06/15/2022
psychedelicmushroomchocatebars.com
HOW DO YOU MICRODOSE WITH PSILOCYBIN MUSHROOMS?
Microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms is a fairly straightforward process. Essentially, you need to prepare your microdoses, consume the microdose at the appropriate time, and follow a month-long protocol to ensure you experience lasting benefits. We outline each one of these elements in more detail below.
PREPARING YOUR MICRODOSE
Preparing psilocybin mushrooms for microdosing involves more steps than microdosing with L*D, but is still straightforward. The trickiest part is estimating how much psilocybin is in a particular mushroom. Different strains of mushrooms will not only have different quantities of psilocybin, but fresh and dried psilocybin mushrooms do, too. Even different parts of the mushroom contain slightly different amounts.
Regardless, we recommend drying a batch of mushrooms, grinding them into a powder, and measuring out around 0.1g of as your starter microdose. From there, you can adjust the amount accordingly. When you take a dose that makes you feel some changes (most notably drowsiness, the first effect that comes on in a psilocybin trip), roll it back to just under that amount. That’s your mushroom microdose sweet spot.
You can use any kind of psilocybin mushrooms for microdosing. The most popular ones are Psilocybe cubensis, Psilocybe semilanceata, Psilocybe azurecens, Psilocybe cyanescens, and Panaeolus. Just be aware how much psilocybin content your strain has (for example, the last two are rich in psilocybin), and adjust your microdose accordingly. You can learn about the potency levels of different Psilocybe strains at Erowid.
Read our full guide on preparing Psilocybin Mushrooms for microdosing here.
HOW TO TAKE YOUR MICRODOSE
There are several ways to take your microdose. The most practical one is to precisely measure your dosages into empty capsules. This will ensure even distribution and also mask the taste.
Another option is to prepare a psilocybin tea by dissolving your desired dose of powder in hot water and even adding some honey. But feel free to experiment and mix the powder into any drink you take to start your day.
WHAT MICRODOSING SCHEDULE SHOULD I FOLLOW?
Experts in this area suggest different microdosing regimens, but our microdosing course following James Fadiman’s system. Fadiman recommends taking a microdose once every three days: Take a microdose on Day 1. Then, do not take a microdose on Day 2 or Day 3. On Day 4, take another microdose.
Continue this process for several weeks.
For most people, morning is the best time because the beneficial effects will last throughout the day without interfering with sleep. It’s also helpful to take daily notes in a journal to observe the effects throughout this process and adjust accordingly—or just notice the positive changes.
It’s also important to follow your usual routine while microdosing. The purpose is to enhance your day-to-day existence by integrating microdoses into your routine, so don’t change what you normally do. However, when you try microdosing for the first time, take a day off from work and social commitments. This will give you a chance to notice any unusual effects before microdosing in a more public situation.
While it may seem like you would only feel the effects of the microdose on the days you actually take it, try to observe the effect on the two days between doses, too. Many people perceive increased feelings of flow, creativity, and energy the day after they microdose in addition to the day of microdosing.
Paul Stamets recommends a different microdosing protocol. He suggests taking a microdose every day for four days, then taking three days off to avoid building up a tolerance. He also suggests making psilocybin a central part of the stack, which also includes lions mane and niacin, to help with neuroplasticity and general well-being.
Psilocybin and lion’s mane both have the capacity to create new neurons and neural pathways, and also to repair existing neurological damage. Niacin works as a flushing agent and carries GABA across the blood-brain barrier, which helps with the distribution of the psilocybin molecules. All together, Stamets believes that “this unique combination of compounds can be incorporated into other therapies with such combinations providing unique advantages for medically significant advancements in repairing neurons, removing amyloid plaques, improving mental health, cognition, agility, and improving overall the ecology of consciousness.”
Microdosing every day is not recommended. Because your body produces a tolerance to psilocybin, you might see diminishing returns after a few days if they are taken every day. This is why Fadiman suggests leaving a couple of days between each dose. Plus, the fact that positive effects can sometimes be felt many days after a microdose is a good reason to space out your doses.
Another downside to microdosing every day is normalizing a very potent substance. You can compare it to the use of coffee for productivity purposes. When you drink coffee every day, over time you need to increase the dose to get the same effect. Within a couple of months, one cup turns into two, three, or four cups.
It is best to leverage microdosing as an occasional advantage, rather than a consistent go-to like coffee.
MICRODOSING RETREATS
For people who are new to psychedelics, even microdosing can be a daunting concept. Retreats are a great option for those who want to be introduced to psychedelics surrounded by experts in a guided, personalized setting. More specifically, curated microdosing retreats could be an option for people looking to begin their microdosing journey, and could be the best way to translate the psychedelic experience into lessons for living a better life.
Rise Wellness Retreat on the South Coast of Jamaica offers an all-inclusive retreat that includes workshops and classes held by certified wellness professionals and specially formulated microdoses of psilocybin.
EFFECTS
03
What does science tell us about microdosing mushrooms?
