Mushrooms · Poisonous mushroom
The Sickener
Russula emetica (Schaeff.) Pers. · also called Sickener, emetic russula (a fungus, not a plant)
The sickener (Russula emetica) is a wild mushroom that is listed as poisonous. Eating it causes vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhoea, usually within hours. Guides say people recover, but severe cases can need hospital care. No trial shows it helps any condition. If someone has eaten a wild mushroom, call a poison centre right away.
General information, not medical advice. Last substantive update · Not medically reviewed. A named clinician has not signed off on this page. How this page is made
About The Sickener
The sickener (Russula emetica) is a poisonous wild mushroom. It irritates the gut and causes vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhoea, usually starting about half an hour to three hours after eating. Guides and NAMA describe recovery, and hospital care is sometimes needed. A stomach upset after a wild mushroom can also be the first sign of a far more dangerous poison, so call a poison centre. No human study shows any benefit.
Danger first: what it does
The sickener is listed as poisonous. A museum guide describes vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea and colicky stomach cramps starting half an hour to three hours after eating, with recovery once the mushroom has left the body. A UK fungi website says someone who eats a meal of it can expect to feel very poorly for quite a few days.
The North American Mycological Association (NAMA) puts this kind of poisoning in its gastrointestinal irritant group. It says it is the most frequent form of mushroom poisoning, that symptoms usually appear within 20 minutes to 4 hours, that recovery is complete, and that severe cases may need hospital care. Supportive treatment replaces lost fluids and salts. These are descriptions from guides, not from a trial of the sickener. If someone has eaten a wild mushroom, call a poison centre right away. In the US call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (free, confidential), and 911 if the person collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing or cannot be awakened. In the UK call NHS 111 if unsure and 999 in an emergency. In Australia call 13 11 26.
When a stomach upset is not the whole story
NAMA warns that gut symptoms starting 6 to 24 hours after eating mushrooms could mean amatoxin poisoning, a very serious toxicity, and that other poisons cause gut symptoms first and kidney damage days later. A fast stomach upset does not prove the mushroom was a mild one.
Tell the poison centre exactly what was eaten, when it was eaten and when symptoms began. Keep any leftover mushroom or meal, or a photo, to show staff. Do not wait to see whether symptoms pass.
Who is at higher risk
A UK website says death is unlikely except in frail or immune-compromised people and very young children. That is one website's general statement, not a measured risk, and it is no promise for anyone. Call a poison centre for any child who may have eaten a wild mushroom. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, medicines, alcohol and pets are not covered by any source we read for this mushroom.
Cooking, pickling and old advice
A UK website says thorough cooking is said to remove most of the toxins, but most authorities still treat the sickener as toxic and advise against eating it. A museum guide says parboiling and pickling may make it edible and then asks why bother. We found no study showing that any preparation makes it safe, so treat this as folk advice. This page gives no preparation method.
A Thai laboratory paper calls the sickener one of three wild edible mushrooms from Thailand. That conflicts with a 2025 review and with the guides, and we found no source describing how or whether it is eaten there.
Same genus does not mean same safety
Some brittlegills are eaten, while the sickener is not, and a different Russula species is far more dangerous. Russula subnigricans causes muscle breakdown. In China in 2019 it caused 15 poisoning incidents among 54 patients, with 1 death, and in Hunan it was the species most often linked to fatal poisonings, 20 of 80 fatal incidents. In a Thai series of 41 muscle-damaging mushroom poisonings, in which three cases were identified as Russula, 26.8% of patients died.
China's 2019 report also lists one incident of three patients, with no deaths, attributed to Russula cf. emetica, which means the species match was not certain. That is too small to say how severe the illness usually is.
No identification help here
This page does not tell you how to recognise the sickener. A museum guide says DNA sequence analysis would be needed to tell it from four close relatives, and a China report stresses that exact, quick species identification matters in poisoning incidents. A photo, an app or a name is never proof that a wild mushroom is safe. Squirrels eating these mushrooms is not proof of safety for people either.
What research exists
No clinical trial and no animal study of the sickener was found. Laboratory work includes a Thai study of polysaccharide extracts from three wild mushrooms: the sickener's extract had the highest antidiabetic and antihypertensive activity in the tests (56.3% and 70.5% inhibition). A review also summarises a cell-culture finding on cancer-drug resistance. These results are test-tube and cell-dish work and say nothing about eating the mushroom.
A 1995 chemistry paper reported a new sesquiterpenoid from the species, which is the chemical family a museum guide suggests may cause the poisoning. No study we read shows which compound causes the stomach effect.
Radioactivity and metals
Wild mushrooms can take up contaminants from soil. In Ukraine, 36 years after Chernobyl, the sickener had the highest strontium-90 of the species listed in one study (193 Bq per kg dry mass), and the authors say eating wild mushrooms in that region is still dangerous. A Polish study of seven species, including the sickener, found that eating mushrooms may push intake of cadmium, copper and caesium-137 over recommended limits, with no separate figure for the sickener.
At a glance
Traditional uses history, not proof
- No traditional medicinal use is described in the sources we read.
- A Thai laboratory paper calls it a wild edible mushroom, while a 2025 review and field guides call it poisonous (Kaewnarin 2020; Yang 2025).
- A museum guide says parboiling and pickling may make it edible, then asks why bother (Beaty Biodiversity Museum).
Studied for research
- Blood sugar and blood pressure: test-tube work on an extract only, very low evidence
- Cancer-drug resistance: cell culture only, not enough evidence
- Food use: against; sources list it as poisonous
- No human trial of any benefit
Main compounds
- Toxin not identified; a museum guide says possibly sesquiterpenoids
- Polysaccharides (long-chain sugars; laboratory extracts only)
Common forms
- Wild mushroom (poisonous; not a food or supplement)
- Laboratory polysaccharide extracts (research only, not a product)
Research links: Poison Control (US): call 1-800-222-1222 · NAMA: mushroom poisoning syndromes · Review of Russula compounds and safety, 2025 (abstract) · Polysaccharides from wild mushrooms in Thailand (abstract) · Strontium-90 in wild mushrooms, Ukraine (abstract) · Research Library · Genes & Biomarkers Library
What it is and its history
- Accepted scientific name
- Russula emetica
- Naming authority
- (Schaeff.) Pers.
