Microdosing with Psilocybin

If you live in Colorado, you’ve probably heard the news about using natural plant medicines like Psilocybin for it’s health benefits. Psilocybin and other psychedelic substances(LSD, MDMA, Ketamine, Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), Ibogaine and Mescaline) are gaining more and more visibility with their success in clinical trials and it seems every week there’s more reports in the news, on social media, etc about these trials and positive uses. 

Since becoming decriminalized by Colorado prop 122, Psilocybin is also building increasing awareness with people that are using Psilocybin for microdosing. I’ve been microdosing with Psilocybin for about two years now and have felt the benefits of it and how it works on changing your brain.

It has made me a believer of these magical fungi and now I’m spreading the word and assisting others that feel called to explore its wonders.  

I’ve highlighted information about microdosing with Psilocybin and it’s potential benefits.  Full disclosure, I’m pulling much of this information directly from the Microdose Institute website and other valuable resources(why reinvent the wheel).

If you’ve like to learn more about it and would like some assistance with getting started, please reach out to me and I’m happy to help.   

What Is Microdosing?

Definition Of Microdosing:

While multiple definitions of microdosing psychedelics exist, Microdosing Institute provides a general all encompassing definition:

Microdosing is the practice of semi-regularly consuming a very small amount of a psychedelic substance, usually 5–10% of a recreational dose, with the intention of improving one’s quality of life.

​

Why Do People Microdose?

The most commonly cited benefits among users*: 

• Enhanced mood, reduced depression symptoms;

• Enhanced focus;

• Enhanced creativity and/or curiosity;

• Enhanced productivity, motivation or confidence;

• Enhanced energy and/or alertness;

• Enhanced empathy, sociability or communication skills;

• Enhanced sight, smell, hearing, athletic performance or sleep;

• Reduced stress; and

• Reduced anxiety, including social anxiety.

People decide to microdose for a variety of reasons. The most commonly cited motivations among users*:

• To improve mood and/or overall life satisfaction;

• To enhance creativity;

• To find relief from negative feelings, e.g. depression, anxiety;

• To overcome bad habits and unhealthy behaviors;

• And, to treat ADHD symptoms.

*According to data from 6753 people who reported microdosing at least once in the last 12 months (2019). 

​Psychedelics Used For Microdosing:

The most commonly used psychedelic substances for microdosing are natural psilocybin (magic mushrooms, magic truffles), LSD and Mescaline (San Pedro and peyote cacti). There are also other substances used for microdosing, however, we are only focused on the use of Psilocybin, which has been decriminalized in the state of Colorado.  It’s legal to possess, consume, cultivate and even gift to others. 

Proposition 122 also decriminalizes what is called "personal use" of psilocybin mushrooms. This means that it is no longer a criminal offense under State law to obtain, possess, or ingest psilocybin, effective immediately. Persons may also share or give away psilocybin mushrooms without remuneration (i.e., without payment) to persons who are at least twenty-one years of age.

Read about it here: Colorado Prop 122

​

Psilocybin Dose Ranges:

Psilocybin mushrooms: 0.1 – 0.4 grams of dried mushrooms.

(Anything above 0.4 grams would NOT be considered a microdose and would then be in the category of a “mini-dose” or more).   

The best way to consume a microdose is by grinding the mushrooms into a powder form. 

I grind my mushrooms into a powder, so I can then put them into capsulized microdose quantities for easy consumption, storage, etc. 

You can also easily mix the Psilocybin microdose powder straight into your tea, coffee, smoothie, etc. 

​

NOTE: At this dose, you will NOT be impaired in any way from doing any of your day-to-day activities. You WILL still be able to work, drive a vehicle, exercise, socialize, etc, etc.  The key to the microdose is that it is “sub-perceptual”, so it does not effect your daily processes or functionalities. 

You will NOT feel HIGH in any way and nobody will even know that you took a microdose.  If you do happen to feel any type of buzz, tthat means, you took too much and didn’t follow the protocols.  

