The following are some general myths concerning mushroom poisoning from ingesting unidentified wild gathered mushrooms. Please do not take this as medical advice! What you eat or do not eat is up to you, and caution is the rule when eating any wild gathered plants or fungi. However, there are a number of common claims about mushroom poisoning that are a bit exaggerated.
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Myth 1: If You Eat a Poisonous Mushroom, You’re As Good as Dead
It is an almost universal belief that ingesting a “poisonous” mushroom means almost certain death and that there is nothing that can be done to save you. This is not true.
There are many, many different species of mushrooms with many different toxins. Some may just give you a stomach ache. Others may make you a bit ill. Some may attack your nervous system and prove fatal, or almost fatal. However, something can always be done to help in a case of mushroom poisoning.
Since in most cases the particular species of mushroom that caused the poisoning is unknown, supportive care is given according to the symptoms being displayed. All mushroom poisonings can be treated and they can usually be treated successfully.
Myth 2: If You Get Mushroom Poisoning, You Have to Get the Antidote Immediately
This is easy to prove as untrue. You see, for most types of mushroom poisonings, there are no antidotes. For muscarine poisoning, atropine is used, but other than that, as mentioned above, the treatment for mushroom poisoning is based on supportive care for the symptoms, and there is no medication that must be given right away in order to survive.
Identifying the specific type of mushroom poisoning can be a big help, but not because an antidote can be given against that specific poison.
Knowing the specific mushroom involved can help to predict how severe the symptoms might become, what is likely to happen, and avoid misunderstanding the symptoms. But it is not essential to identify the specific culprit.
This is related to the myth that you must get treatment almost immediately in order to stand a chance of survival. However, even in cases of potentially fatal poisoning, it can take days for the illness to progress, and there is time to seek treatment.
Myth 3: If You Eat a Poisonous Mushroom, Say Your Prayers, Death is a Few Minutes Away
This one is, of course, related to all the myths above, and is the belief that mushrooms can kill in a matter of minutes and that seeking treatment is futile. Not true. Of the poisonous mushrooms, very few will cause serious illness or death. Even if the mushroom is deadly, death will not occur in minutes.
Myth 4: Mushroom Poisoning is Common
A lot of people seem to believe that mushroom poisoning happens a lot. It doesn’t when you consider how many people sample wild mushrooms.
Most mushrooms are not poisonous. In fact, out of over 10,000 species of mushrooms, only 50 to 100 are toxic, or have the potential to be toxic. And this brings us to another point.
Difference Between Toxin and Poisoning
The word toxin is overused. I find it necessary to use it much too often here on CulinaryLore in order to make points about how the word is misconstrued and misused, etc. There is a difference between ingesting a toxin and being poisoned.
If you ingest a very tiny amount of a potential toxin, and it is not enough to do you any harm, you are not poisoned. One problem with mushroom poisoning statistics is that those who experience poisoning symptoms are lumped in with those who experience no toxic effects…which is most of those who are exposed to potentially poisonous mushrooms.
Do you see the problem? Of those who are exposed to mushroom toxins, over half are children younger than six years old.
Even when a mushroom species does contain a poisonous compound, individual mushrooms may contain varying amounts. For instance, Amanita muscaria, pictured above, contains the nervous system toxin muscarine, for which the above mentioned atropine is given as treatment.
However, even if you eat one of these mushrooms, you are not likely to be poisoned, as they contain very low amounts of muscarine. Other species can contain more. Don’t go eating one of these mushrooms, though!
Perhaps the most famous poisonous mushroom has is Amanita phalloides, or Death Cap mushroom. it is said they are responsible for the majority of deaths, worldwide. In North America, an average of one person a year dies from Death Cap mushroom poisoning. Ingestion causes liver and kidney damage, seizures, and can to coma and death within 48 hours. However, even this most frightening of mushrooms is not a sure death sentence. Supportive care given in time can often be successful. Again, do not take any chances with mushrooms!
Key Points Summary for “The Surprising Truth About Mushroom Poisoning”
- There are 4 Common Myths About Mushroom Poisoning
- Myth 1: If you eat a poisonous mushroom, you’re as good as dead.
- Myth 2. If you eat a poisonous mushroom, there is no time as death is only a few minute away.
- Myth 3: Related to the second myth, if you get mushroom poisoning, you have to get the antidote immediately or it will be too late.
- Myth 4: Mushroom poisoning is common and happens all the time.
- It’s Important to Understand the Difference Between Toxins and Poisoning
- The word toxin is overused. There is a difference between ingesting a toxin and “being poisoned.”
- Ingesting a tiny amount of a potential toxin that is not enough to harm you does not mean you are poisoned.
- The statistics on mushroom poisoning are misleading, as those who experience poisoning are lumped in with those who experience no toxic effects.
- Even if a mushroom species contains a poisonous compound, individual mushrooms may contain varying amounts.
- Amanita phalloides, or Death Cap mushroom, is responsible for the majority of deaths worldwide, but timely supportive care can often be successful.
- Of those who are exposed to mushroom toxins, over half are children younger than six years old.
- Key Takeaway Points
- Not all mushrooms are poisonous.
- Most mushroom poisonings can be treated successfully with supportive care.
- Seek medical attention if you suspect mushroom poisoning, but do not panic.