- Synonyms
- Agaricus emeticus Schaeff.; Agaricus emeticus subsp. emeticus; Agaricus ruber (Lam.) Fr.; Amanita rubra Lam.; Russula clusii Fr.
- Common names
- Sickener (English); Emetic russula (English); Kirschroter Speitäubling (German); Russule émétique (French); Braakrussula (Dutch); 毒红菇 (Chinese)
- Family or group
- Russulaceae, the brittlegill family (a fungus, not a plant). The part concerned is the fruiting body, the mushroom.
- Classification
- Fungi > Basidiomycota > Agaricomycetes > Russulales > Russulaceae > Russula > Russula emetica
- Native range
- GBIF holds about 23,900 occurrence records, about 21,100 in Europe, 1,700 in North America and 600 in Asia. A 2025 review says it lives in partnership with birch in northern forests. A museum guide gives forests of British Columbia and the Pacific North-west into Alaska, and Europe.
- Habitat
- Forest, in partnership with trees (reviews and the museum guide). Not described further, deliberately.
- What it looks like
- Part used: The fruiting body (the mushroom). This page does not describe how to recognise it.
- Look-alikes and adulterants
- Name: Other brittlegills; Note: A museum guide says the sickener is one of five closely related Russula species, none safe to eat, and that DNA sequence analysis would be needed to tell them apart. It also says brittlegills are hard to identify to species.; Name: Edible brittlegills; Note: Some Russula species are eaten, which is why 'it is a Russula' is not a safety test. Another Russula, R. subnigricans, causes muscle breakdown and deaths.
- Sustainability and conservation
- Not checked.
Traditional use and history history, not clinical proof
| Tradition or era | Documented use | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Taxonomy | GBIF gives the accepted name Russula emetica (Schaeff.) Pers., published in 1796. The first name, Agaricus emeticus, is in the synonym list. The species name 'emetica' refers to causing vomiting. | GBIF |
| Medical literature | A museum guide cites a 1989 paper on medical problems of mushroom ingestion for the symptom timing. We did not read that paper. | Beaty Biodiversity Museum |
| Use as food | A 2020 Thai laboratory paper calls R. emetica one of three wild edible mushrooms from Thailand. A 2025 review and European and North American guides call it poisonous. We found no source describing how it is prepared or eaten. | Kaewnarin 2020; Yang 2025 |
| Chemistry | A 1995 paper reported a new lactarane-type sesquiterpenoid from R. emetica (title and citation only read). | Kobata 1995 |
Traditional use shows how it was used. It does not show that it works or is safe today.
What is inside, and how it may work
What it contains and how those compounds act in cells and animals. Laboratory and animal mechanisms are not proven effects in people.
Main compounds
| Compound | Family | Where it is concentrated | Activity studied | Level of evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sesquiterpenoids (lactarane type) | Terpene-type fungal chemicals | Not stated | A museum guide says the toxins are 'possibly sesquiterpenoids'. A 1995 paper reports a new lactarane sesquiterpenoid from this species. No study read tests whether any of these causes the stomach effect. 9 3 | Unclear |
| Polysaccharides (beta-linked, glucose-rich) | Long-chain sugars | Fruiting body extract | Crude extracts were mostly carbohydrate and protein, with some phenolic compounds. They showed antidiabetic and antihypertensive activity in laboratory tests. 2 8 | Laboratory research |
| Strontium-90 and caesium-137 | Radioactive contaminants (not part of the mushroom's own chemistry) | Fruiting body Strontium-90: 193 Bq per kg dry mass in R. emetica (Ukraine, 2022 report) | Taken up from contaminated soil. Reported as the highest strontium-90 among species measured in one region. 1 | Laboratory analysis |
Mechanisms, receptors and pathways
| Target or pathway | Gene or receptor | What was found | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gut lining irritation | Not established | NAMA groups this kind of poisoning with the gastrointestinal irritants, whose symptoms end once the irritant is expelled. No study read shows how the sickener's toxin acts. 11 9 | Not established |
| Blood-sugar and blood-pressure related laboratory activity | Not stated in the abstract | Polysaccharide extracts showed activity in laboratory tests of antidiabetic and antihypertensive potential. Test tube only. 2 | Laboratory research |
| Multidrug resistance pump (P-glycoprotein) | P-glycoprotein (ABCB1) | A sample labelled R. emetica reversed drug resistance in P-glycoprotein-positive, paclitaxel-resistant cancer cells (review summary; original not opened). 8 | Laboratory research |
Absorption, metabolism and elimination
- Absorption
- Not studied.
- Distribution
- Not studied.
- Metabolism
- Not studied.
- Elimination
- Not studied. Recovery is described once the mushroom has left the body.
- Bioavailability
- Not studied.
Isolated compounds versus whole extracts
The wild mushroom, a laboratory polysaccharide extract and a sesquiterpenoid compound are three different things. Human poisoning is described for the whole mushroom. The laboratory findings are for extracts and say nothing about eating the mushroom. No supplement or product was found.
Nutritional composition
The sickener is not a food or nutrient source. We found no nutrient entry for it and no measured nutrient values.
1 very low certainty1 not enough evidence1 evidence against
What is The Sickener good for?
The uses people ask about and how strong the human evidence is for each. None is proven, and there is no human evidence at all. Read every row together with the Safety tab: this is a poisonous mushroom.
Benefits, one by one
Each card is a research question, not a promise. Tap a goal to filter. Open a card to see the studies, doses and limits.
