functioning of consciousness;
- ibotenic acid– a toxic substance with a destructive effect on brain cells;
- muscarine– a natural alkaloid, leading to vasodilation and the inability of the heart to fully contract; as a result of its entry into the body, poisoning occurs with all the characteristic symptoms - decreased blood pressure, nausea and vomiting;
- muscaruphine– an antibacterial substance, which, moreover, has anti-inflammatory and antitumor properties, which makes it possible to use the mushroom for medical purposes;
- muscazon is formed as a result of the breakdown of ibotenic acid and is characterized by a weak effect on the functioning of the nervous system.
Most toxic substances accumulate in fly agaric in spring and summer, and at this time it is especially dangerous.
Fly agarics feed on organic matter, since they are not able to absorb carbon dioxide from the air, and they also do not contain chlorophyll.
Microscopic amounts of these poisons are successfully used in pharmacology to create drugs for insomnia, joint diseases, colds, infectious diseases and cancer. Preparations created using fly agaric successfully heal wounds, relieve pain and spasms, increase immunity, and prevent bleeding.
Varieties
Fly agarics live, in fact, everywhere - species of this mushroom can be seen in deciduous and coniferous forests of Russia and many other countries. They are also found in colder areas, such as the tundra.
In addition to the red fly agaric, which grows everywhere, there are other varieties that differ in appearance:
- Toadstool or yellow toadstool. The mushroom has an unpleasant odor, a hemispherical white cap with snow-white spots. Most often, you can find it in coniferous or deciduous forests, from July to October.
- Panther fly agaric. It has a brown color, a cap from 5 to 12 cm and a cylindrical leg of approximately the same height with a porous surface and a low, fragile frill. It has an unpleasant smell and the flesh is white.
- Royal fly agaric. You can see it in an oak or beech grove, in a pine forest. This variety, when poisoned, can cause severe hallucinations. It is a large (brown or olive-colored) mushroom with a cap diameter of up to 20 cm and yellow flakes. The color of the pulp is yellow-brown and does not darken when cut. This mushroom loves forests with a predominance of birch, spruce and pine; it is widespread in our country, in Europe, and is found in Korea, England, and Alaska.
- Rough fly agaric. It is a small, fleshy, yellowish or olive-colored mushroom with a thick stem. In young mushrooms, the cap is almost round and resembles a ball; in adults, it is flat, and the edges may slightly bend upward. When cut, the white flesh quickly turns yellow and its smell, unlike other types, is pleasant. Fly agaric grows both in Europe and America, Japan, South and Central Asia. In nature, however, it can be difficult to see; it prefers to grow next to hornbeams, beeches, and oak groves.
- Spiny-headed fly agaric (bristly, fat). This mushroom is distinguished by an umbrella fleshy head; in young individuals it is round. The cap is covered with gray warts. A distinctive feature is a thick white leg in the middle with scales at the base. The plates of an adult fly agaric are pink in color, the flesh is dense and has a pungent odor. Prefers symbiosis with coniferous trees and oaks, often growing near water bodies. This is a poisonous variety that can cause poisoning even after heat treatment.
Toadstool fly agaric
Panther fly agaric
Royal fly agaric
Fly agaric rough
Spiny-headed fly agaric
Almost all types of mushrooms are unusually beautiful - this is a kind of warning that they are deadly poisonous.
Is it possible to eat fly agarics?
Some types of fly agarics are considered conditionally edible. These include the following mushrooms:
- Yellowish-brown fly agaric, which is also popularly called a float. It is not particularly popular due to the fact that it has a thin cap and is not particularly fleshy, at the same time, it is so similar to a toadstool that many do not want to take risks. In its raw form, the float is poisonous and, indeed, dangerous, but after careful heat treatment it is quite suitable for food.
