fly agaric

[David Humphries]

Heat the caps up in some milk, then drink the milk and then..............

 

........The central nervous system is affected and the muscles of the intoxicated person start to pull and twitch convulsively, followed by dizzines and a death-like sleep. During this stage the mushrooms are often vomited but nevertheless the drunkenness and stupor continue. While in this state of stupor, the person experiences vivid visions and on waking is usually filled with elation and is physically very active. This is due to the nerves being highly stimulated, the slightest effort of will producing exaggerated physical effects, e.g. the intoxicated person will make a gigantic leap to clear the smallest obstacle.

 

 

You first then Rob, eh

 

 

 

 

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[TheTreeWiseMen]

........The central nervous system is affected and the muscles of the intoxicated person start to pull and twitch convulsively, followed by dizzines and a death-like sleep. During this stage the mushrooms are often vomited but nevertheless the drunkenness and stupor continue. While in this state of stupor, the person experiences vivid visions and on waking is usually filled with elation and is physically very active. This is due to the nerves being highly stimulated, the slightest effort of will producing exaggerated physical effects, e.g. the intoxicated person will make a gigantic leap to clear the smallest obstacle.

 

 

You first then Rob, eh

 

 

 

 

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Noooo thank you very much David. Seen the problems associated with a li'l Amanita muscaria trip first hand......not pretty. It is a very interesting mushroom though.

Edited October 30, 2009 by TheTreeWiseMen

[Dean Lofthouse]

This section is about the use of the Fly-Agaric mushroom, for medicinal and spiritual use, by the Celtic and Pre-Celtic people of Ireland. This is probably the most well known fungi because of it's association with the fairy folk, was a very important fungi to the Druids of the Celtic tribes. It was referred to as the 'Flesh of the gods', or 'Food of the Gods' because they believed that they were in direct communication with the Earth and the Universe when they consumed this Fungi. Although all the Celtic people consumed Liberty-caps, the Fly-Agaric was usually only taken by the Druids and other magic users. It was considered too powerful for those not trained in the higher levels of the mind.

 

This Fungus contains some very powerful psychotropic compounds. These fungi are the fruit of an Organism that can live to be thousands of years old. Most of this organism is the root system with only the fruit being seen here in the photos. The fruit of this organism is well known but few realise the fruit found over a certain area will usually all be from the one organism.

 

The most common way that this mushroom was consumed was in the form of a beverage. Some of these drinks were alcoholic in nature. It was also eaten, smoked or absorbed through the skin in ointments, in the steam of the sweat-lodges or even in the waters of a bath.

 

The eating of this mushroom, if it is not treated before hand, can cause violent stomach retching.

 

Not recommended. NEVER EAT RAW

 

[Pete Mctree]

Heat the caps up in some milk, then drink the milk and then..............

 

I can't remember what happened next...................

[benedmonds]

Drinking the urine of reindeer that have been munching them is another 'traditional' way of taking them.....

[David Humphries]

Just cause it's so darn purdy..............

 

 

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[sean]

Just cause it's so darn purdy..............

 

 

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Beautiful David......I found some fly agaric at the base of a sweet chestnut yesterday.....thought it was a bit unusual.....what do you think? Will photograph on Monday.

[monkeyboy]

My three year old Border Terrier munched down some of these little chaps last week;leading to a very interesting 48 hours!

She went through all the symptoms described by Dean including puking and pooing all over the car and hallway.

Not too bad you may be thinking but when she zig-zagged down the garden to vomit yet again my new addition,a one year Patterdale, swiftly hoovered it up and away with the fairies she went! Repeat the above minus the car luckily.

Both came back from the Dark Side and are now hopefully a little more enlightened!

[David Humphries]

Both came back from the Dark Side and are now hopefully a little more enlightened!

 

Lesson learnt for sure.

 

 

Sean,

 

not seen it associated on Castanea before.

On the Heath it's usually found around Birch predominantly and occasionally Oak.

 

Books have it also associated with beech, lime, fir, spruce & pine.

 

How far from the trunk was it?

Could it have been on roots of a neighbouring tree off the above list?

 

 

 

 

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[gibbon]

Drinking the urine of reindeer that have been munching them is another 'traditional' way of taking them.....

 

Or horses. The animals absorb much of the toxins and just leave the good bits in thier pee.

 

Is that not where the story of santa claus and his flying reindeer comes from?