Amanita muscaria contains ibotenic acid, muscimol, and muscarine — each hitting different neurotransmitter systems. Drying converts ibotenic acid to muscimol via decarboxylation. Fascinatingly, Siberian practitioners reportedly drank muscimol-rich urine from reindeer who'd eaten the mushrooms. 🍄
Amanita muscaria pharmacology: ibotenic acid, muscimol, muscarine compounds
Key facts
- Amanita muscaria contains three primary compounds: ibotenic acid (affects glutamate system), muscimol (gabaergic, affects GABA system), and muscarine (affects acetylcholine system)
- Fresh mushrooms contain high ibotenic acid and almost no muscimol; drying converts ibotenic acid to muscimol via decarboxylation
- Tea preparation with lemon juice and 20-30 minutes of boiling further alters the compound ratios
- Muscarine is responsible for memory and attention effects; gummies go through a decarb process resulting in more muscimol and less ibotenic acid
- Siberian shamans reportedly consumed raw caps or brewed tea, then distributed their muscimol-rich urine to townspeople in large vats; reindeer urine was also reportedly consumed
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