microdosing

"Imagine an organism that feeds you, heals you, reveals nature's mysteries, and could help save the planet..."
It is time to explore the magic of mushrooms.

WHAT IS MAGIC MUSHROOM MICRODOSING?

Sources define magic mushroom microdosing as taking 1/8^thto 1/16^th of a recreational dose of psilocybin-containing mushrooms on a schedule of a few days on and a few days off.

That broad spectrum definition leaves one with many questions. What if you have never had any experience with mushrooms before? How would you know how much a recreational dose is? How many are a “few” days on and a “few” days off?

We will shed some light on calculating the correct dosage and schedule, but first, why would someone consider microdosing?

WHY MICRODOSE?

Depression, anxiety, handling stress, insomnia, hypertension, increased focus, and creativity, improved general, mental, and emotional health, and substance abuse treatment, the list is endless.

Some anthropologists believe that psilocybin-containing mushrooms may have played a key role in human cognitive evolution through accidental consumption.

Naturally occurring psychedelic substances such as psilocybin, found in what is generally known as magic mushrooms, were used for their beneficial health effects for thousands of years.

In recent years, widespread interest in microdosing and the tremendous potential of psilocybin has sparked the curiosity of many scientists.

There has been extensive studies into the effects of microdosing on the effective relief and treatment of shingles. Further studies are underway on the treatment and prevention of Dementia and other mental diseases using a schedule of psilocybin-containing mushrooms combined with Lions Mane mushroom and Niacin.

These positive outcomes of microdosing are mainly due to psilocybin's effect on the brain's receptors.

Isabelle Grabski notes on her Harvard University Blog that “psychedelics are known to primarily affect serotonin, a chemical messenger that helps nerve cells communicate with other cells in the body. Serotonin is popularly portrayed in the media as being responsible for happiness, but in reality, its functionality is much more complex and widespread. In fact, serotonin is associated not just with mood, but also with cognition, sleeping, eating, thermoregulation, memory, and even physiological processes like vomiting.”

[Grabski, I. (2020) Can Microdosing Psychedelics Improve Your Mental Health?
Available at: https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2020/can-microdosing-psychedelics-improve-your-mental-health/
(Accessed: 03/01/2023)]

Figure 1: One potential mechanism for psychedelic drugs. The drug may bind to a molecular region known as the serotonin 2A receptor, and cause the cortex to become excited and form new neuronal connections.

The classification of psilocybin-containing substances as drugs has, however, put a damper on the research, and currently, no doctor can or will prescribe it.

DOSAGE GUIDELINES

Research shows that an average dosage of dried, psilocybin-containing mushrooms needed for a more intense psychedelic effect ranges between 1 to 5 grams. This variance is due to product quality and source but also depends on one’s mood and situation and will vary from person to person.

An average microdose begins at 0.2 grams of accurately weighed-out and capsulated dried, powdered mushrooms. This is the recommended dosage for an individual weighing 75 – 89 kg that adheres to the average all-around criteria of no illness, a reasonably healthy lifestyle, etc.

TO CALCULATE A DOSAGE, CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:

Body weight and age
The speed of the individual’s metabolism, i.e., how quickly they process food and medication
Drug sensitivity – how many tablets does the individual generally need for a headache?
Lifestyle routine, personal, and employment have a lot to do with the desired outcome of the microdosing and the reason behind it.
Schedule according to routine and personal needs.

GUIDELINES FOR MICRODOSING

GUIDELINES FOR MICRODOSING:

The guidelines for microdosing are as follows:

An estimate of 1/10th of a recreational dose of psilocybin-containing mushrooms – can be increased or decreased to the individual’s needs.
The dosage should be low enough to produce no hallucinogenic effect on the individual.
Dosage should be taken once daily on a 2-5-day schedule with a 1-3-day break between cycles.
Adjust intensity and schedule as and when needed.

FOR EXAMPLE:

Gender: Female
Age: 47 years
Weight: 72kg
Lifestyle: Moderately active; excercises 4 times p/week
Metabolism: Medium
Drug tolerance: Low
Work environment: Monday to Friday; Stressful
Family life: Husband and 2 children; happy; lives for time spent with her family.
Reason for microdosing: Increase capability to decrease work/external stresses by lessening outside “noise” and increasing focus.
Initial recommended dosage: 0.12 grams of powdered capsule
Recommended schedule: Monday -Friday on Saturday and Sunday off.

