Wood-Lover Paralysis: A First Step Toward Understanding a Long-Standing Mystery
For years, reports have circulated within the mushroom community about a strange and sometimes unsettling reaction following the consumption of certain psilocybin-containing mushrooms—particularly those that grow on wood, like Psilocybe subaeruginosa. The phenomenon, now widely referred to as Wood-Lover Paralysis (WLP), has been shared in hushed conversations, online forums, and cautionary tales passed between foragers. Until now, it remained largely undocumented in the scientific literature.
That’s changed with the recent publication of a peer-reviewed paper in Toxicon, authored by Simon Beck, Caine Barlow, Liam Engel, and Monica Barratt. This marks the first formal scientific effort to describe WLP and better understand the patterns behind it.
What Is WLP?
WLP is typically described as a temporary physical weakness or muscle paralysis that sets in within a few hours after consuming wood-loving mushrooms. The effects can range from mild unsteadiness to more serious symptoms—like difficulty walking, swallowing, or even breathing. In some cases, people have experienced falls or accidents due to the sudden loss of strength.
The paper describes the results from an online survey conducted in 2020 by Simon Beck and Caine Barlow to systematically describe WLP. There were 392 participants, 71.8% of whom were male, with 34.1% aged between 26 and 35 years, and primarily from Australia and New Zealand. The paper reports that 42.1 % of people who responded to the survey experienced WLP, with the onset typically occurring within four hours of ingestion. WLP is regarded as rare, the high percentage of individuals who reported WLP resulting from an expected bias in reporting due to interest from the community. Notably:
Symptoms usually began within four hours of ingestion.
For nearly half, the symptoms lasted into the next day.
Around 22% reported an accident or fall as a result.
Interestingly, WLP showed up regardless of how the mushrooms were prepared or where they were picked. It also didn’t appear to be linked to health status, allergies, or demographic factors.
So, What Causes It?
At this stage, we still don’t know. The researchers note that while many theories exist—ranging from fungal contaminants to environmental toxins—the leading idea is that WLP is caused by an as-yet unidentified compound produced naturally by the mushrooms themselves. More research will be needed to pinpoint the exact mechanism.
Why This Matters
For those in the entheogenic and mycological communities, this paper is a significant milestone. It takes decades of anecdotal knowledge and gives it formal recognition. More importantly, it contributes to harm reduction—providing clearer information to those working with or exploring these mushrooms, whether through foraging, ceremony, or personal healing.
As one of the authors, Caine Barlow, has often said, understanding these fungi means not only celebrating their potential but also respecting their complexity.
This paper opens the door to further research, deeper understanding, and—hopefully—safer experiences.
You can read the full open-access study here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108450