The mushroom has a cap up to 8 cm in diameter, brown or brown-orange in color, it is flat, and in the center there is a small darker tubercle. The leg is fragile and high up to 15 cm with a thickening at the base. A distinctive feature is the absence of a ring on it. To the touch, the fly agaric is watery, with a coating of mucus, and there is no smell. - Pineal fly agaric- a thick-fleshy mushroom with a hemispherical cap, white or gray, covered with pointed pyramidal warts. The leg is cylindrical, wide at the base. This mushroom grows in coniferous and deciduous forests, often forming mycorrhiza with linden, beech, and oak. It contains small amounts of muscimol and ibotenic acid, so before use it is boiled and the broth is drained.
- Caesar's mushroom It is also edible and has excellent taste. Its differences from its poisonous counterparts:
- the cap is red-orange, smooth and without growths;
- plates and legs are golden yellow;
- the mushroom has a wide sac-like covering at the bottom of the stem.
Mushroom "Float"
Pineal fly agaric
Caesar's fly agaric
Also, edible varieties are brown, gray, snow-white floats, pink and tall fly agaric. Of course, they all require proper preparation and pre-boiling.
Application of mushrooms
As it turns out, the correct use of poisonous mushrooms can save a person from many ailments. They are used both externally and internally.
With a strictly calculated dosage, fly agaric is recommended for problems such as:
- skin diseases - diathesis, eczema, neurodermatitis;
- muscle and joint pain;
- headache;
- radiculitis and rheumatism;
- male impotence;
- eye diseases;
- diabetes;
- tuberculosis;
- epileptic seizures;
- oncological lesions.
And this is not a complete list of all the diseases for which this mushroom can help.
The common red fly agaric, which is the most common, can be used in the form of an alcohol tincture, juice, dried raw material, or ointment. All these remedies are used externally for varicose veins, for healing long-lasting wounds, for burns, bruises, and joint inflammation.
The tincture can be prepared with alcohol or vodka. The crushed caps should be kept in the refrigerator for three days, after which they are filled into a jar and poured 1 cm above the mushrooms. Leave the mixture for 15 days in a dark place and filter.
The ointment can be prepared from fresh mushrooms, grinding them into a paste and mixing with sour cream. Or first prepare the powder by drying the fly agaric caps, then grind them and add Vaseline or vegetable oil to them.
Syn: poisonous mushroom, bore, old man.
The red fly agaric is a well-known agaric mushroom, the red cap of which is covered with small white spots. The mushroom is moderately poisonous and has many medicinal properties: antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, etc. It is used in folk medicine, homeopathy, and cosmetology.
The plant is poisonous!Ask the experts a question
In medicine
Red fly agaric is a poisonous mushroom (among all species of the genus it is considered moderately poisonous), it is not eaten as food, since fly agaric poisoning is possible), and fly agaric is also not used in official medicine in Russia. However, in folk medicine, homeopathy, its medicinal properties are known. Having antispasmodic, antitumor, antibacterial, antiviral properties, red fly agaric is used in folk medicine for many diseases: rheumatism, early stage cancers, tuberculosis, diseases of the excretory system, colitis, etc. The medical use of red fly agaric is legal in many countries of the world: the Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Great Britain, Japan, New Zealand, Italy, Canada, Denmark, USA, Switzerland and Russia. The fly agaric mushroom is prohibited for treatment in Arab countries, Israel, and Australia. In France, fly agaric is used to obtain sedatives and sleeping pills.
In the field of homeopathic medicine, the healing properties of fly agaric became known almost 2 centuries ago. The homeopathic medicine Agaricus (Agaricus muscarius), which is based on an alcohol extract of fly agaric, is successfully used for muscle spasms, blood vessels, paralysis of the bladder, parkinsonism, and epileptiform convulsions. When treating joints with fly agaric, the pain syndrome decreases.
The use of red fly agaric is effective for leukemia and some gynecological diseases. In folk medicine, cancer is treated with fly agaric in the form of a tincture, when there are no metastases in the presence of a tumor. Having antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and bactericidal medicinal properties, fly agaric in the form of an infusion or ointment is used externally to treat wounds, ulcers, burns, frostbite, and some skin diseases.
