Microdosing is one way to consume magic mushrooms (psychedelic mushrooms) or any other hallucinogenic substance, like LSD, so that you can enjoy some of the benefits of this psychedelic substance without getting overwhelmed by the adverse effects.
On top of this, a common thing for users is to take microdosing to enhance their creativity and productivity, with many celebrities like musicians, artists, poets, and even technology gurus microdose themselves for the sake of becoming more productive and creative.
Yet, the only way to make the most of it is to get it right. You need to understand the why, how, and when of microdosing. Let’s dive in and see how exactly to go about this.
What Is Microdosing?
The practice of microdosing involves consuming small quantities of psychedelic substances, below the threshold for hallucinations, in order to enhance their effectiveness and minimize any negative effects. The aim is to bring about favorable physiological changes, without triggering full-blown hallucinatory experiences. While scientific research on microdosing is still in its early stages, there is a significant amount of online discussion surrounding this phenomenon, as people seek to comprehend its mechanisms and ascertain its efficacy.
What Is Psilocybin?
Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic compound found in over 100 different species of mushrooms, including Copelandia, Gymnopilus, Panaeolus.
In 1992, the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Food and Drug Administration formed a committee that eventually gave the green light to the research on psychedelic agents.
Consequently, the Heffter Research Institute was founded to spearhead research into the role of psilocybin in several disease states. Psilocybin has shown potential in managing obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, and depression related to terminal disease diagnosis and substance abuse disorders.
The Potential Therapeutic Benefits of Psilocybin
The therapeutic potential of psilocybin lies in its ability to induce profound psychological effects, leading to transformative experiences. These experiences have been reported to increase emotional openness, enhance introspection, and facilitate personal growth and self-reflection. However, it is crucial to note that the administration of psilocybin should only be conducted under the guidance of trained professionals in controlled settings to ensure safety and maximize the therapeutic benefits.
As research continues to unfold, the potential of psilocybin as a groundbreaking treatment option for various mental health conditions becomes increasingly evident. Through further studies and clinical trials, scientists hope to unlock the full potential of this remarkable compound and revolutionize the field of mental health care. Stay tuned for the latest updates on the therapeutic applications of psilocybin as we delve deeper into its fascinating properties.
Why Do People Microdose Psilocybin
According to additional studies, incorporating small amounts of psychedelic mushrooms into your routine has been associated with extra benefits regarding improving mental health, the alleviation of headaches, and greater athletic performance. Let’s take a closer look.
The Rise of Microdosing Psilocybin in Popular Culture
There are many good examples of the rise of microdosing in popular culture. For example, over the last few years, Joe Rogan, a renowned podcast host, comedian, and former television presenter, has turned into a passionate advocate of psychedelics and microdosing psilocybin to decrease PTD, depression, dementia and increase human consequences.
Joe Rogan also likes to mention the stoned ape hypothesis. According to this, hominids consumed mushrooms to increase their visual acuity, sexual activity and become more effective hunters. As the human species evolved, the use and positive effects of psilocybin on the brain have become more widespread.
Silicon Valley and Shrooms
Magic mushrooms have been part of the Western culture since the 1960s, with the Beatles band being some of the earliest adopters. As the years went by, shrooms seemed to fade as time passed until tech employees of Silicon Valley in the last decade or so have rediscovered the psychedelic to become more creative and productive at their work. This is especially true among young San Francisco professionals, but it’s not just a trend. On the contrary, it is spreading to other workplaces.
Current Medical Research Regarding Microdosing Psilocybin
Microdosing hopes to target a dose (usually a tenth of the usual dose) that is sufficient to cause a therapeutic effect but not enough to cause adverse events. It is an intricate balance.
Studies show that microdosing psilocybin increases relaxation and openness, creativity, and cognitive function, among others.
It also heightens mood and motivation (pivotal when exercising or studying). Microdosing psilocybin before work seems highly effective, as it might help some people become extra sharp and productive.
The benefits found in these studies (conducted in 2021 and 2020) show that, when done correctly, microdosing can help you to:
- Learn a new language
- Study and work more effectively
- Date and be more intimate
- Improve athletic performance
- Perform and enjoy music and art
- Come up with new ideas
What’s more, a 2019 study analyzed additional benefits and challenges of microdosing psychedelics (LSD and psilocybin mushrooms).
The benefits included the following:
- Improved energy
- Cognitive benefits
- Social benefits
- Improved mood
- Physiological enhancement
- Self-efficacy
- Improved focus
As mentioned above, technology employees in Silicon Valley microdose themselves to work better and be more productive. Likewise, musicians also choose magic mushrooms when they want that extra boost in creativity.
Microdosing Psilocybin May Improve Mental Health
A few surveys have shown that most people who microdose experience an improvement in their mental health. An online survey done in 2018 showed that 44% of those microdosing experienced improved mental health. An earlier study conducted in 2010 showed that microdosing psychedelics helped improve mood and boost focus.
