Mushrooms: The Original Christmas Miracle?

Ancient mushroom outperforms expectations in FDA trials...

‍Amanita muscaria is a distinctive mushroom species. It has a striking red cap and is covered with white dots.

The mushrooms would grow on the ground in the Arctic, often under birch or pine trees. They are quite toxic, especially when fresh, and thus need to be “processed” by drying them out before they can be safely ingested. One could hang them in a sock over the fire, I suppose? That might do it. The other option is to let the reindeer have the first nibble—they didn’t seem phased by the toxins! The potent hallucinogenic compounds would pass through into the reindeer's urine. If so inclined, one could safely drink that urine for a shamanic experience. And, it turns out, the antidepressant effects might have combated the lack of daylight in the long winter.

These are Christmas magic… mushrooms.