Contraindications and side effects
Absolute contraindications to the use of tincture and other medicinal products from the red fly agaric are pregnancy, lactation and age under 18 years. Taking an alcoholic tincture of fly agaric internally can cause poisoning of the body, so external use of the mushroom is more common.
The red fly agaric is a mushroom of medium toxicity. Other representatives, mushrooms of the genus Amanita, are considered fatally poisonous. The toxic effect of fly agaric is caused by the alkaloid muscarine. A dose of muscarine of 3-5 mg is considered lethal. The action of muscarine is aimed at the parasympathetic nervous system. Signs of fly agaric poisoning are: dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, increased sweating, lacrimation and sharp constriction of the pupils, loss of consciousness.
Raw fly agaric mushrooms contain a small amount of muscarine alkaloid -0.0002%, which is not enough for serious poisoning. During cooking (boiling), muscarine is not destroyed, but “passes” from the fruiting bodies into the aqueous decoction. Based on this, after boiling two or three times and draining the broth, the fly agaric becomes non-toxic. In dried fly agaric mushrooms, muscarine remains in the mushroom in small quantities.
When using red fly agaric and products made from it (alcohol tincture, ointment, infusion), it is especially important to observe dosages, personal hygiene (carefully wash your hands after using the mushroom in any form), and work with gloves. Do not allow the mushroom tincture to come into contact with skin lesions, mucous membranes or open wounds. Fly agaric is contraindicated for children.
In case of poisoning, the patient is given first aid: given up to 1 liter of water to drink, vomited to cleanse the stomach, then given a saline laxative to drink or an enema with soap shavings. The patient must be shown to a doctor. Taking 15 drops of belladonna (belladonna) tincture or other drugs containing the extract of this plant (besapol, becarbine, bellalgin, belloid, bellataminal) also normalizes the patient’s condition after poisoning.
In cosmetology
The healing properties of the red fly agaric are known in cosmetology. Fly agaric extracts contain practically no toxic substances, but they have a valuable complex of enzymes and antioxidants with high biological activity: they increase firmness and elasticity, smooth the surface of the skin, and help stimulate the natural process of cell renewal.
Face creams from the "Amanita Against" series are used to care for problem skin, even out complexion tone, lighten pigmented areas, and fight the appearance of age-related wrinkles. Healing creams based on fly agaric extract provide first aid for joint pain, manifestations of cellulite, varicose veins, providing complete care and protection for the skin, and have an antioxidant and immune-modeling effect.
On the farm
The fly agaric cap has long been used to kill flies and bedbugs. People have noticed that rain moisture accumulates on old red caps, and insects caught in the liquid die. It was this insecticidal property that became the reason for calling the mushroom “fly agaric.” At home, the fly agaric is cut into pieces, filled with water or milk and placed on the windowsill in a plate, followed by blotting paper. The sheet of paper should protrude slightly beyond the edges of the plate so that flies land on it. In order to destroy bedbugs, the cracks are smeared with a pulp of boiled fly agarics or fresh mushroom juice.
Classification
Red fly agaric (lat. Amanita muscaria) is a psychoactive poisonous mushroom of the genus Amanita, or Amanita (lat. Amanita). Belongs to the Amanitaceae family (lat. Amanitaceae), order Agarica (lat. Agaricales). The fly agaric belongs to the basidiomycetes.
Botanical description
Red fly agaric is a mycorrhiza-forming agaric fungus. The fruiting bodies are mostly large, have a central stalk, and at the beginning of their development are enclosed in a common covering.
