Major update on Victoria's deadly mushroom case as mushroom expert speaks out trends now
A fungi expert has revealed why so many Aussies are taking magic mushrooms after a mother-of-two died from suspected poisoning at an alternative health clinic.
Rachael Dixon, 53, became critically ill and later died from a suspected heart attack after allegedly drinking a mushroom tonic at Soul Barn in Clunes, near Ballarat, western Victoria, about 12am on Saturday night.
Investigations are continuing into the death of the Melbourne mother of two sons, who was herself a health practitioner.
Natalie Barr asked Dr Alistair McTaggart from Symbiotika Lab why people were so keen to get their hands on magic mushrooms.
'I think because of the hype around the [reported] improvements to [people's] mental health,' the mycologist told Sunrise on Thursday.
Rachael Dixon, 53, became critically ill and later died from a suspected heart attack after allegedly drinking a mushroom tonic at Soul Barn in Clunes, near Ballarat
Natalie Barr asked Dr Alistair McTaggart from Symbiotika Lab (right) why people were so desperate to get their hands on magic mushrooms
He said magic mushrooms actually contain an evolutionary form of slug poison, which is made up of a series of psychedelic compounds, including psilocybin.
'When people and celebrities take mushrooms, instead of us being like a slug and getting poisoned, we have these amazing benefits,' he explained.
'So maybe we'll have a revelation, or we'll increase our empathy, or maybe we'll look at a problem we've been dwelling with a new perspective.
'Psilocybin has been classified as a breakthrough therapy for treatment of mental health disorders, anxiety, addiction, depression and PTSD.
'People get very interested in trying magic mushrooms to see what it's all about.'
But he stressed that magic mushrooms are illegal in Australia and are classified a Schedule 9 prohibited drug in Australia, on a legal par with heroin.
'You can be penalised by quite draconian laws for their possession,' he said.
'The TGA announced that psilocybin would be downgraded to a Schedule 8 for treatment-resistant depression.
'But [magic