Blood sugar and blood pressure (laboratory work on an extract)
Very low certaintyOnly test-tube work exists. In one Thai laboratory study, a sugar-chain (polysaccharide) extract of the sickener scored higher on tests linked to blood sugar and blood pressure than extracts of two other wild mushrooms. No animal or person has been tested.
2 studiesNot covered. This page gives no amounts, preparation or ways of using…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
None. No person has eaten or been given this extract in a study.
Results
Ultrasound-extracted polysaccharides of R. emetica had the highest antidiabetic and antihypertensive activities of the three mushrooms in the study (56.3% and 70.5% inhibition in the tests). The same finding is repeated in a 2025 review of the Russula genus.
Effect sizes as reported
56.3% and 70.5% inhibition in laboratory tests of the extract (abstract). These are not effects in a body.
Why this rating
Test tube only, one study, crude extract, and no animal or human data. The abstract does not say how the activity was measured.
Form and dose studied
Not covered. This page gives no amounts, preparation or ways of using the mushroom.
Who was studied
None. No animals or people.
Limits
A laboratory result for a crude extract cannot show any effect on blood sugar or blood pressure in a person. The mushroom itself is a stomach poison, so this finding is no reason to eat it.
Why researchers looked
Fungal polysaccharides are screened in the laboratory for many activities. The sickener was one of three wild mushrooms from Thailand compared in the study.
Traditional use
No traditional use for blood sugar or blood pressure is described in the sources we read.
Proposed mechanism Laboratory research
Not established. The abstract reports activity in laboratory tests of a crude extract that was mostly carbohydrate and protein, with glucose the main sugar and beta-glycosidic links. It does not say which tests were used.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
This is a poisonous mushroom. Eating it causes vomiting and stomach cramps. If someone has eaten it, call a poison centre.
Cancer-drug resistance (cell culture)
Not enough evidenceA sample labelled as sickener reversed drug resistance in resistant cancer cells growing in a dish. This is cell work only and does not show the mushroom treats cancer.
1 studiesNot covered. This page gives no amounts, preparation or ways of using…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
None.
Results
Reversal of drug resistance in cultured cancer cells, as reported in the review's summary of the original study.
Effect sizes as reported
Not given in the review summary.
Why this rating
Summary-only: the original paper was not opened. Cell culture only, no animals and no people.
Form and dose studied
Not covered. This page gives no amounts, preparation or ways of using the mushroom.
Who was studied
None. Cultured cells only.
Limits
A cell-dish result is a long way from any use in people. The review does not say how the sample was prepared.
Why researchers looked
Scientists screen fungal extracts for compounds that help cancer drugs work in resistant cells.
Traditional use
No traditional use for cancer is described in the sources we read.
Proposed mechanism Laboratory research
As summarised by a 2025 review: a sample labelled R. emetica (M12) reversed multidrug resistance in paclitaxel-resistant cancer cells that carry the P-glycoprotein pump, and made doxorubicin more toxic to them. The compound responsible is not named in the review.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
This is a poisonous mushroom. Eating it causes vomiting and stomach cramps. If someone has eaten it, call a poison centre.
Use as a food
Evidence againstSources we read treat the sickener as poisonous, not as food. It causes vomiting and stomach cramps. Folk claims that cooking, parboiling or pickling make it edible have not been tested.
5 studiesNot covered. This page gives no amounts, preparation or ways of using…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
No study of eating the sickener as food. Only brief descriptions from guides and a poisoning-syndrome page.
Results
Described outcome after eating it: nausea, vomiting, colicky cramps and diarrhoea, starting from about half an hour to three hours later.
Effect sizes as reported
None measured.
Why this rating
Guides and a review label it poisonous; the only claims of edibility are untested folk advice and a paper title.
Form and dose studied
Not covered. This page gives no amounts, preparation or ways of using the mushroom.
Who was studied
People who ate it.
Limits
The guides are undated and not peer reviewed. We found no measured toxin level, no nutrient entry and no clinical series about this species alone.
Why researchers looked
People ask because related brittlegills are eaten and because of local food use claims.
Traditional use
A Thai laboratory paper calls the sickener one of three wild edible mushrooms from Thailand. A 2025 review lists it as poisonous. We found no source describing how, or whether, it is prepared and eaten there.
Proposed mechanism Authoritative guidance
The toxin is not firmly identified. A museum guide says it is possibly sesquiterpenoids, and NAMA groups this kind of poisoning with the gastrointestinal irritants.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
This is a poisonous mushroom. Eating it causes vomiting and stomach cramps. If someone has eaten it, call a poison centre.
Connections to the rest of health
How The Sickener connects to the rest of our health knowledge graph. Every link says what kind of connection it is. A safety link (for example to the liver) is a warning, not a benefit. A study that merely mentions a topic never creates a benefit link.
