You’re Walking in Nature, You’re Hungry, and You See a Mushroom on the Ground—How Can You Tell if It’s Poisonous? What Happens to Your Body if You Eat a Poisonous Mushroom? Here are the Answers to All These Questions.
How Can You Tell if a Mushroom is Poisonous?
Although it doesn’t apply to all mushrooms, poisonous ones are often brightly colored, such as vivid yellow or red. You might think, “Nature is giving us a hint here.” Dangerous things are usually bright and attention-grabbing. If you don’t know this, you could fall victim to natural selection. But if you do know, your chances of survival increase. Non-poisonous mushrooms are typically simple in color, like white, beige, or brown, and look dirty or unattractive. (There might be a life lesson here; if you try hard enough, you can probably find one.)
Another rule, though not foolproof, is to press your fingers firmly against the mushroom. If the pressed area turns dark blue, purple, or black, it’s definitely poisonous. However, some mushrooms can be poisonous even without leaving a color, so this isn’t a guaranteed method. It’s best to leave the colored mushroom alone, but also be cautious with those that don’t change color.
A third way is to observe animals like goats or sheep if they are around. Adult animals generally know how to distinguish poisonous mushrooms from safe ones, having learned through natural selection. However, keep in mind that some mushrooms may not harm the digestive systems of these animals but could still be toxic to humans due to differences in digestive enzymes.
In short, there’s no “guaranteed” method, but combining these methods can significantly reduce the risk of poisoning. If you’re on the verge of starvation, these methods might help.
Symptoms of Mushroom Poisoning
- Watery eyes
- Excessive saliva production
- Sweating
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Cramping of the abdominal muscles
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Muscle twitching
- Constricted pupils
The fatality rate of mushroom poisoning is quite high, and early detection is crucial. As a first aid measure, the person should be induced to vomit. If diarrhea doesn’t occur after vomiting, a laxative should be administered to empty the intestines.
Almost all cases of deadly mushroom poisoning are caused by two species: Amanita muscaria and Amanita phalloides. It’s known that even high temperatures don’t reduce the toxicity of A. muscaria, and symptoms begin within 3 hours of consumption.
A. phalloides causes liver damage, and the patient may die within 7–10 days.
So, are these two mushrooms the only poisonous ones? What about other mushrooms? You’ve probably heard people say, “My grandpa can tell if a mushroom is safe just by looking at it.” Unfortunately, there’s no reliable way to tell if a mushroom is poisonous, and even species that are commonly eaten (except for cultivated varieties) can become toxic due to changes during their spore-forming period. That’s why it’s best not to leave it to chance.