---
title: "University of Utah studies Lanmaoa asiatica mushroom that induces visions"
url: "https://usubjects.com/article/there-could-be-a-mushroom-out-there-causing-fairytale-like-visions-people-eating-these-mushrooms-cla-1443"
updated: "2026-02-08T15:08:19.087Z"
description: "Scientists at the University of Utah are studying Lanmaoa Asiatica, a Chinese mushroom that, when eaten raw, reliably induces visions of miniature humans appearing on everyday objects. The unidentified compound can cause trips lasting up to three days and occasional hospitalizations, prompting caution among researchers while highlighting a historical pattern of “elf‑like” hallucinations across psychedelic substances."
sources: ["https://thedebrief.org/there-could-be-a-mushroom-out-there-causing-fairytale-like-visions-people-eating-these-mushrooms-claim-to-have-the-same-hallucinations/"]
licence: "All rights reserved"
---

# University of Utah studies Lanmaoa asiatica mushroom that induces visions

Published: 2026-02-06  
Source: [Anomalist](https://thedebrief.org/there-could-be-a-mushroom-out-there-causing-fairytale-like-visions-people-eating-these-mushrooms-claim-to-have-the-same-hallucinations/)

### Overview  

Scientists at the University of Utah’s Natural History Museum are investigating a little‑known Chinese mushroom, **_Lanmaoa asiatica_**, after dozens of consumers reported strikingly similar “lilliputian” hallucinations when the fungus is eaten raw.  Test subjects describe seeing miniature, cartoon‑clad figures marching across tablecloths, swimming in soup bowls and clinging to spoons – a visual motif that has appeared in anecdotal reports for centuries.  The team’s goal is to isolate the unidentified compound responsible, determine its pharmacology, and assess whether it might have therapeutic value or pose a public‑health risk.

---  

### Research Findings  

Lead investigator **Colin Domnauer**, a doctoral candidate in biology, says the consistency of the visions is unusual for naturally occurring psychedelics.  “When we compiled the first set of testimonies, the pattern was unmistakable: tiny people appearing on everyday objects, often interacting with food,” he explained.  Laboratory analysis confirmed that the hallucinations occur only when the mushrooms are consumed **raw**; cooking the same specimens eliminates the effect, suggesting the active molecule is heat‑labile.  Preliminary animal studies indicate the compound can produce psychoactive episodes lasting up to **three days**, with occasional cases requiring hospital observation for dehydration and disorientation.

---  

### Historical Context  

The phenomenon mirrors “lilliputian hallucinations” described in folklore and early ethnobotanical literature.  Mycologist **Giuliana Furci**, founder of the Fungi Foundation, notes that 19th‑century travelers in Yunnan Province documented similar visions, yet the species remained unidentified for decades.  “People have been searching for a mushroom that makes you see tiny people for generations, but they never found the species,” Furci said, referencing a recent BBC Future feature.  The new research therefore bridges a gap between historic accounts and modern neuropharmacology, adding _L. asiatica_ to a short list of substances—such as psilocybin and ibogaine—that produce distinct visual motifs across cultures.

---  

### Potential Applications and Risks  

If the active molecule can be isolated, researchers speculate it could expand the toolbox for treating conditions like **depression**, **anxiety**, or **post‑traumatic stress disorder**, where controlled psychedelic experiences have shown promise.  However, the long duration of the trips and reports of **hospitalizations** underscore safety concerns.  “We are proceeding with caution,” Domnauer emphasized.  The team is collaborating with toxicologists to establish dosage thresholds, metabolic pathways, and possible contraindications, especially given the compound’s apparent resistance to degradation by heat or standard cooking methods.

---  

### Next Steps  

The Utah team plans to publish a detailed chemical profile later this year and to begin Phase I clinical trials under FDA oversight, contingent on successful animal safety data.  Parallel ethnographic work in Yunnan aims to document traditional preparation methods that may inadvertently neutralize the psychoactive component.  As the investigation progresses, public health officials are advised to issue warnings about consuming raw **_Lanmaoa asiatica_**, while the scientific community watches closely for insights that could illuminate both **human consciousness** and the broader pharmacology of hallucinogenic fungi.

## Provenance

This USUBJECTS page is a summary or digest of the linked original source. Any accompanying generated visual is an illustrative reconstruction, not evidence.