Psilocybin Mushroom Microdosing: A Detailed Analysis.

Microdosing psychedelics has become more common.

Microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms has become an interesting way to treat a wide range of mental and physical problems. Depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s are all included in this category. microdosing shrooms Reddit

Today, we’ll talk about the possible cognitive and psychological advantages of microdosing psilocybin, sometimes known as “magic” mushrooms, as well as the appropriate dose, how often to take it, and any potential side effects.

Finally, we’ll discuss medical contraindications, why some individuals may not experience the effects of psilocybin and the requirements for safely traveling with microdoses of psilocybin. We’ll go through the steps you can take to replicate the positive psychological and mental benefits of a microdose of psilocybin, sometimes known as the “magic” mushroom if you haven’t already.

We would like to stress that we are not trained medical personnel and make no claims to the contrary. Please check your doctor before making any changes to your current medication, food, or supplement routine; we are a harm reduction firm providing information for educational reasons only.

What is a Psychedelic Microdose?

Science has been captivated by the potential therapeutic effects of high-dose psychedelic experiences, commonly known as macrodoses. Studies on the effects of microdosing, or very tiny doses of psychedelics, have lately gained scholarly attention.

Further, the idea of a microdose is not limited to any one medication. Psilocybin mushrooms and Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) are two of the most popular psychedelics for microdosing. Psychedelic mushroom microdosing is the topic of today’s discussion.

Microdoses, or sub-perceptual doses, of psilocybin mushrooms, are what they sound like. This implies that taking a microdose of psilocybin will not produce any psychedelic effects if the dose is properly calculated.

This allows you to go about your day as usual, whether it be working, socializing, or operating heavy gear like vehicles or lawnmowers (though doing all three at once is probably impossible and we really shouldn’t try)!

A lot of people want to know how long they should microdose. The explanation is simple. For as long as you believe it’s necessary, continue your microdosing regimen. After microdosing for a month, some individuals may feel they have laid a firm enough mental groundwork to grow upon. Some people microdose for three to four months straight.

There is no one set way to take a psychedelic, and there is no need for there to be. Pay attention to your inner wisdom and body. You are the only one who can decide when it is safe to stop your microdosing routine.

The Benefits of Microdosing Psilocybin Mushrooms

Anyone looking to incorporate a more enlightened perspective into their life may benefit from a psilocybin microdosing strategy, not only those seeking treatment for particular symptoms of a condition. Reframing our conditioned conditions of existence, it helps us to heal as individuals and as a species.

It’s important to keep in mind that the effects of psychedelics, which are sometimes referred to as “non-specific amplifiers,” vary widely from person to person. What you discover throughout your microdosing experience will be unique to your own brain chemistry and life circumstances.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may be better managed with microdosing since it has been shown to increase attention and concentration (ADHD). It has also been linked to increased drive, critical thinking, and mental fortitude in the face of adversity

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Following a microdosing period of 6 weeks, long-term assessments were performed. Sustained decreases in anxiousness, irritability, and melancholy were clinically significant.

Similarly, there was a statistically significant improvement in absorption metrics relative to the baseline. Considered a state of intense concentration, absorption involves fully immersing oneself in selected aspects of one’s own subjective experience. Because of this, increased concentration is linked to deeper experiences of nature and more philosophical, thought-provoking interactions with art. microdosing shrooms Reddit

Psilocybin mushrooms and other serotonergic psychedelics have been shown to significantly boost neurogenesis and spinogenesis in a number of investigations, including a 2018 research headed by Calvin Ly and colleagues. The formation of new neurons, including their dendritic spines and axon terminals, is known as neurogenesis and spinogenesis.

Habitual fixations may increase DMN activity in people with OCD. However, in those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), DMN overactivity is linked to difficulties maintaining concentration. Decreased DMN activity correlates with fewer instances of obsessive drug-seeking in patients with addiction.

Three-sixty people who had participated in a double-blind study in the past were contacted for a 14-month follow-up in research headed by Roland R. Griffiths et al in 2008. In the first experiment, participants were given 30 milligrams of psilocybin and then asked to reflect on the emotional and spiritual significance of their experience.

This second research checked to see whether the findings from the first study would hold up. It was determined that 22 of the subjects had a full mystical experience right after the screening sessions, and 14 months later, 21 of the same 22 volunteers still met the requirements.

Internal and exterior harmony, sanctity, intuitive wisdom, and an overarching sense of well-being are all taken into consideration by the Mystical Experience Questionnaire’s many scales. Fourteen months later, 58% of participants still considered their psilocybin experience to be one of the five most important events of their life, and 67% considered it to be one of the five most spiritually influential.

Sixty-four percent said they felt better after going through it, and 61% said they changed in some way, mostly for the better. There is a huge corpus of anecdotal accounts attributing comparable advantages to microdoses of psilocybin, and the results of this research are consistent with those stories.