Explore every connection: goals, body systems, organs, symptoms, genes
B. Body systems
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digestive system | Adverse effect or risk | Low certainty | Nausea, vomiting, cramps and diarrhoea described by guides and NAMA. Preparation or compound: Mushroom (fruiting body) |
9 11 10 |
| Endocrine System | Biological association | Very low certainty | Studied for: Blood sugar and blood pressure (laboratory work on an extract) | 2 8 |
| Cardiovascular System | Biological association | Very low certainty | Studied for: Blood sugar and blood pressure (laboratory work on an extract) | 2 8 |
| Immune System | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Cancer-drug resistance (cell culture) | 8 |
| Digestive System | Biological association | Evidence against | Studied for: Use as a food | 9 10 11 8 2 |
C. Body parts and organs
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stomach | Adverse effect or risk | Low certainty | Severe stomach pains and cramps after eating it. Preparation or compound: Mushroom (fruiting body) |
9 10 |
| Gut | Adverse effect or risk | Low certainty | Gut irritant; diarrhoea described; symptoms end once it is expelled. Preparation or compound: Mushroom (fruiting body) |
11 9 |
E. Health conditions
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nausea and vomiting | Adverse effect or risk | Low certainty | The main symptom described after eating it. Preparation or compound: Mushroom (fruiting body) |
9 11 |
K. Biological pathways
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P-glycoprotein (multidrug resistance pump) | Preliminary mechanism | In vitro | Target of the laboratory cell-culture finding (review summary). | 8 |
L. Active compounds
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sesquiterpenoids (lactarane type) | Biological association | Unclear | A museum guide says the toxins are 'possibly sesquiterpenoids'. A 1995 paper reports a new lactarane sesquiterpenoid from this species. No study read tests whether any of these causes the stomach effect. Preparation or compound: Not stated |
9 3 |
| Polysaccharides (beta-linked, glucose-rich) | Biological association | In vitro | Crude extracts were mostly carbohydrate and protein, with some phenolic compounds. They showed antidiabetic and antihypertensive activity in laboratory tests. Preparation or compound: Fruiting body extract |
2 8 |
| Strontium-90 and caesium-137 | Biological association | Laboratory analysis | Taken up from contaminated soil. Reported as the highest strontium-90 among species measured in one region. Preparation or compound: Fruiting body |
1 |
Each connection is stored with the ingredient, the connected record, the kind of connection, the evidence status, the supporting studies, the preparation or compound involved, and a review date (last reviewed October 25, 2026).
The evidence
The research centre for The Sickener. Every record here was checked against PubMed or the publisher's page; we never list a study we have not verified.
Evidence by outcome
Bars show how many studies we found for each outcome, not how well it works. People are added up across trials only (reviews are not added, to avoid double counting).
How we rate evidence
High certainty
Several well-run trials or reviews agree; further research is unlikely to change the picture much.
Moderate certainty
Good trials point the same way, but some doubt remains.
Low certainty
Small, short or inconsistent trials. The finding could change with better research.
Very low certainty
Very little or very weak human data. Treat as a possibility only.
Mixed findings
Trials or reviews disagree with each other.
Not enough evidence
Not enough human research to say either way.
Evidence against
Good research found no benefit, or found harm.
We take the reviewers' own risk-of-bias and GRADE statements where they exist, and otherwise judge from study size, design, consistency, directness and whether a product matches what is sold. Many publications do not make evidence high. Method note: We read the abstracts of seven papers in PubMed (full text for two surveillance and review papers), the NAMA poisoning-syndromes page, a museum guide, a UK fungi website and poison-help pages from the US, UK and Australia, and checked the scientific name in GBIF. Index Fungorum could not be opened. Where a statement could not be checked it is marked as such.
Study library: every study we checked 15
| Study | Design | People | Product, dose, length | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grodzinskaya 2022 Radioactive Contamination of Wild Mushrooms from Ukraine under Conditions of Contrasting Radiation Loads: 36 Years after the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Catastrophe. Int J Med Mushrooms · PMID 36004707 · DOI |
Laboratory analysis mushroom samples |
Wild mushrooms collected in Zhytomyr Polissya, Ukraine, in areas with high and low radioactive contamination | n/a n/a n/a n/a · vs n/a |
Strontium-90 activity was much lower than caesium-137. The highest strontium-90 levels were found in Russula emetica (193 Bq per kg dry mass), Daedaleopsis confragosa (145) and Hypholoma fasciculare (141). The highest caesium-137 levels were in other species (for example Imleria badia). The authors say eating wild mushrooms in this region is still dangerous because the land is heavily contaminated. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Caesium-137 and strontium-90 in mushroom fruiting bodies Limitations: One region of Ukraine. It says nothing about mushrooms from other places, and the abstract gives no caesium-137 figure for R. emetica. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Kaewnarin 2020 Characterization of Polysaccharides from Wild Edible Mushrooms from Thailand and Their Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, and Antihypertensive Activities. Int J Med Mushrooms · PMID 32479017 · DOI |
Laboratory study in-vitro |
Polysaccharide extracts from three wild mushrooms from Thailand, including Russula emetica (test tube) | Polysaccharide extract (reflux or ultrasound-assisted) of Russula emetica Fruiting body (wild, Thailand) n/a (test tube) n/a · vs Two other wild mushrooms |
Polysaccharides of R. emetica made with ultrasound-assisted extraction showed the highest antidiabetic and antihypertensive activities of the three mushrooms (56.3% and 70.5% inhibition). The extracts were mostly carbohydrate and protein with some phenolic compounds; glucose was the main sugar, and the R. emetica polysaccharides had beta-glycosidic links. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Antioxidant, antidiabetic and antihypertensive activity; sugar make-up of the extracts Limitations: Test-tube work on crude extracts. The abstract does not say which tests were used, so what the percentages measure is not stated here. Nothing was given to animals or people. The title calls the three mushrooms wild edible, which conflicts with European and North American sources that list R. emetica as poisonous. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Kobata 1995 New Lactarane Sesquiterpenoid from the Fungus Russula emetica Biosci Biotechnol Biochem · Source · DOI |
Chemistry report n/a |
n/a | n/a n/a n/a n/a · vs n/a |
The title reports a new lactarane-type sesquiterpenoid isolated from Russula emetica. We saw only the bibliographic record (via Crossref, DOI 10.1271/bbb.59.316); the abstract and full text were not read, so we say nothing about what the compound does. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Chemical structure of a compound from R. emetica Limitations: Citation only. Not indexed in PubMed under this search. No claim about toxicity is made from it. Read: citation-only |
