A concerned Australian doctor is advising the public never to experiment with wild mushrooms they are not familiar with, following the recent death of Ballarat mother Rachael Dixon in a suspected poisoning. A seemingly innocent mix-up, he said, could result in a “very expensive” medical bill or even death.
Melbourne doctor Michael Mrozinski said when it comes to getting your hands on mushrooms, it’s always best to “leave it to the experts” and be completely sure of what you’re consuming before putting anything in your mouth.
The problem lies in the misconception that certain types of mushrooms, including psilocybin, also known as “magic mushrooms,” are “good for mental health,” but that’s not always the case, she argues.
A doctor’s stark warning about a common mistake
“I think we have a bit of a lack of respect for magic mushrooms because they have been touted as a treatment for certain mental health conditions,” Mrozinski said. The project.
“The problem is that the public thinks: ‘this must be safe, it must be fantastic, it’s going to help my mental health’, whereas in reality, every person is different and the way they react… will be completely different.”
On Monday, in the latest in a series of tragic events to rock the Victorian city of Ballarat, it emerged that mother and personal trainer Rachel Dixon had died after a suspected cardiac arrest which authorities believe was caused by consuming mushroom tea at Soul Barn in Clunes.
Soul Barn, which describes itself as a “creative wellness center” specializing in holistic and alternative practices, said in a statement Thursday that it was shocked and devastated by Dixon’s death. The center said the event was not organized by them or facilitated by any of their employees.
Australians should be aware of the risks
Mrozinski said it’s alternative medical treatments like this that people should avoid.
“Regardless of the treatment you choose, whether it’s medical or alternative, you have to know what you’re getting into,” she said. “The wellness industry has gotten away with it for a long time and probably needs to be regulated much more than it is now.”
Reports of people hunting for their own mushrooms are growing in popularity on the Internet.
Mushroom hunting on social media
A Melbourne man took to social media this week to share with people a collection of mushrooms he had found and revealed that after eating one “that tasted weird” he “felt a tingling sensation” in his mouth.
“I ate one and it tasted a little weird. I just want to know if I’m going to eat the rest,” the man wrote. “The one I ate had a weird taste and gave me a little tingling in my mouth.”
Mrozinski says these online groups can give people a false sense of security.
“I think with the invention of social media and the internet, they think they can be experts on everything. We can actually see that it can be a very expensive mistake if you make a mistake with a mushroom,” he told The Project.
“My advice is to leave it to the experts,” he said. “A mushroom like opium, which can kill you if you take it, and the ones used as magic mushrooms are very similar and it’s a huge risk.”
Last year, Erin Patterson was charged with three counts of murder after her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson died after allegedly eating a poisonous beef Wellington at her home on July 29 last year.
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