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A species of sea bream has been known for its hallucinogenic effects and ‘nightmarish’ dreams.
We know there are funny-looking toads that can cause acid-like trips, but now apparently you can get your hallucinogenic experience from fish.
Not just any fish though, it needs to be a specific type of sea bream that has become known for its tendency to cause dreams and even nightmares.
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The salema porgy, which is a species of sea bream typically found in the East Atlantic and sometimes the Mediterranean Sea, has become a common delicacy in many restaurants and dishes and is particularly popular in the French Côte d'Azur.
Now, we’re not saying every diner who chooses this fish for tea is experiencing a wild trip, but a handful of those who have eaten it have reportedly gone on to experience these side effects.
The science behind the hallucinations is caused by ichthyoallyeinotoxism, a rare kind of food poisoning contracted following the ingestion of fish.
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The head of the fish is thought to be the most poisonous and the most likely culprit of hallucinations, but a study also found the liver and internal organs can be highly toxic too. Also noted in the study was that the toxicity of the fish can fluctuate throughout the year, with autumn seen as a particularly high point with more poisonings than ever.
One theory of what makes this type of fish so poisonous compared to others is based on what it eats. The algae it feeds off is thought to contain toxins that build up in the fish’s liver. However, researchers still haven’t identified the actual compounds responsible for ichthyoallyeinotoxism, and can’t say if the trips are caused by molecules similar to DMT or indoles that mirror the effects of LSD.
It’s important to stress that this type of food poisoning isn’t super common though, before you start swearing off fish for life.
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In fact, there have only been a handful of cases reported, with the first case on file for a family in Marseille who ate the fish barbecued in 1982. The family didn’t remove the porgy’s insides, and apparently soon after their meal they found themselves having visions of aggressive animals before the hallucinations subsided after ten hours.
Another reported case in 1994 was from a tourist in the French Riviera who ate the fish at a restaurant. The next day, the tourist suffered from blurred vision, nausea and muscle weakness. Despite feeling under the weather, he attempted to drive himself to hospital before he began seeing hallucinations of ‘giant insects and spiders’ attacking the vehicle.
After 36 hours in hospital, the man was fully recovered but offered no recollection of his experience after eating the porgy and falling ill.
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Another case, and the most recent, was of a 90-year-old man in St Tropez in 2002 who cooked and ate the fish at home. Within hours of his meal, he found himself ‘harassed by screeching winged animals’ with the symptoms lasting for three days.
Note to self: if you see Salema Porgy on the menu, avoid at all costs.
Chloe Rowland