| Li 2020 Mushroom Poisoning Outbreaks - China, 2019. China CDC Weekly · PMID 34594654 |
Surveillance report |
Poisoning incidents in China in 2019 where mushroom species were confirmed by shape and DNA (about 70 species) | n/a n/a n/a n/a · vs n/a |
In Table 1, "Russula cf. emetica" is listed under gastroenteritis with 1 incident, 3 patients and 0 deaths ("cf." means the species match was not certain). Other brittlegills caused more incidents: Russula japonica (26 incidents, 68 patients, 0 deaths) and Russula subnigricans, listed under rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown), with 15 incidents, 54 patients and 1 death. The authors stress that quick, exact species identification matters in poisoning incidents. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Species, incidents, patients and deaths Limitations: One country, one year. Column meanings were read from the table text. The one R. cf. emetica incident is too small to say how severe the illness usually is. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the text read. Read: full-text |
| Ronda 2022 Accumulation of radioisotopes and heavy metals in selected species of mushrooms. Food Chem · PMID 34359008 · DOI |
Laboratory analysis mushroom samples |
Seven forest mushroom species from Poland; the abstract describes Paxillus involutus, Tylopilus felleus and Russula emetica as inedible by humans | n/a n/a n/a n/a · vs n/a |
The authors conclude that eating mushrooms may push intake of cadmium, copper and caesium-137 well over the recommended limits. The abstract does not give separate figures for R. emetica. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Radioisotopes and ten metals compared with European Food Safety Authority recommendations Limitations: Group result for seven species, so it cannot be pinned on the sickener alone. It is cited here only to show that wild mushrooms can carry metals and radioactivity. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Trakulsrichai 2020 Myotoxic Mushroom Poisoning in Thailand: Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes. Int J Gen Med · PMID 33235487 · DOI |
Retrospective cohort |
41 41 people with muscle-damaging mushroom poisoning reported to a Thai poison centre, 2012 to 2016; in three cases a mycologist identified the mushrooms as Russula species |
n/a n/a n/a n/a · vs n/a |
Gut symptoms began after a median of 2 hours, and muscle breakdown symptoms after 24 to 48 hours. Kidney injury occurred in 51.5% of patients with muscle breakdown. 95.1% were admitted to hospital, and the death rate was 26.8%. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Symptoms, kidney injury, deaths Limitations: This is a different poisoning from the sickener's. Only three cases were identified as Russula, and the abstract does not name the species, so it is used here only to show that a Russula mushroom can be far more dangerous than a stomach upset. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Wu 2025 Mushroom poisoning deaths and prevention practices in Hunan, 2014-2023. PLoS One · PMID 40522929 · DOI |
Surveillance report |
Fatal wild mushroom poisoning incidents in Hunan Province, China, 2014 to 2023 | n/a n/a n/a n/a · vs n/a |
There were 80 fatal incidents and 111 deaths. Russula subnigricans was the species most often linked to fatal poisoning (20 events, 25.0%). All the fatal incidents followed accidental picking and eating in households, and 48.7% of the deaths were in people aged 60 or older. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Species, timing, who was affected Limitations: Counts only fatal incidents, so it says nothing about how common milder poisonings are. It is about a different Russula, not the sickener. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Yang 2025 Unveiling the Bioactive Compounds and Therapeutic Potential of Russula: A Comprehensive Review. J Fungi (Basel) · PMID 40422676 · DOI |
Review review |
Review of the Russula genus: compounds, laboratory pharmacology, safety | n/a n/a n/a n/a · vs n/a |
In the full text we searched for R. emetica. It is listed as "Poisonous" in the review's edibility table, and the review names R. emetica and R. nigricans as poisonous Russulas. It summarises the Thai polysaccharide study (anti-diabetic and antihypertensive activity) and a sample labelled R. emetica (M12) that reversed multidrug resistance in paclitaxel-resistant cancer cells in culture and made doxorubicin more toxic to those cells. It also summarises the Ukrainian strontium-90 study, and says R. emetica has a strong affinity for birch and that Russula species have not been reliably cultivated. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: What is known about bioactive compounds, edibility and toxicity of Russula species Limitations: Narrative review. The original paper behind the cancer-cell finding (the review's reference 207) was not opened, so that point is summary-only. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: full-text |
| n/a Beaty Biodiversity Museum (University of British Columbia): Mushrooms Up! Russula emetica, sickener (page read 25 October 2026) n/a · Source |
Museum guide n/a |
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The guide labels the sickener poisonous. It says the toxins are "possibly sesquiterpenoids", and that symptoms are vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea and colicky stomach cramps starting half an hour to three hours after eating, with patients recovering once the mushrooms have left the body. It says the sickener belongs to a group of five closely related Russula species, none safe to eat, and that DNA sequence analysis would be needed to confirm which one it is. It says parboiling and pickling may render them edible but asks "why bother?". It advises contacting the regional poison control centre if someone is ill after eating wild mushrooms and saving leftovers to help confirm identification. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Toxicity statement and symptoms for the sickener Limitations: Undated, not peer reviewed. The symptom timing is cited to a 1989 paper in the Mycologist (Edwards and Henry) that we did not read. The toxin statement is cited to a 1995 chemistry paper that we did not read in full. The parboiling and pickling line is an opinion, not a tested method. Read: full-text |
| n/a First Nature (UK fungi website): Russula emetica, The Sickener (page read 25 October 2026) n/a · Source |
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The page says that if eaten raw or inadequately cooked the sickener can make people very sick. Early symptoms are nausea and vomiting with severe stomach pains, followed by diarrhoea, and a person who eats a meal of it can expect to feel very poorly for quite a few days. It says poisoning is unlikely to be fatal except in frail or immune-compromised people or very young children. It says thorough cooking is said to remove most or all toxins, but most authorities still treat the species as toxic and advise against collecting it for eating. It adds that squirrels eating it is not proof that it is safe for people. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Toxicity statement for the sickener Limitations: A website page, not peer reviewed and undated. The cooking statement is hearsay ("is said to"); no study of it was found. Read: full-text |