She is taking a slightly lower dose for her weight category due to her lower drug tolerance but a little higher dosage for her drug tolerance category due to her metabolic rate category and the desire to reduce stress. Her schedule is centered around the days that she needs relief. It is advisable that, for every 3-to-5 days that one takes a microdose, one needs to take a 2-to-3-day break as the body builds up a tolerance to psilocybin quickly. Microdosing for longer than five days without a tolerance break will, for most, not yield the desired effect.

GETTING YOUR MEDICINE - SOURCE & QUALITY

The first step to microdosing is finding consistent quality products and a reliable source.

WHY ARE PRODUCT QUALITY AND SOURCE SO IMPORTANT?

Different species and strains contain different levels of psilocybin potency.
The method of growing, and the type of substrate used, influence the product’s potency.
Fresh products, handling, drying, preservation, and storage will affect product quality and potency.
Storage – The product should be stored in an airtight container with a silica sachet or frozen for long-term storage.
According to one’s needs, it’s recommend taking only one species or strain at a time.

For example, if one takes a 0.2 grams microdose of a strain containing 1% psilocybin for one month, changing to one containing only 0.75% psilocybin will yield unsatisfactory results.

It is possible to adjust the dosage according to the product potency. If it is not possible to test the psilocybin content of the product, the best option is to try procuring your product from a grower directly. As previously mentioned, it is imperative to try and obtain the same strain every time. One might need to take a higher dosage to ensure that the product quality and desired effect stay consistent over a lengthier period.

Considering that a microdose ranges from 0.2 to 0.3 grams, about 50 grams of dried mushrooms would be enough for a year’s worth of dosing. When obtaining a new product, note any changes and adjust the dosage accordingly. Another alternative would be to grow one’s product using a consistent method or grow kits. This option, however, might pose a challenge as growing psilocybin-containing mushrooms is illegal in most countries. Owning spores is legal as the spores themselves contain no psilocybin. Growing, possessing, and selling is not, thus posing a challenge for those wanting to experience microdosing.

WILL MICRODOSING CURE ME?

The answer, we believe, depends on your reasons for microdosing.

Harvard University notes on their website [https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2020/can-microdosing-psychedelics-improve-your-mental-health/] that landmark trials from 2014 and 2016 have shown that LSD and psilocybin respectively improved mood and anxiety in patients with various life-threatening illnesses for up to a year after treatment. Many more studies are underway.

Fortunately for most, microdosing can assist in coping with daily life choices. As with most other medical assistants, making the correct changes and choices is up to you.

THE GENERAL FEEDBACK ON MICRODOSING:

Immediate mood elevation
A higher degree of patience and anger control
Increased social skills
Better focus
Ability to handle stress better and not stress about needless things

Herewith an informative discussion by James Fadiman. During his talk, James Fadiman shares valuable information on how microdosing may help you or someone you know.

ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSAGES

Accidental over-dosages sometimes occur when the microdose taken is too strong, should the incorrect schedule be followed, or when using improper measuring equipment.

If possible, try to get home or to a safe place as soon as possible.
Don’t drive or operate any machinery.
VERY IMPORTANT – one cannot die from a magic mushroom psilocybin overdose.
EQUALLY IMPORTANT – one can still harm oneself, even only by accident.
IF, HOWEVER, YOU HAVE TAKEN A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT, PLEASE ASK SOMEONE YOU FEEL SAFE WITH TO STAY WITH YOU.
Remember, it will all pass in a few hours, and everything will return to normal.

SYMPTOMS OF AN OVERDOSE

An accidental overdose could bring forth many symptoms. Most common is the loss of the concept of time, loss of industrial ambition, dizziness, a warm fuzzy feeling, giggles, increased anxiety or a “feeling of freaking out,” slight confusion, and visual distortions. Should one have been microdosing for some period, the “overdose” should be very mild and of short duration.

NOT THE ONLY MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS…

See below some of the main considered medical mushrooms, most of which taste great. These mushrooms have their respective medical uses but also other valuable health benefits.

With a daily supplemental dosage of mushrooms with characteristics aimed at relieving specific problems, it is possible to alleviate, treat, and prevent specified health issues.

Creating a combination of mushroom dosing and supplement schedule is a great idea to promote one’s overall health.

As previously mentioned, the dosage should be measured and taken in the powdered capsulated form to ensure consistent, correct dosage. In addition, one can include these mushrooms in one’s daily diet.