Comments on: How the British missed a trip

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:52:22 +0000

There are prior reports of accidental intoxications, but Everard Brande’s 1799 account is by far the most detailed.

Typically the effects were regarded as symptoms of poisoning (as they were by Brande and his subjects). This isn’t surprising: if you ate some Liberty Caps without the expectation of a colourful and mind-expanding trip and started to notice the effects, your first thought would most likely be ‘I’ve eaten a poisonous mushroom’ – followed, probably, by ‘OMG I’m going to die’. Not the best set for a pleasant afternoon.

Of course we can’t prove that there was no initiatic tradition of psilocybin use – but if there was it seems to be absent from the historical record. It’s perhaps more likely that it was only when a psychedelic culture emerged that the effects of Liberty Caps were recognised and valued, and their use spread.

p.s. ‘a species of agaric’: ‘agaric’ in the 18th century was a generic term like ‘toadstool’, and didn’t refer specifically to fly agaric.

By: psychonaut

psychonaut — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:23:13 +0000

I highly doubt it was “undiscovered” just because it wasn’t reported in a peer-reviewed scientific journal before 1799, that’d better not be the case for most other discoveries!
That’s right Kuang, muscimol activates GABA-A receptors, this is the more likely effector.
Whole-heartedly agree with Neurobonkers’ point, ridiculous law, made by people who haven’t the slightest clue what they’re even banning.

By: neurobonkers

neurobonkers — Sat, 12 May 2012 09:48:56 +0000

It should be noted that ingesting the completely legal Fly Agaric will result in a significantly more dangerous and generally far more unpleasant experience than would result from ingesting the now illegal traditional magic mushroom. Just another example of our back to front drug laws.

By: Kerry Maxwell

Kerry Maxwell — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:32:26 +0000

Something tells me the druids knew of the properties of these mushrooms.

By: kuang

kuang — Fri, 11 May 2012 08:31:27 +0000

It should be noted that although muscarine, with its effect on acetylcholine receptors, is contained in small amounts in fly agaric, the main active compound is now considered to be muscimol, with a different mechanism of action.

By: Raine Carosin

Raine Carosin — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:19:58 +0000

…or, on the other hand, they have been consuming them for years and it’s been the biggest State Secret in History… LOL!!!!!! It would explain a lot….