| n/a 2026 North American Mycological Association: Mushroom Poisoning Syndromes (page read 25 October 2026) n/a · Source |
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NAMA says the most frequent form of mushroom poisoning is caused by gastrointestinal irritants. Symptoms usually appear within 20 minutes to 4 hours and include nausea, vomiting, cramps and diarrhoea, which normally pass after the irritant has been expelled. Severe cases may require hospitalization. Treatment is supportive: it may include attempts to eliminate the irritants, and replacing lost fluids and electrolytes is important. Recovery is complete. It warns that gut symptoms starting 6 to 24 hours after eating could mean amatoxin poisoning, a very serious toxicity, and that other poisons can show gut symptoms first and kidney damage later. The page is a general guide to poisoning types and does not name the sickener. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: What gastrointestinal-irritant mushroom poisoning looks like and how it is treated Limitations: General syndrome page, not specific to this species. Undated. Read: full-text |
| n/a 2026 Poison Control (US): Need immediate assistance? (page read 25 October 2026) n/a · Source |
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The page says to call 1-800-222-1222 or use the online tool; both are free and confidential. If the person collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing or cannot be awakened, call 911 immediately. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: What to do in a suspected poisoning in the US Limitations: A public help page. Read: full-text |
| n/a 2026 NHS (UK): Poisoning (page read 25 October 2026) n/a · Source |
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The page says to call 999 or go to A&E if someone may have swallowed something harmful, has lost consciousness, has stopped breathing, has severe difficulty breathing or has a seizure, and to call NHS 111 if you are not sure whether something swallowed is harmful. It also advises bringing medicines taken and not driving yourself to A&E. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: What to do in suspected poisoning in the UK Limitations: A public help page. Read: full-text |
| n/a 2026 NSW Poisons Information Centre (Australia): home page (read 25 October 2026) n/a · Source |
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The page says the centre can be called 24/7 on 13 11 26, says not to wait for symptoms, and says to call Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance if someone is unconscious or not breathing. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Poison advice line in Australia Limitations: A public help page for one Australian state service; the number is shown as the poisons line on the page. Read: full-text |
| n/a 2026 GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Russula emetica (Schaeff.) Pers. (species key 2551213) n/a · Source |
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Accepted species in GBIF: Russula emetica (Schaeff.) Pers., published 1796 (Observ. Mycol. 1: 100), family Russulaceae, order Russulales, class Agaricomycetes, phylum Basidiomycota, kingdom Fungi. Synonyms include Agaricus emeticus Schaeff. English vernacular name: Sickener. About 23,900 occurrence records, about 21,100 in Europe, 1,700 in North America, 600 in Asia, and only a handful elsewhere. Read through the GBIF API on 25 October 2026. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Accepted name, authority, family, synonyms, records Limitations: A database record. Occurrence records are observations, not a map of native range, and say nothing about toxins. Index Fungorum could not be opened (blocked) and MycoBank was not searched. Read: full-text |
What we do not know yet
- No clinical series of poisoning by the sickener alone; descriptions come from guides, NAMA and one tiny China surveillance entry.
- No study identifies the toxin or measures its amount.
- No study of any cooking, parboiling or pickling method.
- No animal or human study of any sickener extract.
- No information on pregnancy, breastfeeding, medicines, alcohol or pets.
- The original paper on the cancer-cell finding was not opened; no regulator statement specific to the sickener was found.
How new research is added
New studies are found by a saved PubMed search and placed in a review queue. A person reads each one before it changes this page. Poison-help pages are rechecked on a schedule.
Lab markers
What changed in blood or saliva tests during trials. A changed number is not the same as feeling or being healthier, and we give no "normal ranges".
Safety
What studies and official sources say about side effects, medicines and who should check first. Each point shows what kind of evidence it comes from.
Main points to know 8
- If someone has eaten it, call a poison centre now. Do not wait to see whether symptoms appear or pass. In the US call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (free and confidential), or 911 if the person collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing or cannot be awakened. In the UK call NHS 111 if you are unsure and 999 in an emergency. In Australia the Poisons Information Centre line is 13 11 26. Keep the mushroom, a photo or the package to show staff. Authoritative guidance 12 13 14 9
- The sickener is listed as poisonous and causes vomiting and stomach cramps. A museum guide describes vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea and colicky stomach cramps starting half an hour to three hours after eating. A UK fungi website says a person who eats a meal of it can expect to feel very poorly for quite a few days. These are descriptions from guides, not from a clinical trial. Expert guide 9 10
- Stomach symptoms that start late can mean a far more dangerous poison. NAMA says gut symptoms starting 6 to 24 hours after eating could mean amatoxin poisoning, a very serious toxicity, and that other poisons cause gut symptoms first and kidney damage days later. A stomach upset after a wild mushroom does not prove it was a mild one. Tell the poison centre exactly what was eaten and when symptoms began. Authoritative guidance 11
- Most people recover, but severe cases can need hospital care. NAMA says this type of poisoning is the most frequent, that recovery is complete, and that severe cases may require hospital care, including replacing lost fluids and salts. A UK website says death is unlikely except in frail or immune-compromised people or very young children. That is a general description, not a promise for any one person. Authoritative guidance 11 10
- Cooking, pickling or parboiling has not been shown to make it safe. A UK website says thorough cooking is said to remove most of the toxins, yet most authorities still treat it as toxic. A museum guide says parboiling and pickling may render it edible but asks why bother. We found no study showing that any preparation makes it safe, and this page gives no preparation method. Expert opinion 10 9
- Being in the same genus does not make a mushroom safe or unsafe. Some brittlegills are eaten, while a different Russula, R. subnigricans, causes muscle breakdown and deaths. In China in 2019 it caused 15 incidents among 54 patients with 1 death, and in Hunan it was the species most often linked to fatal poisonings (20 of 80 fatal incidents). In a Thai series of 41 muscle-damaging mushroom poisonings, in which three cases were identified as Russula, 26.8% of patients died. Surveillance 4 7 6
