What is Microdosing?
Microdosing is the practice of taking a very low dose of a psychedelic (such as psilocybin mushrooms or LSD) for the subtle psychological benefits, and not to have a full-blown trip. Microdosing is becoming increasingly popular, despite its questionable legal status in many places, for the ability to help those suffering from treatment-resistant mental health problems.
Psilocybin mushrooms are a leading choice for microdosing, as they are easy to grow and obtain in many places. Some places have chosen to decriminalize the use, sale, and possession of psilocybin mushrooms in light of their health benefits, and more people are voting for positive change in this area.
The availability of magic mushrooms has exploded in the past couple of years. If you’re in Canada, you can even have them delivered right to your door.
Benefits of Microdosing Psilocybin Mushrooms
Indigenous cultures have been using microdoses of mind-expanding plant medicines for centuries – probably millennia – but Western science is far behind (source). Scientists are only just beginning to study the effects of psychedelic drugs again, after widespread prohibition shut down research in this area for decades.
Modern research has shown great potential for psychedelics to treat:
- Cluster headaches & migraines
- Dependence on substances
- Depression
- End-of-life anxiety
Other notable benefits experienced by microdosers studied include:
- Improved mood, focus & energy
- Increased creativity, curiosity, openness & empathy
- Change in perspective, divergent thinking
- Improved motivation & self-care
- Reduced anxiety
Challenging Effects of Microdosing
Microdosing psychedelics isn’t for everyone. Some people experience challenging effects when they take more than needed. For others, even low doses don’t agree with them – it’s an entirely personal journey.
You may be taking more than needed for a microdose if you experience unwanted side effects, such as:
- Visual distortions
- Upset stomach
- Nausea
- Confusion
- Dizziness
Sometimes, even at the right dosage for microdosing benefits, people will still experience side effects. The most common ones are:
- Insomnia
- Impaired focus
- Increased anxiety
- Physiological discomfort
How Many Shrooms Do You Take for a Microdose?
Dosage varies as everyone’s body and brain chemistry is different. Most people need to experiment with tiny doses and work their way up to a sub-perceptual dose, which means finding the sweet spot between feeling too many psychedelic effects and not getting enough benefits.
Generally speaking, the range for microdosing magic mushrooms is between: 0.1g to 0.5g of dried mushrooms.
Tolerance will most likely build quickly if you take shrooms every day. Most people follow a schedule such as The Fadiman Protocol: one day of microdosing, then two days off, and repeating. This also varies between people; be patient with yourself as you find the most beneficial dosage and schedule for you, personally.
Methods of Ingesting Magic Mushrooms
There are so many ways to ingest mushrooms for microdosing! Here are some of the most popular:
- Shroom edibles
- Chop the mushrooms up finely and make tea
- Grind them up with a coffee grinder and put into capsules
- Weigh them out with a scale and eat as is
Many people keep a journal or log of their experiences, so that they can look back on their progress and see what areas the shrooms have helped them on their journey. It can also help while you find the most helpful dosage and regimen.
Things to Keep in Mind When Microdosing Psilocybin Mushrooms
- It’s not a solution for everyone, but it could help you out!
- Start your dosage as low as possible and move up slowly to find your sweet spot. If you feel too much, decrease the dose to a point where you don’t feel impaired.
- Psilocybin content in mushrooms varies.
- If you are on prescribed medication, it is wise to consult your doctor or mental health professional before beginning a microdose regimen.
- Try it out for the first time on a weekend or day of low responsibility.
