POISONOUS AND HALLUCINOGENIC MUSHROOMS
by Michael W. Beug Email: beugm@evergreen.edu
The Evergreen State College, Olympia WA
Slide 24.
Psilocybe cyanescens is a potent hallucinogen that
grows abundantly in flowerbeds mulched with bark mulch, wood shavings or
sawdust. Unless the reaction is one of extreme fear, medical treatment
is advised only for children. Reassurance is considered the #1 treatment
for adults. Any fever should be treated with cooling blankets or sponges
and not with aspirin or other salicylates. At least one very young child
has died from consumption of what was reported to be Psilocybe baeocystis,
but what I suspect was actually this species, Psilocybe cyanescens.
The other hazard is someone mistaking a deadly Galerina or a deadly
Conocybe for a Psilocybe. One teen-age girl from Washington
State died from mistaking Galerina autumnalis for the highly similar
Psilocybe cyanescens, Psilocybe stuntzii or the next species,
Psilocybe baeocystis.
Previous
Slide