- Do not rely on names, photos, apps or taste to decide if a wild mushroom is safe. A museum guide says DNA sequence analysis would be needed to confirm which of five similar brittlegills a specimen is, and a China study stresses that quick, exact species identification matters in poisoning incidents. This page gives no identification help. Animals eating a mushroom is not proof that it is safe for people. Expert guide 9 4 10
- Wild mushrooms can carry radioactivity and metals. In Ukraine, 36 years after Chernobyl, the sickener had the highest strontium-90 of the species compared (193 Bq per kg dry mass). A Polish study of seven species, including the sickener, found that eating mushrooms may push intake of cadmium, copper and caesium-137 over recommended limits. The Polish abstract gives no separate figures for the sickener. Laboratory analysis 1 5
Side effects 6
| Effect | How often | Severity and recovery | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nausea and vomiting The main symptom described. Onset about half an hour to three hours after eating (museum guide); 20 minutes to 4 hours for gut-irritant mushrooms in general (NAMA). | Not established | moderate Described as ending once the mushroom has left the body | Expert guide 9 11 |
| Colicky stomach cramps and severe stomach pain No counts of how many people are affected. | Not established | moderate Described as passing | Expert guide 9 10 |
| Diarrhoea A UK website says it follows the vomiting. | Not established | moderate Described as passing | Expert guide 9 10 |
| Loss of fluids and salts NAMA says replacing lost fluids and electrolytes matters after vomiting and diarrhoea from gut-irritant mushrooms in general. It does not describe dehydration for the sickener specifically. | Not established | moderate to severe Replaced in care | Authoritative guidance 11 |
| Feeling very unwell for days A UK website says a person who eats a meal of it can feel very poorly for quite a few days. | Not established | moderate Recovery described | Website 10 |
| Hospital care in severe cases Stated for gut-irritant mushroom poisoning in general. | Not established | severe NAMA says recovery is complete | Authoritative guidance 11 |
Liver
No liver injury is described for the sickener in the sources we read. Do not take that as comfort: poisoning by liver-destroying mushrooms can begin with the same gut symptoms many hours later, so a poison centre should be called for any wild mushroom. 11
How often. No data for the sickener.
Monitoring. Not applicable; call a poison centre.
- NAMA poisoning syndromes page. Gut symptoms starting 6 to 24 hours after eating could signal amatoxin poisoning, a very serious toxicity. 11
This is a safety connection. It is not evidence that The Sickener supports liver health.
Medicines and supplements 1
| With | Why it matters | Importance | Evidence | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medicines, alcohol and supplements all | No interaction has been studied for the sickener. | Unknown. Vomiting and diarrhoea are described, and hospital teams manage them; this page gives no home treatment. | None Not enough evidence 13 12 | Tell the poison centre or emergency team about every medicine, supplement and substance taken, and ask them what to do. |
Who should check first 5
| Situation | Advice | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Anyone | It is a poisonous mushroom with no proven benefit. This page does not suggest eating it in any form. | Authoritative guidance 9 8 |
| Children and frail or immune-compromised people | A UK website names very young children and frail or immune-compromised people as the groups where death is more likely. Call a poison centre for any child who may have eaten a wild mushroom. | Website 10 12 |
| Pregnancy and breastfeeding | No data were found. A poisonous mushroom has no place in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Call a poison centre if one was eaten. | None |
| People with kidney, heart or other long-term illness | No data were found. Vomiting and diarrhoea can cause fluid and salt loss, so ask a poison centre or doctor right away. | Authoritative guidance 11 |
| Pets | No source about the sickener in pets was read. If a pet may have eaten a wild mushroom, call a vet or an animal poison service immediately. | None |
Overdose, product quality and regulators
Summary. The sickener is described as poisonous because it irritates the gut. The toxin is not firmly identified: a museum guide says possibly sesquiterpenoids, and NAMA files this kind of poisoning under gastrointestinal irritants.
Amounts. No toxin level and no safe amount has been established in any source we read.
Onset and course. Symptoms start about half an hour to three hours after eating (museum guide), and recovery is described once the mushroom has left the body. A UK website says people can feel very poorly for days.
Repeated use. No data.
Animal data. A UK website notes that squirrels seem able to eat these brittlegills with no ill effects and says this is no proof of safety for people.
Toxic parts. Not stated. The part involved is the fruiting body (the mushroom).
Not read. Original toxicology papers (the museum guide's 1989 and 1995 references) were not read.
No product testing exists for the sickener. Wild mushrooms in general can carry radioactivity and metals.
Strontium-90 (Ukraine). In a 2022 study 36 years after Chernobyl, the sickener had the highest strontium-90 of the species listed (193 Bq per kg dry mass); other species had higher caesium-137. The authors say eating wild mushrooms in this region is still dangerous. 1
Metals and radioisotopes (Poland). In seven forest species including the sickener, eating mushrooms may push intake of cadmium, copper and caesium-137 over recommended limits. No separate figure for the sickener is given in the abstract. 5
| Body | Action | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Poison Control (US, National Capital Poison Center) (United States) | Call 1-800-222-1222 for free, confidential help; call 911 immediately if the person collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing or cannot be awakened. source | |
| NHS (UK) (United Kingdom) | Call 999 or go to A&E if someone may have swallowed something harmful, is unconscious, has stopped breathing, has severe breathing difficulty or has a seizure; call NHS 111 if unsure. source | |
| NSW Poisons Information Centre (Australia) | Call 13 11 26 (24/7) and do not wait for symptoms; call 000 if the person is unconscious or not breathing. source |
When to get medical help
- If someone may have eaten this mushroom, or a wild mushroom that might be this one, call a poison centre right away, even if they seem fine. In the US call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (free and confidential), or 911 if the person collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing or cannot be awakened. In the UK call NHS 111 if you are unsure and 999 in an emergency. In Australia the Poisons Information Centre line is 13 11 26. Keep the mushroom, a photo or the package to show staff.
- Call emergency services now if the person collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing, cannot be awakened, or has lost consciousness.
- Signs described for this mushroom: nausea, repeated vomiting, colicky stomach cramps and diarrhoea, starting about half an hour to three hours after eating.
