AMS Spring Mushroom Talk Series:

Kevin Feeney - Fly Agaric as Medicine: From Traditional to Modern Use

The Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) mushroom has been used therapeutically for hundreds of years in Siberia, Russia, and Eastern and Northern Europe, and perhaps North America as well. 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 presentation will address traditional uses of the Fly Agaric, potential modern applications, as well as the unique pharmacology of this distinctive mushroom.

Kevin Feeney, PhD, JD, is an author and researcher trained in the fields of law and cultural anthropology. His primary work, “Fly Agaric: A Compendium of History, Pharmacology, Mythology, and Exploration,” was published as an edited volume in 2020. His research and writings have 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 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 specializing in medicinal mushrooms.

Once registered for this FREE AMS event, you will receive a reminder email before the meeting with the zoom link.

This meeting will also be recorded.