The capacity to be more present in one’s life, as well as increased psychological openness, emotional connection with others, thankfulness, and gratitude, are among these advantages. Clinical evidence for the enhanced sensory experiences individuals describe on a microdose includes a more profound connection to nature and a heightened interest in art.

Microdosing Prior to & After a Macrodose Experience

Microdosing psilocybin before and/or after a high-dose event is something many of our customers are curious in. We conclude that microdosing may be helpful in laying the groundwork for and making sense of a psychedelic’s therapeutic effects.

One possible benefit of microdosing before a high-dose ritual is a better understanding of the medicine’s essence. You may learn more about how the medicine affects your body physiologically by doing so. Some individuals may not experience psychedelics’ effects for various reasons, some of which we will explore later.

Learning how your body reacts to psychedelics at a low dosage might help you determine what, if any, adjustments you may need to make to get the most out of a high psilocybin dose. Microdosing before a ritual is another way to learn how the substance affects you personally.

This may give us a taste of the many levels of consciousness our brains are capable of exploring. The ability to develop a sense of safety around the plant medicine before taking a high dosage helps facilitate a more natural and immediate letting go into the psychedelic experience.

Microdosing may be quite helpful for those who are trying to wean themselves off of SSRIs or other antidepressants. Because psychedelics keep our serotonin levels steady and even increase them while the antidepressants leave our system, they provide a buffer against the withdrawal symptoms we experience when we stop taking them.

How to Determine Your Dosage

Consider how the medication should and should not alter your perception while deciding on an appropriate dose. The effects of a microdose are expected to be sub-perceptual, so although you may notice improvements in mood and cognition, you should still feel sober in most situations.

Normal daily activities should not be affected by your microdose. The standard recommendation is to take 0.1 grams of psilocybin mushrooms on the first day. If you are not seeing the desired benefits after a week of microdosing, try increasing your dose by 0.05 grams daily.

Now, we’ve established that certain individuals have trouble being open to the effects of psychedelic drugs. Although the benefits of microdosing are often seen within a week or two, in rare circumstances it may take many weeks. Microdosing with psilocybin is like slowly peeling away the layers of an onion.

The process of peeling away the layers of our conditioned reality is often necessary for certain individuals before they can begin to experience life in the present. For persons who have tried various psychotropic drugs in the past, serotonin levels may be decreased or hampered by the drugs themselves.

If this is the case, you may find that a lower dose of 0.5 grams is more effective. Please be aware that your tolerance to psychedelic chemicals will naturally diminish if you want to taper off your meds, and that you may become aware of their effects at a lower amount. Look at our piece on how SSRIs and antidepressants dull the effects of psilocybin for additional details.

How to Prepare Your Microdose

A microdose requires very little effort and time to prepare. In addition to the psilocybin-containing mushrooms themselves, there are a few technologies that may be used to guarantee that each dose is just right.

• A digital jewelry scale that measures in tenths (0.1) or hundredths (0.01)
• A coffee grinder (optional)
• Gelatin or vegan capsules (optional)

The first step in taking a microdose is deciding how to do so. Psilocybin microdosing capsules may be useful for certain persons. To take this approach, you need just buy a bottle of capsules that comes in the desired strength per pill.

If the concept of microdosing capsules appeals to you but you want a more customizable experience, you can always make your own by buying empty gelatin or vegan capsules and following the manufacturer’s instructions. You may prepare your psilocybin mushrooms for usage in a coffee grinder.

After that, you may use a digital jewelry scale to measure out the desired amount for each capsule. To take your mushroom supplement, just measure out your normal amount, put it in a capsule, and swallow.

Importance

If you’re using a capsule or other container to weigh your finely crushed mushroom powder, be sure to utilize the “Tare” or “T” option to remove the weight of the container from your measurements. Always use the gram setting on your scale.

Lastly, you may prepare your microdose by breaking off a portion of the entire mushroom and weighing it. Cutting off more and more of the mushroom chunk until the scale reads the right amount is how this game is played.

You may now either eat the mushroom slice by itself or wash it down with some water. The psilocybin is not distributed uniformly across a complete mushroom, thus even if this method is simpler, it does not provide a constant dose. A powder made from ground mushrooms might provide better uniformity.

The Most Popular Microdosing Protocols

Several well-known protocols provide organized regimens for microdosing, as we briefly reviewed. Take a microdose of each of them at different intervals, since they are optimally administered at different rates. The number of “off” days varies across these procedures. On “off” days, you skip your microdose altogether. The safest schedules often have a break of between one and three days between doses.

Due mostly to its compatibility with our bodies’ own systems for constructing tolerance, this is often regarded as the gold standard.

By waiting a few days in between doses, we are able to experience the full benefits of the microdose without developing a resistance to it. Today we’ll be discussing three different protocols: the Fadiman Protocol, the Stamets Stack, and intuitive microdosing.

