Michael Davis
The Mario franchise is well-known for its use of mushrooms as power-up items, platforms, and even in the name of the Mushroom Kingdom. The mushrooms in the game are red and white, resembling the Amanita muscaria mushroom, which is native to the Northern Hemisphere's temperate and boreal forests. This mushroom has been identified as fly agaric, a toxic and psychoactive fungus that can induce hallucinations and has been referenced in art and literature, including in Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The similarities between the effects of the Amanita muscaria mushroom and the fantastical elements in the Mario games, such as growing and shrinking, have led some to speculate about a connection between the two.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common names | Amanita muscaria, fly agaric |
| Appearance | White-freckled red caps |
| Native habitat | Temperate and boreal forests of the Northern Hemisphere |
| Psychoactive compounds | Muscimol, ibotenic acid |
| Effects | Hallucinations, perceptual phenomena (e.g., synesthesia, macropsia, micropsia), lucid dreaming |
| Toxicity | Can cause poisoning, especially in children and those seeking hallucinogenic effects; fatal poisonings are rare |
| Cultural references | Super Mario franchise, Alice in Wonderland, Disney's Fantasia |
| Therapeutic potential | Currently being studied for treating depression, PTSD, epilepsy, and Parkinson's disease |
Explore related products
$12.88
What You'll Learn
The Mario franchise's mushroom iconography
The Mario franchise is well-known for its mushroom iconography, with the Mushroom Kingdom, Princess Toadstool Peach, 1-up mushrooms, and the Super Mushroom power-up items all featuring in the games. The red and white spotted mushrooms, known as Amanita muscaria or fly agaric, are instantly recognisable and have been speculated to be inspired by psychedelic mushrooms.
The Amanita muscaria mushroom is a widely distributed species native to the forests of the Northern Hemisphere. It has a distinctive appearance, with a red cap speckled by white dots, and is known to be psychoactive, triggering hallucinations and other perceptual phenomena. While it is technically poisonous, fatal poisonings are extremely rare. The mushroom has been associated with folk tales and fairy art since the Renaissance and has appeared in various media, including the Super Mario games.
The idea that the mushrooms in the Mario franchise are linked to psychedelic mushrooms is a long-standing joke among players. The power-up mushrooms in the games allow Mario to grow larger, which has been compared to a similar concept in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, a story now commonly associated with drug use. While it is unlikely that the game creators directly associated the power-up mushrooms with psychedelics, the influence of Alice in Wonderland on the franchise has been a subject of discussion and speculation.
Some players have interpreted the Mushroom Kingdom as a trippy fantasy of Mario's, where he is a king instead of a small plumber. Others have suggested that the franchise's heavy focus on mushrooms may simply be due to the setting in a magical kingdom, drawing inspiration from folk tales where characters wander into forests and eat mushrooms.
The Amanita muscaria mushroom has recently gained attention in the field of psychedelic studies, with researchers exploring its potential therapeutic benefits. Its legal status in most countries makes it more accessible for study compared to other psychoactive mushrooms. While the effects of Amanita muscaria are different from those of "magic mushrooms," it has attracted interest from startups and researchers exploring its unique healing properties.
Mythical Strawberry Mushrooms: Fact or Fiction?
You may want to see also
Amanita muscaria's psychoactive effects
Amanita muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric or fly amanita, is a type of fungus belonging to the Basidiomycete group. It is a large, white-gilled mushroom with a bright red or orange cap covered with distinctive white warts. It is one of the most recognizable fungi in the world, often depicted in art and literature, including in the Super Mario games.
A. muscaria is psychoactive, with a range of effects that have been described as depressant, sedative-hypnotic, psychedelic, dissociative, or deliriant. The main psychoactive compounds found in A. muscaria are muscimol and ibotenic acid, which act on the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor. Muscimol is a central nervous system depressant that may engage GABA receptors to deliver sedative-hypnotic, depressant, and hallucinogenic psychoactivity. It is A. muscaria's most potent psychoactive agent and is ten times stronger than ibotenic acid. Ibotenic acid interacts with glutamate receptors, making it more stimulating and energizing. When mushrooms contain more ibotenic acid than muscimol, users typically report confusion, agitation, and euphoria.
