A toxic mushroom is gaining popularity
Psychedelic drugs, after decades of being synonymous with counterculture, are now being seriously studied as medical treatments. Early clinical studies have suggested that psilocybin, a compound derived from “magic mushrooms,” can help treat severe depression. The results were promising enough that the Food and Drug Administration granted the drug breakthrough therapy status; it might grant full approval later this year.
While optimism around psilocybin is warranted, it has fueled interest in other, more dangerous hallucinogenic mushrooms. One of them — Amanita muscaria — is now selling widely despite its mounting record of harm and zero proof that it can treat medical conditions.
The fungus, also known as the fly agaric, is instantly recognizable by its bright red cap dotted with white spots. Popularized by Alice in Wonderland, the Super Mario franchise and fairy-tale illustrations of gnomes and enchanted forests, it has been associated with hallucinogenic effects for thousands of years.
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