The Science Behind Amanita

Let’s talk about MUSCIMOL and IBOTENIC ACID

These are our 2 primary actives in Amanita Muscaria—

they’re doing the work in your brain and body.

What are they up to?

Here’s a nutshell:

Muscimol works with GABA and it’s receptors, Ibotenic acid works with Glutamate.

GABA is a natural chemical in your brain that soothes and balances your nervous system, creating feelings of calm and ease.

Muscimal acts like GABA and works with GABA receptors to help this happen naturally.

Glutamate is a neurotransmitter whose job it is to deliver information among brain cells. This influences your cognitive functioning, energy, sleep, and pain levels.

Ibotenic acid may help bring balance to your glutamate levels.

Deeper into the Science

GABA & Muscimal

GABA is a neurotransmitter that helps our brains ability to create feelings of calm. It is involved in our bodies response to stress, behavior, and cognition.

When Gaba levels are low in the brain…

It has been found in connection to Anxiety, Depression, and sleep disorders.

According to Kevin Feeny, author of the compendium about amanita muscaria, Muscimol is, “GABAergic, meaning that it resembles and imitates the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA and acts upons the brain’s GABA receptors”

What’s it mean?

It means that the Muscimol in Amanita Muscaria has the potential to work with your GABA receptors to help you feel calm, more clear, and relax your nervous system.

Pharmaceuticals & GABA

There are some popular pharmaceutical medications out there that have attempted to mimic GABA and its work with your GABA receptors…they are marketed and prescribed to treat anxiety, depression, and insomnia:

  • Benzodiazepines

  • Valium

  • Lorazepam/Ativan

  • “Medications used to treat insomnia, including zolpidem (Ambien) and eszopiclone (Lunesta), work by improving the ability of GABA to bind to GABA receptors in the brain”

These medications are often found as being highly addictive with severe side effects.

Ibotenic Acid & Glutamate

Glutamate is a chemical messenger who’s job is to send information to your nerve cells.

Glutamate levels and functioning affect your:

  • Learning and Memory

  • Energy source for brain cells (basically having energy)

  • Sleep-wake cycle manager

  • Pain signaler - Higher levels of glutamate are associated with an increase in pain levels.

  • Production of GABA (the neurotransmitter which regulates your sleep, relaxation, and muscle function

Too little glutamate in the brain can result in:

  • Depression

  • Trouble concentrating

  • Mental exhaustion

  • Insomnia

  • Low energy

Kevin Feeny states, “Ibotenic acid resembles the neurotransmitter glutamate and bind’s with the brain’s glutamate receptors,” in essence, the potential is that Ibotenic acid aids in bringing balance to the glutamate levels in the brain.