Amanita Muscaria vs. Psychedelic Mushrooms (Psilocybin): What’s the Difference?

• An overview of Amanita muscaria and psilocybin mushrooms
• Where they grow
• Active Ingredients
• Psychedelic vs. psychoactive effects
• Medicinal and nutritional value
• Legal differences 
• FAQ
• Bottom Line

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Amanita muscaria, or fly agaric, is the iconic red-and-white-speckled mushroom that is embodied everywhere, from garden statues to emojis. Fly agaric mushrooms are certainly psychoactive, but they differ from traditional magic mushrooms.  

The phrase “magic mushroom” typically refers to far less colorful psilocybin-containing varieties that can elicit transcendent, mind-manifesting states. 

What sets Amanita muscaria apart from traditional magic (psilocybin) mushroom varieties transcends appearances and effects. Here we explore the main differences between Amanita muscaria and psychedelic mushrooms, examining where they grow, active ingredients, medicinal value, lab testing, and legality. 

An overview of Amanita muscaria and psilocybin mushrooms

Mushrooms containing psilocybin, more commonly known as “magic mushrooms” or “shrooms,” are fungi that contain the psychoactive compound psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic agent, which, when ingested, turns into psilocin and is known to produce powerful visualizations and mystical experiences. 

At a glance:

• Psychedelic (Psilocybin) mushrooms usually have light tan to off-white caps of varying sizes and white to brown stems, sometimes with a bluish tinge.

• More than 200 species of mushrooms contain psilocybin or its derivative, psilocin. Psilocybe cubensis is a species that is commonly studied; and within this the subspecies "Golden Teachers" are very loved for their gentle, guiding messages.

• Psilocybin mushrooms are among the most popular and commonly used magic mushrooms in the U.S. and Europe, with a long history in spiritual and religious rituals.

Amanita muscaria mushrooms are also known as “fly agaric” due to their ability to attract and kill flies. This psychoactive species contains muscimol, ibotenic acid, and muscarine as the main active compounds. Amanita mushrooms can be toxic when consumed raw and are related to several deadly varieties, including Amanita phalloides (known as the “Death Cap”).

At a glance:

• A. muscaria mushrooms are large and hard to miss, often described as remarkable and beautiful due to their scarlet red caps.

• They are considered a “deliriant” rather than “psychedelic” because they don’t act on the same receptors as psilocybin or psilocin. Instead they act primarily on receptors that can cause an ethereal, dreamlike and sedative state.

• Fly Argaric mushrooms can be relaxing and sedative, often with euphoria and a “dreamlike” state of being. They can also cause extreme sweating, vomiting, defecating, and temporary psychosis if the ibotenic acid is not decarboxylated properly.
• The genus Amanita contains about 600 species of agarics, including some of the most toxic known mushrooms found worldwide, as well as some well-regarded edible species. Amanita Muscaria is one species.

Where they grow

Psilocybin mushrooms grow in all parts of the world and can survive in almost any climate. 

Most psilocybin-containing species exist in meadows and woods in tropical and subtropical forests, usually in soil rich in humus and plant debris. These mushrooms grow around dead tree stumps, on decaying wood, or in grassy areas that receive a lot of sunlight.  Some have been spotted growing near churches and temples.

These mushrooms have also been cultivated in a sterile, temperature and light controlled growing environment indoors, using spores and substrate. It is important to make sure the substrate does not contain heavy metals.

Amanita muscaria mushrooms are native to the temperate or boreal forest regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

These are currently being imported into the United States from Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, Siberia and other regions.

Still, people find them worldwide in Brazil, South Africa, Central Asia, North America, and Europe. The Amanita muscaria fungus survives in a symbiotic relationship with nearby plants. It mainly grows under the boughs of trees in large forests of compatible hosts, such as birches, pines, spruces, firs, and larches.

Active Ingredients

Magic Mushroom Compounds

There are more than 200 species of psychedelic mushrooms, each containing over 400 active compounds.

The best-known psychoactive component is psilocybin.

Psilocybin is considered a prodrug, which means the body must metabolize it before it can become active. So when people consume magic mushrooms, the liver digests psilocybin and converts it into the bioavailable form known as psilocin in a process called dephosphorylation. 

