With more than two-dozen contributors and over 450-pages of content Fly Agaric is the most comprehensive book on the iconic red and white-spotted mushroom ever assembled. In the 29 chapters contained herein the reader is taken on a journey through history, folklore, and the magical landscapes experienced under the influence of the Fly Agaric, and its many close relatives. The reader of this book will learn:
- How to recognize and identify over a dozen types of psychoactive Amanita species, subspecies, and varieties occurring in North America, and how to distinguish them from look-alikes.
- What psychoactive and other active compounds are found in psychoactive Amanitas, and how they affect the mind and body.
- The differences between the effects and experiences produced by psychoactive Amanitas and psychedelic Psilocybe mushrooms.
- How the Fly Agaric can be detoxified and safely prepared for the dinner table.
- The history of medicinal and homeopathic use of the Fly Agaric.
- How the Fly Agaric can be used topically and internally to treat conditions such as pain, inflammation, insomnia, and anxiety.
- Theories regarding the historical and religious use of psychoactive Amanitas around the world based on archaeological, folkloric, and other evidence.
If you’ve hiked in the woods in Colorado, especially near timberline in the late summer, you’ve probably seen a majestic mushroom with white spots on its red cap.
That’s likely Amanita muscaria, known as the Fly Agaric. Even if you’re one of those mycophobic people who stays as far away from mushrooms as possible, you’re drawn to this fungus. It’s like a flag in the forest signaling that life is good.
What makes the Fly Agaric the most iconic mushroom in the world? And why, despite its prominence, is it so poorly understood? Today on the show we are starting from the ground up to demystify the reputations of this mushroom with cultural anthropologist, Kevin Feeney, PhD. In his book "Fly Agaric: A Compendium of History, Pharmacology, Mythology, & Exploration" Kevin has elaborated on nearly every aspect of this mushroom, finally providing comprehensive literature on this species. We take these 450 pages and present bite-sized answers to all of your Fly Agaric questions.
Today we have the privilege of speaking with Kevin Feeney, PhD, JD. Kevin 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, among other books and journals. He is a current board member of Cactus Conservation Institute, which is dedicated to the study and preservation of vulnerable cacti and is also a member of Chacruna’s Council for the Protection of Sacred Plants.
