Light microscopy can reveal the consumption of a mixture of psychotropic plant and fungal material in suspicious death.
Journal of forensic and legal medicine August 1, 2015 Patricia E J Wiltshire, David L Hawksworth, Kevin J Edwards 18 citations
Microscopic examination of plant and fungal remains in the gut after death can reveal ingestion of unexpected natural psychotropic substances. In a case where a shaman was accused of causing a young man's death, the deceased had drunk ayahuasca (containing Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis) in a ceremony. Toxicological tests confirmed DMT in the body. Microscopy of the ileum and colon also found spores of Psilocybe (magic mushrooms), pollen of Cannabis sativa, and seeds of Papaver somniferum (opium poppy). Containers from the dwelling yielded additional trace evidence.