The Fadiman Protocol

Among psychonauts, the Fadiman Protocol is highly regarded as a preferred microdosing method. Dr. James Fadiman designed the program with designated rest days so that travelers may get the whole picture of the results of their microdosing.

If this is your first time microdosing, this protocol is a great way to get a feel for the experience and see how it differs from being sober. It uses a microdosing cycle of 3 days, but like with any regimen, you get to decide how long you wish to microdose for.

Any microdosing cycle may be maintained forever or for 4–8 weeks. After a while, a tolerance may start to build up, but if you take a break of around two to four weeks, you can reset it.

Microdosing Protocol:

Day 1: 1st microdose 

Day 2: Transition day (not taking a dose, but residual effects are still sensed)

Day 3: Normal day (not taking a dose)

Day 4: 2nd microdose

If you take your first dosage on a Monday, for example, you wouldn’t take any more until the following Monday. Thursday would be the day for your second dosage. Then you would wait until Sunday to take your third dosage, after resting on Friday and Saturday. On Wednesday, you’d take your next dosage, and so on.

The Stamets Stack

Paul Stamets, an amateur mycologist who has spent his life researching the therapeutic potential of both hallucinogenic and non-hallucinogenic mushrooms, invented the term “the Stamets Stack.” His nootropic stack is a combination of numerous substances that he takes in a microdosing technique.

Ingredients:

• 0.1 grams of Psilocybe cubensis mushroom
• 5-20 grams of whole or powdered Lion’s Mane OR 50-200mg of Lion’s Mane extract
• 75-200 mg of Niacin (Vitamin B3)

Microdosing Protocol:

Days 1-4: Microdosing days

Days 5-7: Transition days

Days 8-11: Microdosing days

Days 12-14: Transition Days

Because of its similarity to psilocybin, Lion’s Mane is thought to enhance neurogenesis and increase neuron development; this is the basis for niacin’s beneficial effects. Anti-inflammatory effects are thought to round out the stack. microdosing shrooms reddit

Paul’s studies suggest that niacin’s role as a flushing agent helps the substances in Lion’s Mane and psilocybin reach the ends of our neurons and cross the blood-brain barrier, where they may do much more good for our nerve cells.

Niacin sensitivity has been reported in rare cases. As a result, the skin may flush and feel irritated or slightly burned. A few hours is all it takes for these negative effects to go away. Psychedelics are not limiting in any way, thus you may combine the Fadiman Protocol with the Stamets Stack or vice versa if you choose.

Intuitive Microdosing

Often, after people have experienced a few cycles of one or more of the protocols above, they’ll choose to switch to a more intuitive routine of microdosing. Depending on your needs and environment, you can choose to microdose whenever you feel it’s necessary. 

One important thing to keep in mind is that you should always take a full day off between microdoses, or at least set aside two days in a row out of every week to stay sober. For healing to happen, we need to take stock of our natural states and work to incorporate the tools we have into our daily lives.  

Is Microdosing Safe?

Almost seldom do individuals report feeling any unfavorable consequences from taking a microdose. Most people report feeling more energized and clear-headed than they have in a long time. On the other hand, a hallucinogenic effect might occur if a person consumes an excessive dosage.

Increased brain activity and increased life or physical activity may both contribute to fatigue. Over time, tolerance may develop, as was previously noted. This is why it’s helpful to take periodic pauses and reset weeks.

After taking their microdose, some folks have experienced some slight nausea. Taking ginger or activated charcoal might help with this in some people. There might be some abnormal increases or decreases in your core temperature. Check with your doctor before taking psychedelics if you have a history of psychosis, bipolar illness, schizophrenia, or a heart or breathing disease.

People who can’t see colors may have mild visual hallucinations or “after-images,” which are pictures of things or scenes that stay in their minds. To absorb and manage these novel experiences, levels of awareness, and insights into one’s inner and outer worlds, some people may experience internal resistance if they do not have access to enough integrative assistance.

It’s not possible to get dependent on psychedelics. It’s true that everything has the potential to become a habit, yet microdosing psilocybin mushrooms may be one of the most naturally therapeutic activities if done with purpose, intuition, and a strong support system.

Explore How it Feels to Be Connected

It’s possible that the prospect of starting a microdosing regimen has you excited at this point. As long as you need our help, we will be here for you and your recovery. Our nationwide team of psychedelic facilitators has been handpicked with great care.

Guided psychedelic ceremonies and microdosing coaching are both available, and you may participate in either without ever leaving your house. You may schedule a consultation with us to learn more about at-home microdosing, find a local psychedelic facilitator, or both. microdosing shrooms reddit

You may use us as a reference whether or not you decide to travel with us. In any case, we’d be delighted if you’d visit our materials page. If you want to learn more about psychedelics, they have an entire library full of articles like this one. That’s all I’ve got for you fellow psychonauts. Wishing you a pleasant trip!