We all know from childhood that the fly agaric is a poisonous mushroom that cannot be eaten. Many mystical stories and beliefs are associated with it. But the fact that the fly agaric endowed with healing properties, few know. From it is prepared healing ointments, tinctures, and even eaten. In this article we will talk about the amazing properties of this mushroom.
Botanical description: looks like
Amanita red refers to cap mushrooms. Its peel on the cap has a bright red color and is covered with small white spots. And under the skin you can find the flesh: white, yellow or orange. Also, the fungus has the main plates of white or cream color, as well as intermediate. The leg of the fungus is a cylinder (white or yellowish), at the end of which there is a white hanging fringe in the form of a ring.
The mushroom can grow in many places for example, in the mountains, forest edges or in trees. It grows as a single copy, and small groups. These mushrooms multiply very actively after the rain has passed, due to abundant moisture.
Did you know? It turns out that the fly agaric are divided into several species. And you can distinguish them by the color of the cap. The most poisonous is called a panther, its hat is brown-gray with splashes of white. All of us familiar bright red mushroom belongs to the least poisonous species.
Chemical composition
The chemical composition of the mushroom has not been studied in detail, but according to some information, it contains:
- poisonous alkaloids - muscarine, muscimol, muscaridin, ibotenic acid;
- choline;
- orange red pigment - muscarfine;
- mushroom tropintoksin;
- trimethylamine;
- betanin;
- gucerescine;
- essential oil;
- chitin;
- enzymes;
- xanthine
Explore popular types of edible mushrooms.
Medicinal properties: the useful agaric
These toxic substances in a certain dose are capable of heal wounds, relieve pain, relieve tumors, provide stimulating and other effects. The use of this fungus has a beneficial effect in diseases of the joints, nervous system and skin. Modern pharmacology uses it for drugs to treat angina, epilepsy, diseases of the spinal cord and blood vessels.
Amanita also causes a surge of strength and a sense of cheerfulnessthat is successfully used to treat neuritis, neurosis and heart disease. Drugs with this fungus in the composition on the shoulder fight with such illnesses as insomnia, atherosclerosis, tuberculosis, impotence, constipation, diabetes, menopause, eye disease, as well as overwork.
Important! Recall that these mushrooms still belong to the poisonous, and even in the form of medication they should be used with caution. Large doses are contraindicated due to their mortal danger.
Use in traditional medicine
Amanita was indispensable in traditional medicine many centuries ago. It is now used in alternative medicine for the cure of many diseases. For example, as an external remedy for rheumatism and abscesses in the form of tincture. But the fly agaric ointment is very effective for arthritis. Treatment with fly-agarics is also used, when the sciatic nerve is inflamed, there is sciatica or osteochondrosis.
Known and healing effect of amanita in oncology. There were cases when he helped to recover from cancer, however, at the initial stage of the disease. And if you are worried about any problems associated with the gastrointestinal tract, the Amanita is effectively used in such situations.
Popularity in folk medicine has received a tincture of a mushroom, which is used with success to treat women's, skin, joint, eye diseases, impotence, tuberculosis, peptic ulcer and duodenal ulcer. An alcohol-based tincture relieves spasms in the vessels, seizures, and epilepsy. It also effectively tightens wounds, treats burns and frostbite. Mushroom tincture is also used for ear diseases and toothache, and some use it to remove the unpleasant smell from the mouth.
For the treatment of various skin diseases, including eczema, they use cornflower, ivy-shaped budru, longan, echinacea, fir, marsh wild rosemary, savory, black radish, elecampane
Application in cosmetology
Cosmetology has not bypassed this seemingly dangerous fungus. As it turned out, polysaccharides that are present in the mushroom have a beneficial effect on the epithelium of the skin and accelerate the process of rejuvenation of its cells. After applying to the skin of drugs with this fungus, it is noticeably transformed, the complexion smooths, and wrinkles are smoothed.
Cream with mushroom extract helps for stretch marks, varicose veins, eczema and other skin problems. Fungal oils, because they contain beneficial amino acids, stimulate the production of collagen, which many women know is responsible for the youth and elasticity of the skin.
It will be useful for girls to learn how to use rosemary, marjoram, coltsfoot, dandelions, marigolds, chamomile, peony, nettles, lovage, enoteru, periwinkle, bird cherry, parsnip, zucchini, walnuts, beeswax for cosmetic purposes.
Amanita extract mixed with citrus oils improves blood circulation and metabolism. Massage with this mixture will provide complete relaxation and relieve tension in the muscles, which is especially important for people who are engaged in intensive physical labor. If you are worried about cracks or calluses on the feet, then here the cream with the content of the fly agaric will come to your aid. It softens the skin and speeds up the healing process.
Application in everyday life
Perhaps, this poisonous mushroom has found its first use in people in everyday life. to kill insects. Attentive people began to notice that moisture builds up on the caps of the mushrooms, and those insects that fall into this liquid are dying. By the way, it was for this property that this mushroom was called the "fly agaric". To get rid of annoying flies or other insects, the Amanita must be chopped, filled with water or milk and then put the dishes with the contents on the window sill, laying on top of the blotting paper. In order for the effect to be better, the paper should slightly go beyond the edge of the dish, so the insects will dare to sit on it faster. After they do this, the dose of poisonous substances in the mushroom will not give them any chance.
