Emma Wilson
Mushrooms are a popular food item and a key ingredient in many dishes. However, some people experience stomach aches and other negative side effects after consuming them. These side effects can range from mild stomach pain and nausea to more severe symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, and even liver and kidney damage. In some cases, mushroom poisoning can occur, with the most common ingested poisonous mushrooms being gastrointestinal irritants known as backyard mushrooms or field mushrooms. To avoid potential stomach aches and other negative side effects, it is important to properly identify mushrooms before consumption and be aware of any personal allergies or sensitivities. Additionally, certain preparation methods, such as cooking, grinding, or soaking mushrooms in lemon juice, can help break down indigestible components and reduce the risk of stomach aches.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of mushroom | Only ingest mushrooms that are safe to eat. Avoid wild mushrooms. |
| Allergies | If you have a mushroom allergy, avoid consuming mushrooms. |
| Preparation | Cooking mushrooms breaks down chitin, easing digestion. |
| Lemon tek | Grind dried mushrooms into a powder, soak in lemon juice, and steep in hot water. |
| Mushroom tea | Make mushroom tea with lemon and ginger to reduce nausea. |
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What You'll Learn
Avoid wild mushrooms
It is important to avoid wild mushrooms unless you are an expert in identifying edible varieties. Many mushrooms have poisonous look-alikes, and misidentification can be fatal. Even edible mushrooms can cause allergic reactions in some people, and poisonous mushrooms can cause serious adverse health effects and even death.
If you are foraging for mushrooms, only pick them from clean landscapes free of pollutants and harmful chemicals. Avoid mushrooms that grow in urban settings, along busy highways, or in areas where pesticide exposure is likely. Fungi absorb pollutants like car exhaust and chemicals from the environment. Bring a mushroom hunting guide that lists the edible mushrooms that grow in your area, and only eat mushrooms harvested with or by an expert trained in identifying them.
Some common poisonous mushrooms to avoid include death caps (Amanita phalloides), which are responsible for most mushroom-related deaths worldwide; Conocybe filaris, which grows in Europe, Asia, and North America and contains the same toxins as the death cap; and autumn skullcaps (Galerina marginata), also known as the "deadly Galerina".
If you suspect that you have a mushroom allergy, consult a doctor. They may recommend that you stop eating all foods that contain mold, such as cheese, sour cream, sour milk, beer, wine, sauerkraut, dried fruits, and pickled meat and fish.
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Prepare mushroom tea
Mushroom tea is a popular beverage in Russia and Baltic countries, where it is believed to help treat digestive problems, heart disease, and cancer. It is also used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a variety of illnesses. Preparing mushroom tea is a simple process that only requires a few basic ingredients and can be done at home or on the go. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to prepare it:
Step 1: Choose Your Mushrooms
Select the mushrooms you want to use for your tea. Popular options include Lion's Mane, Chaga, Turkey Tail, Cordyceps, Reishi, and Psilocybin mushrooms. You can use fresh mushrooms or opt for dried mushroom powder. If you choose fresh mushrooms, make sure they are clean and free of any dirt or debris.
Step 2: Prepare the Mushrooms
If using fresh mushrooms, slice or chop them into small pieces. This increases the surface area, allowing for better extraction of the beneficial compounds. If you're using dried mushroom powder, skip this step.
Step 3: Simmer the Mushrooms
Place the mushroom pieces or powder in a pot or kettle. Add water, and heat it on a stovetop. Bring the water to a simmer, not a full boil, as very hot water may negatively affect some compounds. Simmer the mushrooms for a prolonged period, usually between 30 minutes to an hour. This helps rupture the cell walls and release the water-soluble compounds, including polysaccharides, beta-glucans, and triterpenes, into the tea.
Step 4: Steep the Mushrooms
After simmering, you can choose to steep the mushrooms further in hot water for 10 to 20 minutes. This step is especially important if you're using psilocybin mushrooms, as it allows the water-soluble psilocybin to infuse into the tea. You can strain the mushrooms before serving, or leave them in the tea, although the latter may be less optimal for those prone to nausea.
Step 5: Serve and Enjoy
Pour your mushroom tea into a cup and find a quiet place to relax and enjoy your beverage. You can add spices like cayenne and black pepper or sweeten your tea with flowers to enhance the flavour.
Preparing mushroom tea is a simple and versatile process, allowing you to experiment with different mushroom varieties and additional ingredients to find your favourite combinations.
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Powder the mushrooms
If you are consuming mushrooms for their psychoactive effects, it is important to note that nausea and stomach aches are common side effects of psilocybin mushroom ingestion. This is due to the presence of chitin, a polysaccharide that is part of the cellular structure of mushrooms, which can be difficult for the body to digest.