The mushroom cap is thick and fleshy, up to 20 cm in diameter, first spherical in shape, then flat-convex, the skin is bright red or orange-red, which becomes lighter with age. The edge of the cap is smooth or ribbed. The surface of the fly agaric cap is dotted with numerous white or yellowish wart spots. In young fly agaric mushrooms, flakes on the cap are rarely absent; in older specimens, they are often washed off by rain. The plates of the mushroom are light yellow in color; old fly agaric mushrooms are yellow. The pulp is odorless and soft. The spores are smooth, ellipsoidal or cylindrical, binuclear, the spore powder is white.
The stem of the mushroom is up to 20 cm long, 2.5 - 3.5 cm in diameter, cylindrical in shape, tuberous at the base, white, hollow closer to the cap, and has a white or yellowish ring. The tuberous base of the stalk is fused with a sac-shaped vagina. The base of the stalk is covered with white warts in several rows.
Spreading
The red fly agaric prefers to grow in deciduous, coniferous and mixed forests of the temperate climate of the Northern Hemisphere, in particular in birch and spruce forests on acidic soils. This mushroom is found singly or in groups from June to mid-autumn. It grows everywhere in Russia. This type of fly agaric is considered moderately poisonous and is collected only for medicinal purposes.
Regions of distribution on the map of Russia.
Procurement of raw materials
For medicinal purposes, red fly agarics with white drops and a thick stalk are harvested. To prepare medicines from the mushroom, only the caps are taken. They are not washed, but broken into pieces by hand (you need to work with gloves), then filled with vodka or alcohol. The alcohol tincture is stored in the refrigerator, its medicinal properties are preserved for 3 years.
In order to obtain powder from the fly agaric mushroom, the caps are dried and then crushed. Dried fly agaric is well preserved in a glass container in a dark place. Dried raw materials and powder are stored in a place that is difficult for children to reach.
Chemical composition
The chemical composition of the red fly agaric has been little studied. The mushroom contains highly poisonous alkaloids (muscarine, muscimol, muscaridine, ibotenic acid), choline, orange-red pigment muscaruphine, mushroom tropintoxin, trimethylamine, betanin, puterescine, essential oil, chitin, enzymes, xanthine.
Pharmacological properties
The hallucinogenic properties of the red fly agaric are determined by some of its toxic components: the alkaloid muscarine, muscimol and ibotenic acid. The first studies of the red fly agaric date back to 1869, when scientists Schmiedeberg and Koppe (Germany) discovered the alkaloid muscarine in this mushroom, similar in its therapeutic effect to acetylcholine. From the effects of muscarine, there is a sharp constriction of the pupils, the pulse weakens, breathing becomes intermittent, blood pressure drops, and the patient’s condition clearly worsens. About 3 kg of fly agaric mushrooms contain a lethal dose of muscarine for humans. However, one red fly agaric contains an insignificant amount of this alkaloid (0.0002%), which does not cause significant symptoms of poisoning. The antidote to toxic muscarine is atropine, which normalizes cardiac activity, and recovery occurs within a day or two.
Subsequent scientific research in England, Switzerland and Japan discovered psychotropic toxic substances in the fly agaric mushroom: muscazone, muscimol and ibotenic acid. Their composition differs quite a bit from each other. It is these toxins that cause a hallucinogenic effect, then there is a transition to an anesthesia-paralytic state, during which severe fatigue, loss of consciousness and prolonged sleep are observed. Despite some toxicity, the benefits of fly agaric have also been identified. Scientists claim that in small doses this mushroom increases immunity and the activity of endocrine glands.
Histological studies revealed the antitumor activity of fly agaric. Experiments were carried out on small animals, the results of which pleasantly surprised scientists: internal tumors (provided there were no metastases) of rodents that ate fly agarics in measured quantities significantly decreased in size and disintegrated into several parts. It has been noticed that fly agaric toxins help with tumors located above the diaphragm in humans (tumors of the lungs, breast, brain, fibrocystic mastopathy). At the same time, when treating the underlying cancer, the activity of the kidneys, liver, gastrointestinal tract and circulatory system improves.
