The Beginner’s Guide to Microdosing Mushrooms

Microdosing mushrooms have, surprisingly, started to enter the mainstream. 

What once began as a heavily stigmatized drug has evolved into a therapeutic substance used by many worldwide, including Silicon Valley. This so-called psychedelic turn has even led some parents to consume a minimal amount to make playing with their kids even more enjoyable.

When it comes to psychedelics or shrooms, there seems to be a certain stigma around them. Such stigma revolves around the idea that psilocybin, also known as magic mushrooms, when taken transports the user into a kind of Alice in Wonderland dream state.

As walls melt, reality shatters and your eyes turn to kaleidoscopes. In all fairness, it is a warranted stigma. The traditional, mainstream perspective of mushrooms has always documented their abuse. 

We say abuse; although it’s not the correct term, it’s the easiest to understand. Even high doses have tremendous value in the maintenance of mental and spiritual health. 

Yet, as science has shifted and researchers unearth the benefits of microdose applications, the beneficial effects of microdosing psychedelics are now slowly being accepted. 

However, it is still a relatively new concept. While psychedelic research has opened the door to assisted psychotherapy, there’s still much more needed to be done before anything conclusive can be said about psychedelic microdosing.

Today we’re connecting the dots between microdosing psilocybin and a healthy body. Most of the information here is backed by science. 

Still, there will be some anecdotal evidence based on our personal experience with mushrooms, specifically how microdosing has effectively shaped our lives for the better. 

Before we cover the how it’s best to cover the what and why of microdosing mushrooms.

Microdosing Mushrooms – Why It’s Worth the Effort

For those newer to psychedelics, it’s normal to shy away. Second-hand stories and media are excellent at painting false perceptions. 

Such perceptions led us, our friends, and people from all over the world to only understand a tiny fraction of psilocybin’s worth.

In fact, from a global perspective, the microdose usage of shrooms is more valuable.

Dr. James Fadiman first introduced the use of low-dose applications in 2011. His groundbreaking work, The Psychedelic Explorers Guide, is the proverbial ice-breaker. 

Dr. Fadiman’s research sparked an online phenomenon into taking microdosing seriously as a method for a happy and healthier life. 

To start with, the term microdose itself means a sub-perceptual dose. A microdose essentially means that there are no psychedelic effects or physical impairment.

A microdose is, on average, 0.1 to 0.25/3 grams of a beginner-friendly strain of shrooms, such as Golden Teacher Mushrooms.

A full dose or a “macro dose” can range from 1 to 7 grams.

You might have heard of other people claiming to take a half gram and call it a microdose. While saying it’s a full dose is a stretch, taking 0.5 grams will more than likely cause some mild impairment and giggliness. 

Basically, microdosing psychedelics such as LSD and psilocybin means taking any psychedelic drug in low doses to allow for elevated convergent and divergent thinking, introspection, or any other kind of positive, neurological benefit experiencing any intense or long-term psychedelic effects.

Anecdotally, this can be compared to drinking enough alcohol to feel a faint hint of a buzz or tiny amounts of coffee to make you feel awake without being jittery.

What are the Benefits and Effects of Microdosing Mushrooms?

The benefits of microdosing are numerous, but mushrooms are most frequently used for treating mental health—namely, the ill effects of PTSD, anxiety, and depression. 

Psychadelic drugs such as psilocybin mushrooms have even been used in some rare forms of treatment-resistant depression. Clinical trials run to diagnose the effects of psilocybin mushrooms saw participants report lower depression and anxiety. 

While unlikely, mushrooms and depression could just be the combination to treat the debilitating symptoms that thousands of depression victims go through every day. 

Microdosing, like most medicine, won’t start working overnight. Speaking anecdotally, some of our anxiety and depression feelings began to wear off as weeks and months passed, like a gradual escalator ride to the top floor at the mall.

However, on the day of microdosing, most people describe their mood as elevated, having extra social lubricant and at ease. 

As you can see, these are the exact opposite effects of poor mental health. 

The beneficial effect of microdosing psychedelics also includes introspective reflection, better sleep, social life, confidence, creativity and motivation—all of which stems from improved mood and relationship with our bodies and minds.

Another benefit that is anecdotal for us is treating Bibipolar disorder-2. Some of the more skeptical among us at Mushroom Genie would have never had our journey with psilocybin if it wasn’t for one too many rabbit holes down google and Reddit. 

2 years later, many of us have become people we never thought we could be.

While it may be daunting at first, microdosing is simple. To begin a bright and more balanced life, follow these steps.

Our Guide to Microdosing Mushrooms – How to Microdose Mushrooms

Before getting into the routine, it’s best to cover how much actually to take.

While it’s different for everybody, the baseline dose, to begin with, is 0.1 of a gram. While you may hear otherwise, mushroom caps and stems don’t provide different effects. 

Some choose to grind the mushroom first and put it into a capsule, but this isn’t necessary. At this dose, there’s no chance of any effects intense psychedelic effect.

You can also purchase ready-to-eat mushroom capsules for easier dosing and more accurate dosing.

An immensely useful tool for microdosing is keeping a journal.

A journal allows you to track your day, documenting mood and energy. If you absolutely feel nothing, not a smidgen of happiness, then up the dose by 0.01. 

Meaning, the next dose is 0.11 grams. Again, the point isn’t to feel any impairment. Instead, we want to find the perfect dose, which improves your mood ever so slightly. 

We want to build on our moods, energy levels and ease of anxiety over time. 

So now, the big question. How often?

The magic number is one day on, two days off, factoring in how long do shrooms last.

This cycle allows your body to reset its tolerance. An easy way of going about it is to Microdose on Mondays and Thursdays. Not only is it a fantastic way to start the week, but it’s also going to set you up for the weekend in style. 

Some opt for a microdose every three days, with some anecdotal reports citing every 4-5 days.

There isn’t a specific length of time to continue this regimen. There are no side effects of continuing indefinitely. But, as a general rule of thumb, 8-12 weeks is standard. Then, take some time off and re-evaluate the dose and how you feel about life. It’s always good to take a break.

Microdosing Psychedelic Drugs- The Sky’s The Limit

Although the application of microdosing is still a sapling, the benefits are in full bloom. You’ll be hard-pressed to find an article these days on mushrooms that don’t cover microdosing. One can hope there’s a revolution on its way because it doesn’t take a genius to know we could all use more love and better mental health.

If you’re serious about making a change, we highly recommend microdosing some psilocybe cubensis!