- Go to hospital quickly if there are signs of fluid loss (very little urine, dizziness, a very dry mouth, extreme weakness), if symptoms are severe, if the person is a young child, frail, or has a long-term illness, or if stomach symptoms started 6 hours or more after eating, which can point to a far more dangerous poison.
- Do not wait to see whether symptoms pass and do not try to make the person vomit. Keep any leftover mushroom or meal, or a photo, to show staff.
- Pets: call a vet or an animal poison service immediately.
If someone may be poisoned or in a crisis, contact a clinician or emergency service straight away. In the US, Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222.
General information only, not medical advice. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before use, especially with medicines, in pregnancy or with a health condition. See the Natural Remedy Safety guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is the sickener (Russula emetica) poisonous?
What should I do if someone has eaten it, or a wild mushroom that might be it?
Call a poison centre right away, even if the person seems fine. In the US call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (free, confidential), and 911 if the person collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing or cannot be awakened. In the UK call NHS 111 if unsure and 999 in an emergency. In Australia call 13 11 26. Keep any leftover mushroom or meal, or a photo, to show staff. Do not wait to see whether symptoms pass.
How long until symptoms start?
Is the sickener deadly?
A UK website says poisoning is unlikely to be fatal except in frail or immune-compromised people and very young children. That is a general website statement, not a measured risk, and we found no clinical series of this mushroom alone. Call a poison centre either way, because you cannot tell from stomach symptoms alone which mushroom was eaten.
Does cooking make it safe?
Is it edible in some countries?
Are all Russula mushrooms safe or all unsafe?
Can I tell it from other mushrooms?
Does it have any health benefit?
What causes the poisoning?
Is wild sickener contaminated with radioactivity or metals?
Explore by health goal
Editorial transparency
- Written by
- AlternativeMed editorial team. Research compiled with AI assistance, then checked against PubMed records, poison-help pages and GBIF.
- Medical review
- None. This page has not been reviewed by a physician or pharmacist.
- First published
- 2026-10-25
- Last substantive update
- 2026-10-25
- How we research
- We read the abstracts of seven papers in PubMed (full text for two surveillance and review papers), the NAMA poisoning-syndromes page, a museum guide, a UK fungi website and poison-help pages from the US, UK and Australia, and checked the scientific name in GBIF. Index Fungorum could not be opened. Where a statement could not be checked it is marked as such.
- How we rate evidence
- See "How we rate evidence" in the Evidence tab.
- Independence
- No product is promoted on this page. No affiliate links are shown. This page gives no dose, preparation, identification, picking or sourcing advice.
Sources 15
Each source was opened and checked. Where we read only the abstract, it says so. The small numbers in the text point here.
- Grodzinskaya AA, Nebesnyi VB, Landin VP, Gabriel J. Radioactive Contamination of Wild Mushrooms from Ukraine under Conditions of Contrasting Radiation Loads: 36 Years after the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Catastrophe.. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2022. PMID 36004707. DOI 10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.2022044725. (abstract)
- Kaewnarin K, Suwannarach N, Kumla J, Choonpicharn S, Tanreuan K, Lumyong S. Characterization of Polysaccharides from Wild Edible Mushrooms from Thailand and Their Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, and Antihypertensive Activities.. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2020. PMID 32479017. DOI 10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.2020034092. (abstract)
- Kobata K, Kano S, Shibata H. New Lactarane Sesquiterpenoid from the Fungus Russula emetica. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 1995. DOI 10.1271/bbb.59.316. (citation-only)
- Li H, Zhang H, Zhang Y, Zhang K, Zhou J, Yin Y, Jiang S, Ma P, He Q, Zhang Y, Wen K, Yuan Y, Lang N, Lu J, Sun C. Mushroom Poisoning Outbreaks - China, 2019.. China CDC Weekly. 2020. PMID 34594654. (full-text)
- Ronda O, Grzadka E, Ostolska I, Orzel J, Cieslik BM. Accumulation of radioisotopes and heavy metals in selected species of mushrooms.. Food Chem. 2022. PMID 34359008. DOI 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.130670. (abstract)
- Trakulsrichai S, Jeeratheepatanont P, Sriapha C, Tongpoo A, Wananukul W. Myotoxic Mushroom Poisoning in Thailand: Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes.. Int J Gen Med. 2020. PMID 33235487. DOI 10.2147/IJGM.S271914. (abstract)
- Wu S, Wang Q, Duan H, Xiong J, Lai T, Wang C, Liang J, Jia H. Mushroom poisoning deaths and prevention practices in Hunan, 2014-2023.. PLoS One. 2025. PMID 40522929. DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0326107. (abstract)
- Yang J, Karunarathna SC, Patabendige N, Tarafder E, Lou D, Zhou Y, Hapuarachchi K. Unveiling the Bioactive Compounds and Therapeutic Potential of Russula: A Comprehensive Review.. J Fungi (Basel). 2025. PMID 40422676. DOI 10.3390/jof11050341. (full-text)
- n/a. Beaty Biodiversity Museum (University of British Columbia): Mushrooms Up! Russula emetica, sickener (page read 25 October 2026). n/a. . (full-text)
- n/a. First Nature (UK fungi website): Russula emetica, The Sickener (page read 25 October 2026). n/a. . (full-text)
- n/a. North American Mycological Association: Mushroom Poisoning Syndromes (page read 25 October 2026). n/a. 2026. (full-text)
- n/a. Poison Control (US): Need immediate assistance? (page read 25 October 2026). n/a. 2026. (full-text)
- n/a. NHS (UK): Poisoning (page read 25 October 2026). n/a. 2026. (full-text)
- n/a. NSW Poisons Information Centre (Australia): home page (read 25 October 2026). n/a. 2026. (full-text)
- n/a. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Russula emetica (Schaeff.) Pers. (species key 2551213). n/a. 2026. (full-text)