Microdose

Q: What is Microdosing?

A: Microdosing magic mushrooms refers to the practice of taking tiny (sub-perceptive or unnoticeable) amounts of psilocybin.

Q: Why Microdose Magic Mushrooms?

A: The purpose is to enhance your day-to-day existence. Scientific evidence backed up by people’s anecdotal evidence report many positive results: elevating mood, increasing energy, focus and cognition, decreasing insecurities, anxiety, depression and stress. It has also been shown to improve medical outcomes including those associated with cluster headaches, migraines and menstrual complaints.  Psychedelic science is growing more confident that microdosing with psilocybin can have enormous medicinal benefits with hardly any side effects or risks.

Q: Are Magic Mushrooms Addictive?

A: No, in-fact they are quite the opposite. Magic mushrooms are being prescribed by therapists as a tool to help people overcome addictive behavior like smoking, alcohol consumption and other drug dependencies.

Q: What Microdosing Schedule Should I Follow?

A: There are two schools of thought here but the shared goal is the same: avoid building up a tolerance to the ‘shrooms using one of these two strategies. Dr. James Faidman (the scientist that popularized the concept and is credited as the initiator of scientific research on microdosing) Fadiman’s protocol: take a microdose once every three days.  Faidman also recommends taking notes in a journal or just observe how you feel throughout the day. Especially observe the effects on your off days ie day 2 and 3, as many people report increased feelings of flow, creativity and energy on your days off from taking the microdose. Paul Stamets (one of the most reputable and decorated mycologists in the world)

Stamets’ Protocol: take a microdose every day for four days, then taking three days off (e.g. take a microdose on Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs and none on Fri, Sat, Sun. Repeat.) Stamets also recommends adding additional supplements to increase the neurogenesis benefits of mushrooms; this is often referred to as the ‘Stamets Stack’.  It features psilocybin alongside Lions Mane, and a B vitamin called niacin. We sell his microdosing formula here:

Q: Why the complicated protocol, why can’t I take a tablet everyday like other medications?

A: Basically, taking days off from microdosing can help maintain your sensitivity to the ‘shrooms and prevent your body from building up a tolerance. The way this works gets pretty complex, but researchers have found that taking psilocybin too often can decrease the sensitivity of the serotonin 5-HT2B receptors to psilocybin. In fact, general thoughts on vitamins and supplements are that you should cycle them periodically rather than follow the protocol indefinitely.

Q: What time of day should I take it?

A: Morning time is the best time to take it and enjoy the benefits throughout the day.

Q: What amount of Psilocybin should I take in a microdose?

A: There’s no easy answer to this one. Why not? Because everyone’s body is different! Factors as simple as your height and as complex as your individual biochemistry mean that 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.

Generally, larger people require a larger dose. You can always increase your dose to 0.5-1 gram later, after spending a few weeks getting orientated with what a beginners microdose feels like.

Q: Can I take other medications?

A:  You can continue on any medications you are currently taking. The list of medications and supplements that people report to be taking without incident is here. Because microdosing involves such minuscule amounts of psilocybin, the evidence so far suggests they do not interfere with the effects of other medications or vice versa.

Q: Who shouldn’t microdose?

A: Some people with color-blindness report lasting visual distortions and anyone with a history of psychotic disorders is also advised not to microdose.

Q: What if I am pregnant?

A: This is no scientific evidence or research done on microdosing and women who are pregnant. We recommend talking to your doctor before taking a microdose of psilocybin.