Fly Agaric as Medicine: From Traditional to Modern Use (with Kevin Feeny, PhD)

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16th 7-9 PM CST The Fly Agaric mushroom (Amanita muscaria) is best known for its striking bespeckled crimson cap and its frequent depiction in fairytales and children’s books. In psychedelic circles it is recognized for its hallucinatory effect, but for a variety of reasons has come to be viewed as a 2nd-tier substance, a mere curiosity among more esteemed plant and fungal allies. While psychedelic researchers are busy investigating psilocybin, MDMA, and LSD, the unique pharmacological profile of the Fly Agaric has been largely overlooked. Unlike its tryptamine cousins the Fly Agaric’s active compound, muscimol, acts on the brain’s GABAergic system, and studies have shown a potential role for this compound in treating pain, inflammation, anxiety, cognitive decline, and cancer. This mushroom has been used therapeutically for hundreds of years in Siberia, Russia, and Eastern and Northern Europe, and perhaps North America as well. This presentation will address traditional uses of the Fly Agaric, potential modern applications, as well as the unique pharmacology of this distinctive mushroom. ABOUT THE SPEAKER Kevin Feeney, PhD, JD, is a cultural anthropologist and lawyer currently working as a Program Director and Instructor in Interdisciplinary Studies – Social Sciences at Central Washington University. His primary research interests include examining legal and regulatory issues surrounding the religious and cultural use of psychoactive substances, with an emphasis on peyote and ayahuasca, and exploring modern and traditional uses of Amanita muscaria, with a specific focus on medicinal use and preparation practices. His research has been published in the International Journal of Drug Policy, Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, Human Organization, and Curare, and recently edited a major book on Amanita muscaria, Fly Agaric: A Compendium. He is a current member of Chacruna’s Council for the Protection of Sacred Plants, and recently joined the Board of Advisors for Psyched Wellness, a Canadian health supplements company emphasizing medicinal mushrooms.