While there has been some recent research on microdosing, we know a lot more about what large doses of psychedelics do to the brain.
Much of what we understand about how psychedelics work involves serotonin, a chemical that is among the brain’s most important neurotransmitters. Serotonin affects nearly everything we do, from how we feel to how we process information. It keeps our brains ticking.
Psychedelics such as L*D and psilocybin share a similar structure to serotonin and mimics the chemical’s effects. This is why these substances have comparable effects to a full dose when microdosed, at least in the most important aspects described in the Benefits and Risks section of this guide. You can learn more about the differences between microdosing L*D and psilocybin here.
Because serotonin is so important to mood stabilization, common antidepressants (called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, or SSRIs) increase the levels of serotonin in the brain, which can make you feel happier.
Psychedelics work by mimicking serotonin. One of psilocybin’s main effects is to stimulate a serotonin receptor called “5-HT2A” located in the prefrontal cortex, which leads to two important results:
The production of “Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor” (BDNF), a protein that is “like Miracle-Gro for your brain,” according to Waldman. BDNF stimulates growth, connections, and activity. [1]
The increased transmission of “Glutamate,” a neurotransmitter responsible (in part) for important brain functions such as cognition, learning, and memory. [2]
Glutamate and BDNF work together in ways we’ve yet to fully understand, but it’s become clear that having more of each can lead to many of the benefits that microdosers are seeking. [3]
Psychedelics also cause parts of the brain that don’t usually communicate with one another to start talking, so the speak. These unique connections are formed by psychedelics’ ability to dampen the activity of an often over-used part of our brain called the “Default Mode Network” (DMN). [4] The DMN is responsible for many mental activities, including day-dreaming, self-reflection, and thinking about the past or the future. But research shows that a highly active DMN causes us to ruminate, over-analyze ourselves, and step out of the present moment to question the past and the future, all of which can make us unhappy. In fact, some studies suggest that depression is linked to an overactive DMN. [5] This helps explain why psychedelics could be used to combat depression and anxiety—as well as lead to insights and creative perspectives that may otherwise remain inaccessible.
Optimize your microdosing efforts
Do you worry about taking too much, not measuring correctly, or losing control of your experience?
Enroll in our online microdosing course to have a safe, effective, and valuable microdosing experience.
LEARN HOW TO MICRODOSE
BENEFITS AND RISKS
04
There are many benefits to microdosing. But, at the risk of oversimplifying, most people microdose for two main reasons:
1. To reduce the frequency and intensity of undesirable states caused by various forms of mental illness including:
Depression
Anxiety
ADD/ADHD
Mood disorders
PTSD
Addiction
2. To increase the frequency and intensity of desirable states/outcomes, including:
Creativity
Energy
Flow states
Productivity/focus
Improved relationships/increased empathy
Athletic coordination
Leadership development
DESIRABLE STATES
Many people microdose for personal development or purposes of self-optimization. Reports suggest that the practice can improve creativity, productivity, and energy. Countless people also microdose to help them solve work-related problems, create new concepts, or simply to reduce procrastination. Microdosing can also help you by improving your social interaction skills, athletic performance, and spiritual awareness.
Here are a few testimonials from Third Wave survey respondents on how microdosing helped them reach desirable states:
“Since microdosing I have come out of my shell. I have become more confident around other people and have formed an intimate relationship with another person where I have had difficulty in the past.”
“Microdosing L*D has been a very positive experience – it keeps me very present, focused, creative, and overall induces a deep sense of contentment! I found that taking it before going to my parents place made the family dynamic so much more enjoyable. It also has been great in terms of connecting with my partner.”
To learn how entrepreneur Janet Chang microdosed to improve creativity and work performance, listen to our interview here.
RISKS
By far, the riskiest thing about microdosing is the law. It’s crucial to check your local laws before microdosing, as the penalties for the possession of psilocybin mushrooms are still harsh in many countries. It’s still possible to microdose psilocybin mushrooms legally, and we never condone illegal activities.
Aside from the legal risks, microdosing has proven to be a safe, non-threatening introduction to the benefits of psychedelics. Psilocybin has a long track record of safe use. Combine that small dose amounts, and microdosing appears to be safe.
As you can see in the graph below, psilocybin is one of the safest substances you can find, both biochemically and socially. It’s even safer than alcohol.
That said, psychedelics are powerful substances, and even microdoses have a risk potential. Emotional turbulence or anxiety is possible while microdosing, largely due to psychedelics’ “amplifying effect.” Psilocybin tends to amplify your current mood rather than act as a stimulant or numbing agent. For this reason, it is important to assess your mindset before consuming a microdose.
We also recommend discussing the risks with your physician if you suffer from psychosis, schizophrenia, or severe anxiety. When overdone, microdosing can lead to manic states, which could exacerbate underlying conditions.
Since there is no clinical research on the safety of microdosing, it’s best to avoid microdosing for extended periods of time (longer than a few months). There is a potential heart risk of taking too many large doses of psychedelics over a long period of time. That said, we don’t know how this translates to microdosing.
Whatsapp//text : +12092330216
