The information in this episode is meant for interest only.

All of the fungi mentioned in this episode can cause injury or death.

We do not support the ingestion or use of any of these mushrooms, or any known toxic plants for that matter.

And therefore, the MCP and I cannot be held responsible for any injury caused by their misuse.

Please be responsible.

And if you think you've ingested something poisonous,

call your local emergency services immediately. Humans are fascinated by gore and violence, but even more so the mysterious and unsolved.

Interest in these disturbing and unpleasant subjects is called morbid curiosity, and it has gripped millions

of people throughout the ages. I am one of those people. My name is Halley, and this is the Morbid

Curiosity Podcast. Previously on this podcast, we've talked about previously on this podcast, we've talked about toxic plants, which often contain

organic compounds called alkaloids that produce many strong physiological effects when

ingested by humans, such as convulsions, paralysis, hallucinations, and death.

We've also discussed plants that contain cardiac glycosides,

organic compounds that increase the force and rate of heart contractions.

We've also discussed hallucinogenic plants,

plants that cause intense mental and sensory experiences.

Because of all these effects, toxic plants have been utilized for pharmacological and ritual

purposes from very early in human history. Some toxic plants have been studied over the years

to create medicine, while many more have a history of being

used as poisons. While I've mostly discussed plants, I've mentioned a mushroom or two as well.

Mushrooms occupy a special place in human culture. We both love them and deeply distrust them,

even fear them.

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