Fly agaric plays a special role in homeopathy. Red fly agaric was introduced into homeopathic medicine by Samuel Hahnemann in 1828 in the form of Agaricus muscarius, a preparation made from fresh mushrooms. The drug is recognized as effective for many diseases: epilepsy, coordination problems, cataracts, frostbite, burns and wounds, and some skin diseases.
It has been experimentally established that the orange-red pigment of the fly agaric mushroom, muscaruphine, has antitumor and antibiotic properties. Ethanol extract of fly agaric inhibits the growth of sarcoma in mice. The extract in small doses can be used as an antidote to atropine. Fungotherapist, member of the International Association of Fungotherapy I. A. Fillipova noted that plant toxins (fly agaric poisons) in comparison with modern chemotherapy drugs affect the body tens of times easier and more gentle, do not cause serious side effects, and are also quickly eliminated by the kidneys from body. According to the findings of homeopath T. Popova, treatment with fly agarics can be recommended for polyarthritis, polyneuritis, and some forms of alcoholism.
Use in folk medicine
Fly agaric has long been used in their practice by healers and traditional healers. Traditional medicine uses the medicinal properties of the red fly agaric to treat many diseases. Various medicinal tinctures and ointments are made from the poisonous mushroom. Fly agaric stimulates the immune system. The use of fly agarics is advisable for helminths.
In folk medicine, fly agaric has been used for hundreds of years as an external remedy in the form of a tincture for abscesses and rheumatic joint pain. Fly agaric for joints can be useful not only in the form of rubbing with alcohol tincture. For rheumatoid arthritis, ointment made from this mushroom and lotions made from fly agaric infusion are effective. The use of fly agaric tincture is advisable for inflammation of the sciatic nerve, radiculitis, and osteochondrosis.
People use the poisonous and at the same time medicinal fly agaric for diseases of the nervous system and paralysis. The power of the mushroom against oncology is known. It is believed that fly agaric can help in the early stages of cancer, with leukemia, and reduces pain in the presence of a tumor. The mushroom is effective for stomach discomfort, some gastrointestinal diseases, diarrhea, flatulence, and constipation.
To treat a number of different diseases in folk medicine, fly agaric tincture is used. This remedy is effective for some gynecological, skin, joint, eye diseases (blepharitis, conjunctivitis, cataracts), sexual weakness in men, tuberculosis, gastric and duodenal ulcers. Tincture of fly agaric in alcohol eliminates vascular spasms, relieves epilepsy and convulsions.
Treatment with fly agaric tincture will be effective for otitis media and ear diseases, toothache, and bad breath.
The strong wound-healing properties of fly agaric are also known. An infusion of fly agaric in alcohol is effective for healing difficult-to-heal wounds, burns, frostbite, and some skin diseases. In folk cosmetology, fly agaric tincture is used for age spots.
Historical reference
Researchers of shamanic culture believe that even in ancient Indian mythology, the legendary drink “soma” was prepared from fly agaric. It was noted that after consuming these poisonous mushrooms, visual and auditory hallucinations occurred and a change in consciousness was observed. As a result of intoxication of the body, a person falls into a narcotic sleep. Observing similar phenomena in animals (in particular deer) that ate the mushroom, the Sami (ancient northern European aborigines) learned about the narcotic effects of fly agaric. Ancient Viking warriors swallowed several pieces of fly agaric before the upcoming battle. As a result, people's fear and pain from wounds dulled, and warriors with clouded consciousness fought selflessly, no matter what.
Manuscripts from the 16th century describe to readers the vanished culture of the ancient Mayan and Aztec tribes, who used poisonous fly agaric mushrooms in ritual rites. To get to the afterlife and see their deceased relatives, many peoples of the world (Indians, Sami, Mayans, Aztecs, Koryaks, Kamchadals, etc.) prepared and consumed dishes from fly agarics.