Microdosing Psilocybin May Alleviate Cluster Headaches
Another study showed that magic mushrooms delivered in microdoses (10 micrograms) every three days alleviated symptoms of migraine headache. Microdosing ensures that you get the maximum benefits most safely without suffering from dire adverse effects.
Microdosing Psilocybin May Improve Your Athletic Performance
Evidence on the use of psilocybin to increase athletic performance is preliminary. Anecdotal reports suggest that microdosing psilocybin can help to increase endurance during physical training. Some people argue that through microdosing, we can help ourselves re-learn our physical movements to become better in sports or spiritual exercise, like Yoga.
For example, the consensus is that microdosing and doing Yoga can teach you new breathing and movement techniques. In other words, the connection between neuroplasticity and athletic body movement seems fragile and easy to manipulate to our benefit with microdosing.
How To Microdose Psilocybin
Microdosing with psilocybin is a simple process but one that requires prior preparation. It entails following a schedule with strict timings and dosages of the substance.
Psilocybin Micro Dosage
For psychedelic mushrooms, the appropriate microdose can be as little as one-tenth of what is consumed for recreational purposes. This should be about 0.1–0.3 grams (or 50 to 15 milligrams) of dried psilocybin-containing mushrooms or 5-to-10 percent of a normal, regular dose. However, the dose will be based on personal experience, and you should adjust accordingly as you observe the effects.
Once you have established the correct dose, you can measure it and put it in a capsule. When it is time to take the next dose, you simply pop the pill.
Alternatively, you could make a tea by dissolving the mushroom in hot water; consider adding honey to improve the taste. You can use a nasal spray to microdose psilocybin, or you can add it to cooked foods and fruit juice (if powdered). Hence, microdoses can be taken in liquid and raw form.
Psilocybin Microdosing Schedule
When microdosing, you do not take the psychedelic every day. One of the most effective schedules that you can try is consuming it every three days. In this case, you take it on day one, skip days two and three, and then consume the next dose on day four. You can do this for several weeks until you begin to feel its effects.
While there is no “ideal” time to microdose on magic mushrooms, most people prefer mornings so that they can enjoy the therapeutic effects throughout the day.
What if I Tried to Microdose Psilocybin and Got High Instead?
When you are new to microdosing and you’re trying to find the right dosage, in some cases it is not uncommon to make a simple mistake and find yourself within a Psilocybin trip.
If you didn’t plan this right, and you feel that you are tripping on shrooms instead of feeling the microdose effect, the only real thing you can do right now is to stay safe, cancel any commitment you have for the rest of the day, create set and setting, read some info about what to expect from the psilocybin trip, and enjoy the ride.
Adverse Side Effects of Microdosing
Most people who microdose on mushrooms effectively do not experience any significant adverse effects. However, it is advised that you take a day off from work when you start your microdosing schedule. This will give you a chance to adjust to the psychedelic and observe how your body responds to it. It will also help you determine the correct dosage that produces maximum positive effects without altering your mental status.
Moreover, according to the previously mentioned study, high doses of psilocybin (22mg/kg) can cause physiological discomfort, anxiety, and headaches.
Drug Tests and Microdosing Psilocybin Mushrooms
If you microdose, you may also be concerned about psilocybin showing up on a drug test. Psilocybin should not show up on most tests; 5-, 8-, 10-, or 12-panel drug tests. These are run by specialized companies on behalf of employers, who look to hire new personnel. The panel number corresponds to the number of drugs tested, meaning that a 6-panel drug test checks for six classes of drugs, and so on. Sometimes, one employer’s 6-panel drug can be completely different from another’s.
However, it may show up in specific tests designed to detect psilocybin. Traces of the substance can stay in your system for about 15 hours or more, and, for some people, psilocybin may persist for up to one week.
That said, when microdosing, the chances of psilocybin showing up during drug tests are minimal, especially urine tests. The reason is that urine tests usually detect THC, cocaine, PCP, opioids, and amphetamines.
How Long Does Psilocybin Stay in Your Body?
As mentioned above, after ingesting mushrooms, psilocybin stays in your system for up to 24 hours. However, this doesn’t mean the substance is easily detected. For instance, psilocybin and one of its metabolites, psilocin, are detectable by a urine test for up to 24 hours. When it comes to a blood test, the detection window is short, meaning that the test should be administered only hours after ingestion. Finally, like most other substances, mushrooms can be found in the hair for up to 90 days. But, such tests require large amounts of hair samples to find detectable amounts of psilocybin.
Again, when microdosing psilocybin, these tests aren’t a major concern. Nevertheless, this is solid information to have in the back of the mind.
Conclusion
Research into microdosing is in its infancy, and, like all psychedelic drugs, it comes with its risks. However, to enjoy the positive and minimize the adverse effects, microdosing is an option. The key to microdosing on psychedelic mushrooms is to find the correct dosage and schedule. Finally, bear in mind that microdosing is a risk, so you, as the reader, should tread carefully. It is unknown territory, after all.