• Psilocybin and psilocin are both psychoactive, but psilocin is responsible for most magic mushrooms’ psychedelic effects. Like LSD, these compounds mainly act on serotonin receptors in the brain, 5-HT (serotonin) 2A subtype receptors, to create the altered sensory experience. 

In addition to psilocybin and psilocin, magic mushrooms contain over hundreds of active compounds contributing to the fungi’s full spectrum of effects. At ACS Laboratory we have been analyzing five tryptamines as well as Harmine and Harmane, which we believe could be similiar to the terpenses of mushrooms. There is so much that we have to uncover and we begin the journey through analytical testing.

• Baeocystin: A psilocybin precursor and analog. Found as a minor active compound.

• Norbaecystin  A psilocybin analog and minor active compound (alkaloid).

• Norpsilocin - A derivative of psilocybin. Acts on 5-HT2A receptors with greater potency than psilocin.

• Aeruginascin - Active metabolite of aeruginascin, a naturally occurring tryptamine. It is chemically similar to psilocybin and psilocin.

• 4-hydroxy-N,N,N-trimethyltryptamine (4-HO-TMT) - The putative active metabolite of aeruginascin, a naturally occurring tryptamine of "psychedelic mushrooms". This compound is closely related to bufotenine, the N-trimethyl analog of serotonin found naturally in toad venom.

• Harmine - Beta-carboline alkaloid with various psychopharmacological effects.

Amanita Compounds

Amanita muscaria mushrooms don’t contain psilocybin or psilocin. Instead, the primary active ingredients are muscimol, ibotenic acid, and muscarine. Muscimol and ibotenic acid are the primary compounds responsible for Amanita muscaria’s psychoactive effects. 

• Muscimol is a central nervous system depressant that may engage GABAa receptors to deliver sedative-hypnotic, depressant, and hallucinogenic psychoactivity. It is A. muscaria's most potent psychoactive agent and ten times stronger than ibotenic acid. Read our blog on Amanita Muscaria for more details.

• Ibotenic acid interacts with glutamate receptors, making it more stimulating and energizing. When mushrooms contain more ibotenic acid than muscimol, users typically report confusion, agitation, and euphoria. 

• Muscarine exists in trace quantities (0.02% dry weight) and is the weakest psychoactive compound in this spotted species. Still, this minor alkaloid acts on muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in the parasympathetic nervous system to produce notable effects, including salivation and sweating. Muscarine is also linked to sexual arousal, crying, urination, digestion, and defecation.

Psychedelic vs. psychoactive effects

Magic mushrooms produce psychedelic effects, while A. muscaria elicits psychoactive effects. The difference between psychedelic and psychoactive lies in the mechanism of action and felt experience. 

Classic psychedelics, like psilocybin, typically engage serotonin receptors in the brain, resulting in perceptual changes, emotional shifts, and even spiritual awakenings. In the process, they forge new neural connections in a phenomenon called neuroplasticity. Rewiring the brain allows users to reframe their lives and make lasting changes. Psychedelic effects generally include

• Visuals such as halos around lights and objects, magical beings
• Vivid colors, tracers, and distorted vision
• A sense of the world breathing
• Flashbacks and reframed memories

Psychedelic effects can appear 30 to 60 minutes after consuming psilocybin mushrooms, peak after 1-2 hours, and last about 4-6 hours, with an “afterglow” period sometimes lasting several hours to several days.

Amanita muscaria’s psychoactive effects manifest much differently than magic mushrooms. People who injest A. muscaria often fall into a deep sleep, with visions and insights commonly occurring in dreams. Some describe the effects as similar to alcohol intoxication. 

Experts say that the muscimol in Amanita muscaria doesn’t elicit the hallucinatory effects that psilocybin mushrooms do and lacks the “mind-manifesting” qualities that classical psychedelics provide. Amanita muscaria’s psychoactive symptoms include

• Physical relaxation or a sedative-like effect
• Euphoria and a “dream-like” state of being
• Blurred vision
• Loss of motor skills

Additionally, some users might experience moderate to extreme nausea or cramps. In extreme cases, temporary insanity, comas, and even death have occurred, making A. muscaria one of the most mysterious mycelial species. Symptoms appear 30-90 minutes after eating this mushroom and are most intense after 2-3 hours.