With the help of our fungus, you can also get rid of bedbugs. To do this, boil the mushrooms and grease the furniture crevices with gruel or fresh juice. After some time, there will be no trace of bedbugs.
Read also how to get rid of bedbugs, cockroaches and moths in your home.
How to properly collect and harvest
To collect these mushrooms, you need to go for them in the forest. This can be done at any time from the beginning of the summer until the end of October.
Important! It is best to collect amanitas after the recent rain, their number at this time increases.
It is better to choose mushrooms with round hats of dark red color. Upon returning home, large specimens must first be dried in the open air, but in such a way that the sun's rays do not fall on them. And small-sized mushrooms should be cut immediately and sent to the oven to dry at a temperature not exceeding +50 ° C. When almost all the moisture from the mushrooms evaporates, they can be reached.
Large copies after drying on the street also need to be cut and dried in the oven.
You can store raw materials in glass jars or plastic containers with tightly closed lids. The storage location should be shaded so that sunlight does not get there, at room temperature.
Without health risks, you can eat mushrooms such as: aspen, black mushrooms, boletus, russules, volushki, chanterelles, aspen, white podgruzdki, mushrooms, boletus fungus, white fungus and honey agaric.
Harm and side effects
Despite the fact that the fly agaric can serve and good service, Do not forget that these mushrooms are poisonous. If they are eaten raw, the liver and kidneys will no longer function normally, and with large portions everything can be fatal. Symptoms of poisoning manifest themselves in the first hour after their use, and three hours later reach their maximum. In some cases, the unpleasant effects may persist for another 10 hours.
Amanita causes seizures in humans nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, severe salivation; at the poisoned pupils dilate, there is a strong excitability, the mind is confused. If the ambulance arrives in time, then there is a chance not to get serious health consequences. If you understand that you have poisoned these mushrooms, you should immediately do a gastric lavage, drink a laxative and call for medical help.
Important! The use of any means with the content of the mushroom is strictly prohibited for pregnant and lactating women, children and people with diseases of the stomach and intestines.
How to cook / eat amanitas
As you already understood, eating amanita is very dangerous, because it can be fatal. However, tincture and ointment from this fungus is quite safe if you know how to properly make them and how to apply.
Recipe tinctures: how to drink a fly agaric
Mushroom tincture is made on vodka. Fresh mushrooms should be well washed, cut into pieces and leave them in a cold place for three days. After that, you should put the mushrooms in a container made of ceramic or glass and fill them with vodka so that they cover them from above for 1 cm. Then you need to leave the container with the contents for two weeks in a place where sunlight does not get.
Important! The finished tincture can be used exclusively externally. Apply to the skin only through gauze, folded in 2-3 layers.
This tincture is usually used for pain in the joints, because it has an analgesic effect.
There is also a prescription tincture, which is allowed to use inside for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. To cook it, you need to take 5-6 mushroom caps and chop them finely. Then put them in a glass container, pour vodka, close the lid well and leave for a month in a dark place. Ready means is used on an empty stomach on one drop, the dose needs to be increased every day by one drop.
Thus, the tincture is taken for 30 days. After such a course, a pause is made for at least a month and then the course is repeated, if necessary, observing the same dosage.
Aloe, honey, celandine, goldenrod, Jerusalem artichoke, watercress, yucca, calendula, linden, double-leaved, and dodder also help in the treatment of the gastrointestinal tract.
Above, we mentioned in the article that the Amanita heals even cancerous tumors. To do this, prepare a special tincture, which is also taken orally. To prepare it, you need to take a 500 ml glass container and put freshly picked mushrooms into it to the top, then close them tightly with a lid and leave for a month in a dark place at normal room temperature. After that, pour the juice out and add vodka instead.
We recommend you to read about how to dry, pickle, freeze mushrooms.
Now you need to put the jar in the fridge and wait a week. Take the tincture should be as follows: on the first day, one drop of the product should be diluted with 30 ml of boiled water and drunk on an empty stomach, daily increasing the dose by one drop. TO
When the total amount of drops becomes 20, you need to start moving back, that is, daily reduce the number of drops by one, reaching two. After that, you need to take a break in a month and repeat the course again.
Did you know? Caesar mushroom, belonging to the Amanita, on the Mediterranean coast is considered a delicacy. Local chefs argue that the whole thing in its proper preparation. No one had any unpleasant symptoms after eating these mushrooms.
Amanita ointment
Amanita ointment is effective for treating skin diseases, as well as with joint diseases such as arthritis, sciatica, etc. To prepare it, take fresh amanitas and sour cream in equal amounts, cut the mushrooms into small pieces, then mix them with sour cream. It turns out gruel that needs to be applied to the problem area, wrapped it with a film and a warm bandage.
In the morning you need to remove the bandage and wash the problem area with warm water and soap. Store this ointment in a ceramic or glass container in a cool place (preferably in the refrigerator) for no more than 7-10 days.
Important! Before using any means with a mushroom, it is necessary to consult a doctor!
It turns out that the fly agaric is not so bad as we all used to think from childhood, and maybe even very useful. In any case, remember that this fungus is very poisonous and fraught with danger to your health, so use it wisely.