One way to avoid these unpleasant side effects is to powder the mushrooms before consumption. By grinding the mushrooms into a fine powder, you are essentially mimicking the mechanical breakdown that your teeth would perform, easing the burden on your stomach. This process homogenizes the substance, evenly dispersing the psilocybin.
The powdered mushrooms can then be used to make a tea, which is a popular method for consuming psilocybin mushrooms. To do this, simply steep the mushroom powder in hot water for 10 to 20 minutes, allowing the water-soluble psilocybin to be released into the water. You can then strain the powder or leave it in the tea, although the latter may be less optimal for those prone to nausea.
It is important to note that this method may not completely eliminate the risk of stomach aches or other gastrointestinal issues associated with mushroom consumption. Some people may have a mushroom allergy, which can cause inflammation and swelling in the intestines due to increased histamine levels. If you suspect you have a mushroom allergy, it is important to consult a doctor and avoid consuming mushrooms altogether.
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Soak in lemon juice
Soaking mushrooms in lemon juice is a popular method to avoid stomach aches and nausea caused by the ingestion of mushrooms. This method is known as the "Lemon Tek" method.
The Lemon Tek method involves grinding dried mushrooms into a fine powder and then placing the powder in a glass. The powder is then covered with lemon juice and left to soak for 15 to 30 minutes. This process can be done in a shot glass, and the mixture can be consumed directly or diluted with water. The longer the mushrooms are left to soak, the more the cell walls are broken down, making it easier for the body to digest.
The lemon juice kickstarts the conversion of psilocybin to psilocin. Psilocybin is a pro-drug found in psilocybe mushrooms, and psilocin is the compound directly responsible for the psychedelic effects of magic mushrooms. Lemon juice has a pH of around 2, which is similar to the pH of stomach acid, which is around 2 to 3.5. This acidic environment is partially responsible for the conversion of psilocybin to psilocin.
The Lemon Tek method can be intense and overwhelming, particularly for inexperienced users, due to the rapid onset and intensified effects. It is important to be cautious with dosing when using this method and to have a sober sitter present.
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Consult a doctor for allergies
If you experience stomach aches after consuming mushrooms, it is important to consult a doctor to rule out any allergies or other underlying conditions. Mushroom allergies are a serious medical condition that requires proper evaluation and management.
When it comes to mushroom allergies, the immune system fails to recognize the proteins in the mushrooms as safe and attacks them with immunoglobulin E antibodies, triggering the release of histamine. Histamine is a hormone that protects the body against infections and diseases, but when produced in excess, it can cause inflammation in the intestines, leading to digestive symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, and bloating.
A doctor can perform allergy testing to determine if you have a mushroom allergy. If you test positive, your doctor may advise you to eliminate all foods containing mold from your diet. This includes common foods such as cheese, sour cream, sour milk, beer, wine, sauerkraut, dried fruits, and pickled meat and fish. By avoiding these foods, you can help prevent allergic reactions and the associated gastrointestinal distress.
Additionally, your doctor may provide guidance on how to manage your allergy and prevent future stomach aches. This could include recommendations on diet modifications, such as cooking mushrooms properly to break down chitin, which is a polysaccharide that can be difficult to digest and trigger inflammation. They may also suggest alternative preparation methods, such as grinding dried mushrooms into a fine powder, which can aid digestion and reduce the burden on your stomach.
Consulting a doctor for allergies is a crucial step in understanding and managing your condition. They can provide personalized advice and help you make informed decisions about your diet and lifestyle to prevent stomach aches and ensure your overall well-being.
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Frequently asked questions
If you are experiencing stomach aches from consuming magic mushrooms, it may be due to the presence of chitin, a polysaccharide that is difficult for the human body to digest. To avoid this, you can try grinding the mushrooms into a fine powder to ease the burden on your stomach. You can also try making mushroom tea, which extracts the psilocybin while avoiding much of the raw fungal material.
Symptoms of mushroom poisoning can include an upset stomach, drowsiness, confusion, and even heart, liver, and kidney damage. Poisonous mushrooms are called "backyard mushrooms" or "field mushrooms" and can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain. If you suspect mushroom poisoning, call the Poison Control Center immediately.
Yes, some people are allergic to mushrooms. A mushroom allergy will affect your intestines and cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, and bloating. If you are allergic to mold, you may experience an allergic reaction to mushrooms. If you suspect a mushroom allergy, consult your doctor.
Nausea is a common side effect of consuming magic mushrooms, but there are a few tricks to reduce it. One method is to soak the mushrooms in lemon juice, as the acidic environment supplied by lemon juice is partially responsible for the conversion of psilocybin to psilocin, which occurs in the stomach. This essentially \"pre-digests\" the mushrooms, making them easier on the stomach.
