Amanita muscaria is variety of mushroom that grows widely almost everywhere in the northern hemisphere. It is listed as poisonous in most mycology sources and its use is not common because its effects can be somewhat unpleasant, though it has been used traditionally by a number of cultures. There are conflicting reports on whether there has ever been an A. muscaria-caused fatality. Be careful! It may be poisonous at high doses or to sensitive individuals.

A. muscaria can be taken orally, there are also some claims that it can be smoked for effect. All parts of the mushroom are psychoactive, though there is some evidence that the material just under the skin is the most potent. The chart below shows approximate oral dosages of dried A. muscaria in grams (g).

Dosage is for completely dried cap material only:

Oral Amanita muscaria Dosages Light 1 - 5 g (1 medium cap) Common 5 - 10 g (1 - 3 medium caps) Strong 10 - 30 g (2 - 6 medium caps)

Onset : 30 - 120 minutes Peak : 1 - 2 hours Duration : 5 - 10 hours (higher doses seem to last longer) Normal After Effects : 1 - 5 hours

---

POTENCY VARIATION :
Most people start quite low when first working with Amanita muscaria, especially with an untested variety. Usually 1 small to medium cap is used as a starting dose. Once the strength of a given sample is known, dosages closer to 1-5 caps totaling 5-20 grams of dried material may be taken.

The potency of individual A. muscaria mushrooms is highy variable, seemingly dependent upon the season in which they are picked and significant regional variations.

Mushrooms from the same area in different seasons may have different effects (ratio of nausea/body effects to mental/entheogenic effects).

"The most powerful mushrooms were picked in the middle of August when the season was beginning. In the mushroom picked in September the narcotic and physical effects were predominant whereas in August the "visionary" and psychedelic effects were more highlighted. "
from Disembodied Eyes

The skin and the layer of material directly underneath is considered the most potent.

CONSTITUENTS :
The entheogenic constituents of A. muscaria are ibotenic acid (alpha-amino3-hydroxy-5-isoxazole acetic acid), muscimol (3hydroxy-5-aminomethy1 isoxazole), and possibly muscazone (Ott). Muscimol appears to be the primary intoxicant. After ingestion, a small amount of ibotenic acid decarboxylates into muscimol, which produces the intoxication.

Taken orally, ibotenic acid is entheogenically active at 50-100 mg (Ott and Stafford)

Taken orally, muscimol displays activity at 10-15 mg.