Along with the narcotic and intoxicating effects of poisonous fly agarics, their medicinal properties were also noted. By observing animals eating fly agarics in small doses, people learned about the possibility of using mushrooms for treatment. The use of fly agaric in medical practice was recommended by Paracelsus (16th century) for the prevention of tuberculosis and diabetes. It is known that many alkaloids in the fly agaric composition lose their toxicity, therefore, after culinary processing, fly agaric mushrooms are eaten in Europe, North America, and Asia. The peoples of the Far North have long had a tradition of consuming poisonous fly agaric.
The Latin name of the fly agaric "Amanita" comes from the name of Mount Amanon (it was famous for the abundance of edible Amánit mushrooms). The origin of the Russian name “fly agaric” is associated with the insecticidal properties of the mushroom: fly agaric was used to fight flies by preparing mushroom sugar syrup for insects. Initially, only the red fly agaric species was called “fly agaric”; somewhat later the name was extended to representatives of the entire genus. The peoples of the Far North have their own ethnic names: Vanak (Chukchi), Okay (Evenki).
Literature
1. Wasser S.P. Flora of mushrooms of Ukraine. Amanital mushrooms / resp. ed. K. A. Kalamaes. - K.: “Naukova Dumka”, 1992. - P. 114-117.
2. Lesso T. Mushrooms, key / trans. from English L. V. Garibova, S. N. Lekomtseva. - M.: “Astrel”, “AST”, 2003. - P. 146.
3. Mushrooms: Directory / Transl. from Italian F. Dvin. - M.: “Astrel”, “AST”, 2001. - P. 146. - 304 p.
4. Maznev N. Highly effective medicinal plants. Great encyclopedia. - Litres, 2015
5. Bolotov B.V., Pogozhev G.A. Bolotov’s medicine. - Publishing house "Peter", April 26. 2013 - Total pages: 320
6. Korodetsky A. Fly agaric healer and other poisonous healers. – St. Petersburg: Peter. – 2005. – 128 p.
7. Korepanov S.V. Plants in the prevention and treatment of cancer. – Moscow: OLMA-PRESS Bookplate. – 2002. – 158 p.
Ethnoscience. Let's define the terms
Many people trust only official medicine. They consider all other directions to be charlatan and unworthy of serious attention. There are also those who, on the contrary, do not trust doctors and prefer to be treated only with folk remedies. Traditional medicine is very popular. This is despite the fact that today there is a whole army of scientists working for the pharmaceutical industry. In every city there are pharmacies where you can buy pills, as it seems, for any disease. However, many people prefer to do without pills, preferring traditional medicine.
What is traditional medicine?
How is it different from traditional medicine? It should be noted that in some countries, folk and traditional medicine are almost the same thing. For example, there is Chinese traditional medicine. The Chinese have been using it for several thousand years.
Traditional medicine includes herbal medicine (herbal medicine). We can say that in this case we are talking about treatment methods used by different peoples since ancient times. This is how traditional medicine is understood in world literature, in particular in English.
But in Russia this term is used completely differently. For us, it is rather synonymous with the following terms: scientific medicine, official medicine, classical medicine, conventional medicine. This is the legacy of the Soviet scientific school. But can scientific or official medicine really be called traditional? This would be inappropriate, given the extremely young age of modern medical science compared to truly traditional health systems.
In Russia, persistent antagonism has developed between official medicine and other methods of treatment. Is it really true that traditional medicine, rooted in ancient times, is completely inconsistent with modern science? Unfortunately, many people think so.
Over the past decades, two opposing stereotypes have become stronger among the people:
- “Official medicine” is the only correct one, since it uses only “proven” scientific methods in its arsenal. Whereas “alternative medicine” is the lot of all sorts of charlatans and crooks who want to make money from people’s misfortune.
- The second stereotype of perception is that traditional medicine can cure even those patients who were not helped by official doctors. And pharmaceutical drugs are completely poison and chemicals and should be treated exclusively with herbs, mushrooms, various procedures, etc.
