Guide to Microdosing Magic Mushrooms

They then proceed to answer their own question with a pretty emphatic yes.

It’s true: think of microdosing as a key that unlocks all sorts of physical and mental benefits. If you want to learn how to reap its rewards in your own life, keep reading — because this is our complete guide to microdosing magic mushrooms.

• What is microdosing?
• How much should I microdose?
• How often should I microdose?
• How will microdosing make me feel?
• The amazing science of microdosed ‘shrooms
• The best way to microdose psilocybin
• Other ways to microdose

What is microdosing?

Microdosing can be defined as taking sub-perceptual amounts of a substance. One can microdose caffeine, cannabis, carbs, et cetera. In this case, though, we’re obviously talking about microdosing psychedelic substance!

And yet the goal of microdosing isn’t actually to get high, experience visuals, or start talking to the spiritual world. Microdosing’s real goal is to expand your mind, bit by bit, until you’ve become your real self.

Microdosing also relates back to dosing frequency. To really get the most out of microdosing, you’ll want to take your substance of choice several times throughout the week (and maybe even every day). Microdosing basically embodies the idea of kaizen — getting 1% better per day — without any drastic changes or crazy experiences.

Of all the substances you can microdose, microdosing with ‘shrooms is one of the coolest possibilities of all. Even a sub-perceptual dose of psilocybin can have tangible brain-boosting effects.

How much should I microdose?

There’s no easy answer to this one. Why not? Because everyone’s body is different!

Factors as simple as one’s height and as complex as one’s individual biochemistry mean that different people will respond differently to the very same dose.

That being said, many people do great with a psilocybin microdose of 0.15-0.3 grams.

Many experts recommend starting low and slow before gradually (gradually) working your way up. You can always increase your dose into the 0.5-1 gram range later, after spending a few weeks getting orientated with what a beginner’s microdose feels like!

How often should I microdose?

We’ll leave this one to the experts. In his book “Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide,” Dr. James Fadiman gives some helpful hints about microdosing frequency. Fadiman recommends microdosing once every three days:Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, for example.

The time of day matters, too. According to Fadiman microdosing in the evening could mess with your sleep schedule, so try to take your microdoses in the morning. Then again, keep in mind just how important it is to find what works for you. If you only have time to microdose on Monday, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, then just stick to that!

Another microdosing plan involves taking very small amounts of ‘shrooms for four out of every seven days: four days on, three days off. This plan is lovingly referred to as the ‘Stamets Stack’ — named after mycologist Paul Stamets — and it features psilocybin alongside a B vitamin called niacin.

One thing to note: it’s not recommended that you microdose every day. Taking days off every once in a while can help you maintain your sensitivity to ‘shrooms. The way this works gets pretty complex, but researchers have found that taking psilocybin too often less sensitive serotonin 5-HT2B receptors.

How will microdosing make me feel?

In a few words…really good.

Dr. James Fadiman says that people who microdose simply tend to have “really good day[s]…you know, that kind of day when things kind of work.” Getting into your zone/groove/flow state tends to just be easier, as does avoiding the little distractions and mental hangups that so easily bog down the entire day.

Many people find that microdosing creates a slightly antidepressant effect which quickly leads to other positive changes. Just think: wouldn’t you be more creative, more motivated, and more productive if any hint of depression was gone? Probably so.

Microdosing can also heighten one’s awareness. Sci-fi writer Aldous Huxley used to compare the mind-expanding nature of psychedelics to the opening of a filter, a filter that previously wasn’t letting you see much. Indeed, many people who try microdosing find that it allows them to see things about themselves, others, and the outside world that they’d never noticed before.

But just as important as all these potential benefits is paying attention to how you feel. If you’ve never tried microdosing before, there’s really no telling how it’ll affect you. You may notice a little difference, you may notice a lot — you may notice nothing at all. Consider taking a day off work and laying low at home the first day you microdose. You might even want to keep a dosing journal where you document what works for you.

One of microdosing’s biggest benefits, in the long run, is improved creativity. Writers write better…musicians play better…artists make better art. According to Joe Rogan, even MMA fighters fight better when under the influence of a few tenths of a gram of ‘shrooms! Could it be that ‘shrooms actually increase what experts call proprioception, the connection between mind and movement? Only more research will tell.

The amazing science of microdosed ‘shrooms

Speaking of research, a 2019 study conducted by the University of Toronto was one of the first to clearly show the benefits of microdosing.

“While full-dose therapies include perception-distorting properties,” the study’s authors noted, “microdosing may provide complementary clinical benefits using lower-risk, non-hallucinogenic doses.” In other words, microdosing is like having your cake and eating it too. Only way healthier..and way more holistic.

How exactly does microdosing benefit the mind?

Several studies have shown that it may boost the brain’s levels of BDNF, or brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a specialized protein that encourages the growth and connectivity of new brain cells.

And these findings are just the start. Groups like John Hopkins University have only started researching microdosing in the past few years, so the best is definitely still to come.

Other potential benefits of microdosing include:

• Increased problem-solving ability
• Increased motivation
• Reduced depression
• Reduced anxiety
• Increased sensation
• Enhanced productivity
• Enhanced motor function
• Improved exercise recovery
• Reduced dependency on substances
• Reduced food and/or sugar cravings

Granted, some of these effects are more theoretical than others…but new research is continuing to clear any unknowns up.

Take this 2020 study, for example. It analyzed data from an online survey of 1,102 people…and its results were pretty impressive. 39% of participants said that they were taking psychedelic to improve their mental health, mostly because more ‘conventional’ attempts had failed. And 44% of participants reported back that microdosing had worked to “significantly” improve things.

The best way to microdose psilocybin

First thing’s first: when it comes to microdosing, consistency is key. The best way to microdose, then, is whatever lets you stay consistent!

That caveat aside, our personal favourite way to microdose is with capsules. They’re convenient enough to encourage consistency — and even more than that, they allow you to customize the microdosing experience.

How? Our capsules feature different psilocybin blends alongside special adaptogens and herbs, each of which lends itself to different physical and mental effects. Need a powerful nootropic blend of Golden Teacher, Lion’s Mane, and niacin, inspired by Dr. Paul Stamets’ research? We’ve got you covered. Need to keep calm and carry on, despite how crazy the world is getting? We can help with that, too. Other shroom blends may even help with immune support.

Other ways to microdose

While microdosing with capsules is the personal fav of many psychonauts, don’t think it’s the only way. Feel free to get creative with some less common delivery methods if you’d like!

One creative way to get your daily dose in comes in the form of mushroom tea. Making mushroom tea is actually super simple: just boil a microdose of ‘shrooms, add honey, stir, let cool, and enjoy.

All you chocolate connoisseurs out there will be glad to know about the existence of psilocybin-infused chocolates. Said chocolate products make microdosing easy, practical, and fun. If nothing else, do it for the science: dark chocolate edibles may boost your body’s endocannabinoid levels andserotonin.

Of course, the quality of the ‘shrooms you choose matters. Some psilocybin are better for microdosing than others. We’re huge fans of the Golden Teacher variety, which, true to its name, has a gently uplifting effect that guides and teaches along the way. Click here for more resources on all things microdosing.