The wide range of psychoactive effects of A. muscaria includes perceptual phenomena such as synesthesia, macropsia, and micropsia. These latter two effects may occur either simultaneously or alternatingly, as part of Alice in Wonderland syndrome, collectively known as dysmetropsia, along with related distortions pelopsia and teleopsia. Some users report lucid dreaming under the influence of its hypnotic effects. The effects of A. muscaria can also resemble those of alcohol, with drowsiness, dizziness, and ataxia leading to a delirious state with visual and auditory disturbances.
A. muscaria has a long history of cultural use, including in Indigenous Siberian religious practices, which may have inspired the legend of Santa Claus. It has also been used as a sedative and as an insecticide. However, it is technically poisonous and can cause uncomfortable nausea, seizures, and even death in large amounts or if not prepared properly. Boiling A. muscaria reduces its toxicity by removing water-soluble ibotenic acid, and drying it converts ibotenic acid into muscimol, lowering toxicity but retaining psychoactive effects.
Mushroom Corals: Their Unique Spreading Mechanisms
You may want to see also
The mushroom's role in Siberian Indigenous religious practices
The use of hallucinogenic mushrooms has been a common practice in many cultures worldwide, including the indigenous people of Siberia. The Siberian natives have a long history of incorporating mushrooms, specifically Amanita muscaria or fly agaric, into their religious and cultural practices. This variety of mushroom is native to the conifer and deciduous woodlands of the Northern Hemisphere's temperate and boreal regions.
Amanita muscaria, also known as fly agaric due to its characteristic red cap with white dots, has been widely used by Siberian shamans in their rituals and practices. Shamans are believed to possess the ability to intervene in people's lives spiritually, physically, and through wellness practices. The use of these mushrooms aided the shamans in entering the spirit world and visualising new states of being. The Koryak community, an indigenous Siberian people, believed that consuming these mushrooms helped them identify the cause of their illnesses. The Koryaks also differed in their approach to shamanism, as they often sought out family members who were shamans instead of a centralised village figurehead.
The consumption of Amanita muscaria was not limited to shamans but was also used by the lay people of certain Siberian cultures. The methods of consumption varied, including adding the mushrooms to soups, sauces, milk, fruit juice, or even alcohol to enhance their intoxicating effects. The length of intoxication could range from four hours to a full day, depending on the dosage and method of consumption. During the long Siberian winters, affluent tribesmen would store dried mushrooms for consumption, while poorer individuals might resort to drinking mushroom-infused urine to achieve the desired effects.
The religious use of these mushrooms by the Siberian indigenous people has been the subject of debate and research by scholars such as R. Gordon Wasson, who received reports of similar practices from Lithuania and among Native American tribes. The notion of Siberian mushroom shamanism has also been linked to the origin of the Santa Claus figure; however, this connection is largely unsupported by scholarly sources.
In addition to their religious significance, the mushrooms also played a role in traditional Siberian medicine. Siberian medicine often involved the use of herbal remedies, and mushrooms were believed to possess medicinal properties. The shamans would prescribe different herbal teas and remedies to treat ailments and strengthen the immune system.
Magic Mushrooms: A Liver's Friend or Foe?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The mushroom's influence on art and literature
The Amanita muscaria mushroom, also known as the fly agaric, is a distinctive fungus with a bright red cap dotted with white spots. It is native to the forests of the Northern Hemisphere and has been associated with psychotropic and hallucinogenic effects for thousands of years. This mushroom has appeared in art and literature since the Renaissance and continues to influence modern artistic creations and exhibitions.
Art
The first depiction of mushrooms in modern art is believed to be The Haywain Triptych, a panel painting by Hieronymus Bosch. Another one of his triptychs, The Garden of Earthly Delights, showcases scenes that resemble the effects of psychoactive mushrooms. Bosch's paintings set the precedent for future artistic representations of the fungus, which often highlight its association with altered states of consciousness.
