Psilocybin, a compound found in many types of mushrooms, is an antidepressant with potential use in treating anxiety. Unfortunately, unscrupulous vendors have used these clinical results to sell products made from an unrelated and somewhat toxic mushroom: Amanita muscaria.
In a recent study, researchers at the University of California, San Diego, found a significant increase in interest in this mushroom – noting a 114% rise in Google searches from 2022 to 2023.
So what is this mushroom and why is there cause for concern?
