While microdosing is not a recent trend, it has been gaining in popularity as more people become aware of its benefits. Microdosing involves taking small amounts of a substance on a regular basis in order to gain benefits that enable us to navigate life’s challenges in a happier, more productive way. The effects are subtle and not overwhelming, but they can still be profound for many people.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to microdose psilocybin mushrooms safely and effectively. Psilocybin mushrooms have been used for thousands of years as part of religious rituals around the world. Today, they’re being rediscovered by those seeking alternatives to conventional medicine. Many people are even growing their own with a mushroom grow kit in their own homes.
While many people associate these fungi with hallucinations or other unusual side effects, there’s actually no need for these risks when you use them correctly—microdosing will give you all the benefits without any adverse effects!
What is Microdosing?
Microdosing is the practice of consuming small amounts of a substance (usually a psychedelic) on a predetermined schedule. The intention is to gain the benefits from the substance without getting noticeably high. For example, microdosing psilocybin can boost creativity. Macrodosing psilocybin can have you hallucinating that you saw Santa Claus riding a skateboard in the sky. Obviously, you can’t exactly macrodose daily. Conversely, microdosing is meant to be incorporated into your normal routine.
How Much is a Microdose of Psilocybin?
A microdose is just enough, but not too much. This can vary from person to person but the standard is somewhere between 0.1 and 0.2 grams of dried psilocybin mushrooms. If you are particularly sensitive to psychedelic substances, you may wish to start with 0.05 grams first. Again, the idea is to take a sub-perceptual dose, but still take enough to reap the rewards.
So, if you were to take 0.05 and feel nothing at all, then try 0.1. If you still feel nothing, try 0.15. If that dose makes you feel moderately buzzed, elevated, or stoned, then back down to 0.1 as your standard dose.
What Does a Microdose Feel Like?
You shouldn’t feel high from a microdose. Instead, many people say they just feel better. As though their general demeanor improves. A microdose will not interfere with your daily work or tasks. Keep reading to discover some of the benefits of taking psilocybin mushrooms.
Benefits of Microdosing Psilocybin
There are many benefits you may encounter if you decide to microdose psilocybin mushrooms. In fact, several studies are revealing the true potential that psilocybin holds as a medicinal and therapeutic plant medicine.
Enhanced Creativity
Scientific research is just now beginning to match long-standing anecdotal evidence that psilocybin affects creative thinking. One study found that while subjects under the influence of psilocybin weren’t necessarily more creative, they were more likely to develop creative concepts a week after their consumption. This supports the idea that ongoing microdosing can have cumulative effects on overall creative thought processes.
Improved Mental Health
A recent article reports on the benefits to microdosers that hit the one month mark, noting an overall improvement in mood and mental health. Feelings of depression and anxiety and symptoms of stress were reduced compared to a sample that did not consume psilocybin. Research surrounding its potential benefits as a mental health medication is ongoing.
Reduced Symptoms of Migraines
Although anecdotal evidence points to mushrooms as helping with several physical and chronic ailments, one of the most supported is that psilocybin can reduce cases of migraine. For anyone suffering from migraines, this is a massive revelation, especially since many people do not find relief from prescription drugs.
How to Microdose Psilocybin
Once you’ve decided to microdose psilocybin, it’s wise to do a little prep work before you get started. Here are the best tips for starting a new microdose program.
Set Your Intention
What called you to work with plant medicine? Consider your goals for a microdosing protocol before you begin. Do you want to be more present in your daily life? Or are you looking to inspire new creativity? There are so many reasons you might want to microdose psilocybin, but holding one vision for your intentions can help manifest your goals.
Choose a Format
Pick a format in which you’ll take your mushrooms so you can prep them ahead of time. Some people don’t mind the taste of dried mushrooms, and others find it bitter and disgusting. Grinding up dried mushrooms and making capsules is a very convenient option that makes it easy to take your daily dose. Brewing tea and making mushroom chocolates are two other popular methods.
Weigh Out Your Shrooms
You’ll want to have a small scale around to accurately measure your dosage. Don’t attempt to eyeball a tenth of a gram, it’s difficult to tell exactly, and you want to stay consistent with your microdosing regimen. If you are making capsules or chocolates, it’s especially important to ensure that the shrooms are evenly dosed.
Decide on a Schedule
There are a handful of popular schedules for microdosing psilocybin. Paul Stamets, fungi expert, suggests taking a dose for four days followed by three days off. This gives your body enough time to obtain the most amount of benefits, but without building a tolerance. Other people stick to three days on, two days off, or even every other day. Whichever you decide, be sure you have enough mushrooms to last the duration of your program. Three to six months is a suggested timeframe for a microdose program.
Observe Your Thoughts and Feelings
As you begin your journey, keep a journal handy to record any thoughts or feelings that come up. Psilocybin has a way of evoking emotions or inspiring divergent and convergent thinking. Capture these patterns in a journal so you can monitor your progress and look back on where you first began compared to where you are at the end of your program. A creativity journal is another great way to expand your imagination while microdosing.
Enjoy the Ride
Microdosing is a method that combines ancient wisdom with modern technology to produce an elegant means of navigating life’s challenges. Used by those in the know, microdosing can help people improve their mental health and well-being, whether they’re working on a big project or just trying to get through their day. Give it a try and see what you might uncover.
Disclaimer: The substance psilocybin is potentially illegal, and Neonjoint does not condone its use in any context where it would be against the law. Providing this information is an important step toward educating the public about a substance that many people may come into contact with. The information in this guide should not be used as a replacement for seeking professional medical advice.