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Mycology Studies Investigate How Lanmaoa Asiatica Causes Recurring Visions and Unusual Neurological Effects.
Doctors, scientists, and researchers from different countries are investigating a hallucinogenic mushroom consumed as food in Yunnan province, China, after hundreds of people seek hospitals every year reporting unusual visions.
The culprit is Lanmaoa asiatica, a species popular in local cuisine that, when undercooked, causes Lilliputian hallucinations — the vivid perception of tiny human figures.
The phenomenon occurs during mushroom season, between June and August, and has been drawing increasing interest from mycology and scientific research on fungi, especially regarding its potential impacts on the human brain.
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Right from the first treatments, healthcare professionals noticed a curious pattern.
Patients describe small figures walking on the floor, climbing walls, and hanging from furniture.
Thus, despite the strange nature of the reports, the symptoms recur year after year, always associated with the consumption of the same mushroom.
Lanmaoa Asiatica: Local Delicacy with Unexpected Effects
Lanmaoa asiatic grows in symbiosis with pines in the forests of Yunnan.
Moreover, it is prized for its intense flavor and high umami content, one of the five basic tastes in human palate.
For this reason, the mushroom frequently appears in markets, restaurants, and home-cooked meals.
However, local residents know that improper preparation turns the delicacy into a potent hallucinogenic mushroom.
“At a hot pot mushroom restaurant there, the attendant set a 15-minute timer and warned us:
‘Don’t eat before the time is up, or you might see little people’,” reports Colin Domnauer, a PhD student in Biology at the University of Utah and species researcher.
“It seems to be widely known in the local culture.”
Lilliputian Hallucinations Grab Medical Attention
The so-called Lilliputian hallucinations are not common in clinical practice.
The term describes visions of tiny humans, animals, or fantastical figures and was first used in psychiatric studies in the early 20th century.
In 1991, researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences had already documented similar cases in Yunnan.
According to reports, patients saw more than ten figures at the same time, including on clothing and food plates.
Thus, the images were even more intense when their eyes were closed.
These records reinforced the direct link between the consumption of Lanmaoa asiatica and the observed neurological effects.
Scientific Research on Fungi Seeks the Unknown Compound
Intrigued by the reports, Domnauer decided to delve into scientific research on fungi that have been little studied.
In 2023, he traveled through Yunnan markets asking vendors which mushrooms “make you see little people.”
The indicated specimens were taken for genetic analysis, which confirmed the identity of Lanmaoa asiatica.
Then in laboratory tests, extracts from the mushroom caused behavioral changes in mice, such as hyperactivity followed by a long period of lethargy.
Besides China, the researcher found similar reports in the Philippines.
Despite the visual differences, genetic tests showed it was the same species.
Global Mystery Challenges Modern Mycology
Historical reports indicate similar phenomena in Papua New Guinea since the 1960s.
At that time, scientists attributed the stories to cultural constructs without pharmacological basis.
Today, however, mycology is reconsidering those conclusions.
For Domnauer, there is the possibility that the same effects may have arisen independently in different species, which would be highly relevant from an evolutionary standpoint.
“It’s not psilocybin that causes this effect,” says the researcher.
“The responsible substance seems to be something completely new.”
Prolonged Effects Explain Absence of Recreational Use
Another point that stands out is the duration of the experiences.
Lilliputian hallucinations can last from 12 to 24 hours and, in more severe cases, lead to hospitalizations for up to a week.
Hallucinogenic Mushroom May Help Understand the Human Brain
Despite the risks, studying the hallucinogenic mushroom could open new frontiers in neurology.
“Now, perhaps we can understand where these hallucinations originate in the brain,” says Dennis McKenna, ethnopharmacologist and director of the McKenna Academy of Natural Philosophy.
According to him, it is still early to talk about therapeutic applications, but the potential is real.
The World of Fungi Still Holds Countless Discoveries
Researchers estimate that less than 5% of the planet’s fungal species have been described.
For Giuliana Furci, mycologist and founder of the Fungi Foundation, the case emphasizes the enormous potential hidden in ecosystems.
“Fungi house a very broad biochemical and pharmacological library that we are just beginning to access,” she states.
In this scenario, Lanmaoa asiatica ceases to be merely a regional curiosity and takes a central place in scientific research on fungi and in the understanding of the human mind.
See more at: The Mysterious Mushroom That Makes People See Tiny Humans – BBC News Brazil
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