The sad thing is that both opinions are partly true. Among the “traditional healers” there are indeed outright swindlers and crooks. It is also true that often a certified doctor cannot cope with a particular disease.
Here are a couple of the most famous “traditional healers”:
- Anatoly Mikhailovich Kashpirovsky. A professional doctor (psychotherapist) who was engaged in “healing” on live television, causing enormous harm to people who succumbed to this psychosis and the reputation of all real traditional medicine.
- Known throughout the country, Allan Vladimirovich Chumak, an adept of alternative medicine, sold various “charged” substances (water, ointments, creams, etc.), which are unlikely to actually cure anyone (except perhaps due to the placebo effect).
On the other hand, we can say that lucky is the person who at least once did not encounter the impotence of official medicine. One of the striking examples of such powerlessness is complicated osteochondrosis of the musculoskeletal system. This example was taken if only because this disease is truly widespread. People have been treated (with official medicine) for years and do not receive lasting improvements. A wide range of remedies are used - from non-steroidal analgesics and physiotherapy to spinal surgery. Often these diseases result in disability. And even if a person remains able to work, the so-called “quality of life” for these people is significantly reduced. But even advanced forms of osteochondrosis can be cured in just a few days (!) with tincture of red fly agaric. And this is not someone’s fiction, but a fact proven by generations of real traditional healers.
So, what is real traditional medicine?
It includes methods for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, collected over the lives of many generations of people. This knowledge was passed on from parents to children and so on. Having hundreds and thousands of years of active and successful use behind it, such medicine has the right to exist and be respected.
But this concept is narrower than traditional medicine. Traditional medicine is based on a well-developed philosophical doctrine, combined with centuries of experience in the use of healing methods accumulated by one or another people. This is, for example, Chinese traditional medicine. Many of its principles are rooted in ancient religious and philosophical teachings.
What then is hidden behind the term “scientific medicine”?
This includes a system of knowledge on the prevention and treatment of diseases, based on the achievements of scientific and technological progress. This system is based on the “evidential” method, when statistics obtained as a result of many experiments are used. Scientific medicine strives to create evidence-based theories, concepts and hypotheses.
There is another popular term: alternative medicine.
This includes all methods of treatment and diagnosis of diseases, the benefit and effectiveness of which for specific conditions has not been proven during clinical trials. Most often in Russia it is used as a synonym for traditional medicine.
In order not to create confusion and pointless disputes, it is best to use other terms to refer to traditional and official medicine:
Conventional medicine– medicine controlled by state authorities. They issue licenses to practice medicine and regulate the activities of medical institutions. This medicine is based on generally accepted scientific discoveries and facts set out in thick encyclopedias, reference books and textbooks, with the help of which teachers teach students in higher medical schools.
To indicate alternative, or informal medicine(as is customary in Russia) the term complementary medicine is used.
In contrast to scientific medicine, complementary medicine is not supported by the government. But in some countries it is regulated by authorities. Many consider it completely unscientific, charlatan and dangerous to society. But not everyone shares this point of view.
Of course, the best way out of this situation would not be a confrontation between traditional and scientific medicine, but their close cooperation. Scientists could pay more attention to the study of traditional methods of treatment aimed at eliminating the causes of diseases, and not just their symptoms.
The inertia of thinking of medical officials, and sometimes even ordinary doctors, today greatly hampers progress in an industry that, by definition, is vital for people. For example, the use of cannabis preparations in medicine is gaining increasing attention from the global medical community. In Russia this topic is strictly taboo. And not only this.
In turn, many adherents of traditional medicine would do well to take an interest in the latest scientific discoveries and clinical trial data. It is no secret that some treatment methods common among the people may not only not be beneficial, but even harm health.
So, only close cooperation between traditional and scientific medicine will help create an effective health system capable of maintaining health and defeating many insidious ailments.
