Muscimole: the psychedelic molecule of the fly agaric

Adventurers and lovers of psychoactive effects have discovered a new continent: Muscimol.

Unlike most of our previous articles, we're not dealing here witha new cannabinoid. Muscimole is a psychoactive, hallucinogenic alkaloid synthesized by mushrooms of the Amanites family.

Want to learn more about it, its effects and medical applications? Follow the guide below!

Muscimol: definition and classification

As we've said, muscimole is an alkaloid, a very broad family of plant-derived molecules different from cannabinoids. It was the discovery of these molecules that led to the development of the pharmaceutical industry in the early 20th century. They include most natural molecules ending in "-ine", such as nicotine, caffeine, morphine...

Hundreds and hundreds of alkaloids exist in nature, among them Muscimol, which is produced exclusively by Amanita mushrooms, such as Amanita muscaria: the fly agaric . This species is found throughout Europe, as well as in Brazil, South Africa, North America, and Central Asia; the fly agaric is recognizable by its bright red color speckled with white.

According to some historians, this mushroom was one of the first hallucinogens used by mankind. Indeed, some Greek texts report that the mushroom was used during the ceremonies of the first cults dedicated to Dionysus. Traces of the mushroom's consumption for medicinal, recreational or religious purposes can also be found in primitive shamanic practices around the globe.

 

 

 

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How Muscimol works

Muscimol acts primarily as an agonist on GABAA receptors. By binding to these receptors, the molecule produces an inhibition of neuronal activity, resulting in sedative, relaxing, and sometimes hallucinogenic effects.

Muscimol does produce definite psychoactive and psychotropic effects; it can even produce hallucinogenic effects when consumed in large quantities. However, we strongly advise against this, as these effects could be accompanied by equally powerful side effects.

The effects of Muscimol

As with cannabinoids, muscimol produces varying effects depending on the dose consumed, individual sensitivity, and method of consumption. The effects most commonly described by users are:

• great relaxation,
• a sedative effect,
• a feeling of euphoria,
• an alteration of sensory and visual perception.

However, its consumption can also lead to a number of undesirable effects such as:

• drowsiness, nausea,
• hallucinations,
• a feeling of confusion and disorientation.

Therefore, the consumption of Muscimol should not be taken lightly.

 

Muscimol Purchase: Available Forms

With the rise of recreational products like CBD, its various derivatives, and new products such as sniffing devices, some previously forgotten molecules are making a comeback. Muscimol is one such example. As early as 2018, this molecule could be found in gummies, which are also available in THC and CBD or CBD derivatives.

Muscimol has gained a following and can be found in a wide variety of forms such as:

• Flowers and resins
• Refill cartridge for vaporizer
• Gummies
• Concentrate

However, as the molecule is heavily regulated, it is no longer available in French CBD shops .

Muscimol and scientific studies

Although known for centuries, muscimol was rediscovered relatively recently, but it is already the subject of several interesting studies:

The first scientific study on the subject dates back to 1964 [ 1 ] . It was conducted by four doctors from Tokyo Medical Research University. This pioneering study was the very first to identify and isolate the active agents of the fly agaric mushroom, including muscimol. In doing so, it paved the way for all subsequent studies.

Muscimol and anxiety disorders

In a 2003 study [ 2 ], a group of researchers set out to explore the potential anxiolytic effects of muscimol using animal testing and preliminary clinical trials. And, although further research is needed, the researchers concluded that by activating GABA receptors, muscimol could offer benefits in treating anxiety symptoms.

Muscimol and sleep

In a 2015 article published in Sleep Medicine Reviews [ 3 ], a group of researchers observed that sedation induced by muscimol prolonged deep sleep in patients . While further studies are needed to assess the safety and efficacy of the molecule, it appears to have potential benefits in the treatment of insomnia.

Muscimol on memory and orientation

While some studies show the beneficial effects of muscimol, others point to its negative effects. This is the case with two studies; the first, published in 1993 [ 4 ], demonstrated that muscimol consumption could impair the consolidation of memory and long-term learning by disrupting neuronal activity in key brain regions involved in these processes, such as the hippocampus.

The second study, published in 2019 [ 5 ], demonstrated that administering muscimol to animals made their orientation and navigation in a complex environment more difficult. This study was thus able to assess the role of GABAA receptors in this type of exercise.

Muscimol and the Treatment of Epilepsy

A final study published in 1979 [ 6 ] examined the therapeutic potential of muscimol in the treatment of epilepsy. The results of preclinical models showed that muscimol can reduce the frequency and severity of epileptic seizures by enhancing GABAergic inhibition in the brain. Muscimol could therefore become a promising candidate in the treatment of epileptic disorders , but as always, further research will be necessary.

Key takeaways

Muscimol is primarily an experimental tool in neuroscience , not a molecule with robust clinical evidence for anxiety, insomnia or epilepsy to date.

Muscimol and Legality: Regulations

In France, as in most European Union countries , the consumption of muscimol is regulated. For example, it is illegal to consume fly agaric mushrooms. Muscimol itself is not classified as a narcotic, but the consumption of fly agaric is prohibited by Article L.3421-4, which stipulates that possession remains possible, but not use. By extension, and although no regulations specifically address the molecule, its consumption is considered prohibited.

Sources cited

1. Isolation of a flycidal constituent “ibotenic acid” from Amanita muscaria and A. pantherina — PubMed.

2. Rat behavior in two models of anxiety and brain [3H]muscimol binding: pharmacological, correlation, and multifactor analysis — ScienceDirect, 2003.

3. Yannick Le Dantec, Sleep disorders in a neuroendocrine model of anxiety/depression: correction strategies using monoaminergic and innovative antidepressants — Thesis, University Paris Sud – Paris XI, 2014 (NNT: 2014PA114828, tel-01226037).

4. Gernot Riedel, Jacques Micheau, Function of the hippocampus in memory formation: desperately seeking resolution — Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, vol. 25, no. 4.

5. Lee SLT, Lew D, Wickenheisser V, Markus EJ, Interdependence between dorsal and ventral hippocampus during spatial navigation — Brain and Behavior, 2019.

6. Pedley TA, Horton RW, Meldrum BS, Electroencephalographic and behavioral effects of a GABA agonist (muscimol) on photosensitive epilepsy in the baboon, Papio papio — PubMed, 1979.