A new trend of consuming Amanita muscaria is analyzed through social media comments. Among 684 people, women mainly used the mushroom to reduce pain and skin problems, while men used it to relieve stress, depressive symptoms, and insomnia. Women predominantly consumed tinctures, whereas men used dried forms. Side effects differed by gender: women reported headaches, men reported nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and drowsiness. The authors call for advanced research to raise awareness of the fungus's toxicity.
The psychoactive mushroom Amanita muscaria is increasingly used recreationally and for self-therapy, promoted online for stress reduction, mood improvement, sleep, and pain relief despite limited clinical evidence and known toxicity. This narrative review synthesizes evidence showing rising intentional consumption, varied dosing, and outcomes from mild neurological symptoms to severe intoxication requiring hospitalization. Online narratives and informal harm reduction advice normalize use and may lead to underestimating risks. As a non-synthetic psychoactive substance sold in digital markets, A. muscaria poses regulatory and public health challenges, with no standardized management guidelines or systematic surveillance. Greater awareness of its toxicology, misuse patterns, and emergency care is needed.