In contemporary art, the Amanita muscaria mushroom has been featured in various forms. For instance, the German conceptual artist Carsten Höller designed a solar-powered mushroom suitcase, while British designer Tom Dixon created a prototype chair made from mycelium, the fibrous body of a fungus. Additionally, the artist EB Brooks crafted a fly amanita costume for filmmaker David Fenster, who often dresses up as a mushroom.
The 2020 exhibition "Mushrooms: The Art, Design and Future of Fungi" at Somerset House in London showcased the works of over 40 artists, designers, and musicians inspired by fungi. This exhibition celebrated the aesthetic, scientific, and cultural appeal of mushrooms and explored their potential to reshape our relationship with the planet.
Literature
The Amanita muscaria mushroom has also left its mark on literature, featuring in the writings of Oliver Goldsmith, Thomas Pynchon, and Alan Garner. Its influence can be notably seen in "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," where the character experiences growth and shrinkage, possibly inspired by the effects of the mushroom. This theme of altered perception is also present in the Super Mario franchise, where the power-up mushrooms cause characters to grow or shrink.
The mushroom's association with folk tales and altered states of consciousness has contributed to its enduring appeal in literature and popular culture. Its iconic status in fairy tales, children's books, and media has solidified its place as a symbol of magic and transformation.
Mushrooms: Veggies or Not?
You may want to see also
The legality of the A. muscaria mushroom
A. muscaria, also known as fly agaric, is a psychoactive mushroom species that is not listed as a controlled substance by the FDA. It is often confused with psilocybin "magic" mushrooms, which are known for their therapeutic effects in treating depression and PTSD. However, A. muscaria does not contain psilocybin and has different subjective effects. Its primary psychoactive ingredient, muscimol, works on GABAA receptors in the body, while psilocybin targets serotonin receptors.
The legality of A. muscaria varies across different regions. In the United States, it is not illegal to harvest, sell, purchase, or consume A. muscaria, and it is federally legal. However, the FDA has not approved it for human consumption, and there are concerns about its safety. Some states, like Louisiana, have prohibited its sale. Additionally, the FDA has restricted the use of A. muscaria in edibles, prohibiting the use of muscimol, ibotenic acid, and muscarine due to safety concerns.
In the United Kingdom, the sale of A. muscaria increased after the outlawing of psilocybin mushrooms in 2006. While it is not a controlled substance, there are concerns about the unregulated sale of A. muscaria and its potential impact on public health. Some experts recommend placing it on the Controlled Substances list to evaluate its medical potential and abuse liability before widespread sales.
The legality of A. muscaria in other countries varies, and it is important to refer to local laws and regulations. While it may not be illegal to possess or consume in some places, it is essential to exercise caution as improper preparation or consumption of A. muscaria can lead to poisoning and even death.
Overall, the legality of A. muscaria is complex and evolving. While it is currently legal in many places, there are growing concerns about its safety and potential abuse, which may lead to changing regulations and restrictions on its use and sale.
Mushroom and Fish: A Culinary Adventure
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Mario mushrooms are psychedelic. The mushrooms are based on the Amanita muscaria mushroom, also known as fly agaric, which is a psychedelic fungus.
The mushrooms are power-ups that make Mario grow larger in size. This is likely inspired by the effects of the Amanita muscaria mushroom, which can cause hallucinations and distort the perceived size of objects.
The creators of the game have stated that the power-ups were mushrooms because the game is set in a magical kingdom, and in folk tales, characters often wander into forests and eat mushrooms. Additionally, the mushrooms may have been influenced by the story of Alice in Wonderland, where the protagonist also grows and shrinks in size.
Yes, the Amanita muscaria mushroom is technically poisonous and can cause nausea, seizures, and hallucinations. It contains psychoactive compounds like muscimol and ibotenic acid, which can lead to a range of perceptual phenomena and altered states of consciousness.
The Amanita muscaria mushroom has appeared in art and literature since the Renaissance and is often associated with fairy tales and magical themes. It has been featured in works such as Disney's Fantasia and has played a pivotal role in Indigenous Siberian religious practices. Some speculate that it may have even influenced the legend of Santa Claus.