​

Psilocybin  Dosing Protocols:

The three best known protocols for a microdosing cycle are as follows:

• The “Fadiman” protocol: taking a microdose once every three days.

• The Microdosing Institute protocol: microdose every other day.

• The Stamets protocol: take a microdose for four days in a row, then pause for 3 days. This protocol was proposed by the world renowned mycologist guru, Paul Stamets. The Stamets Stack; a microdosing formula that consists of 3 ingredients: 0.05 – 0.2 grams of psilocybin mushrooms + 500-1000 mg lion’s mane + 25 – 50 mg niacin (vitamin B3). It is said that the Lion’s Mane and the Niacin, create a more enhanced synergy with the Psilocybin and increases it’s benefits. I have just started to experiment with this protocol and will gladly report my experiences/opinions after some time with it. 

​

Regardless of which protocol one chooses, a typical microdosing cycle ends after 4 – 8 weeks, and experts recommend taking a pause of 2 – 4 weeks before beginning a new cycle.

​

There’s a couple reasons for cycling on/off every few weeks. 

1. It is said that we will build up a slight tolerance after a while to the Psilocybin, so cycling helps reduce/eliminate that possibility. If we start to build a tolerance to the Psilocybin, then it’s effects may not connect with us in the same way.  

2. Cycling off provides the opportunity to build an awareness with how the microdosing may be working with you.  Once you cycle off, you may actually become more aware of it’s positive benefits and how it’s potentially effecting your day to day activities and life.  Ex: if you stopped a morning coffee regimen, you’d undoubtedly notice that you feel different, at least for the first few days.  

Microdosing in the evening or before bed is preferred by some people who microdose with psilocybin mushrooms. They report that it helps them sleep better, have vivid dreams, and they report waking up feeling well-rested and vital.

Personally speaking, I have never microdosed at night, so I cannot speak to this, however, I can report that I have slept better, even when I took a microdose in the morning.  I believe it’s all personal preference and whatever works best for your lifestyle, availability, etc. 

​

Setting an intention with a Microdose:

To get the best results, it’s important to follow a dosing schedule over an extended period, taking into account personal factors like intention, mindset, setting, and expectations. 

Believe it or not, setting an intention, giving gratitude and just having a positive mindset makes a significant difference with microdosing.  Of course, this would be true for life in general and maybe it’s entirely a “placebo effect” with the microdose and to that I say, awesome!  It’s a win-win either way.  

For me personally, each and every time I take a microdose, I set and intention and give gratitude.

I really believe this connects me much more with the Psilocybin and it appreciate this acknowledgment and in turn helps guide my way.  This may sound silly to some, but remember, Psilocybin is a living organism with billions of years of wisdom and like many things in nature, is happy to teach us, if we’re open to listening. 

Click here to read more about setting an intention. 

​

Microdosing with medications: 

Many people wonder if microdosing can be combined with medication. This is one of the most frequently asked questions for researchers and experts in this field. To effectively answer that question, Dr. James Fadiman and his colleague Sophia Korb compiled a list of medications, supplements, and drugs until now are known not to cause any adverse side effects when combined with microdosing. 

The list stems from the data collected through their long-term study from hundreds of subjects who have microdosed independently with (mainly) LSD, 1P-LSD, or psilocybin. It is emphasized, that this list does not guarantee that you can use microdose safely and responsibly while taking any of the medications listed. Read more about the risks of microdosing.

For information about Psilocybin and it’s interactions with medications, please click here. 

​

Please consulting a medical professional (if you have a physical or mental health condition, or take medications), and educate yourself on the best microdosing practices.

​

My promise: 

I have a passion to learn as much as I can about the safe and effective use of these wonderful substances and educate anyone interested in learning about them or exploring them and their benefits.

My promise and intention is to use what I’m learning to help educate people about these alternatives substances, that when used safely, responsibly and with education and care, can be immensely successful with changing peoples lives. 

Please reach out and ask my any questions and if I don’t know the answer, I will tell you that I don’t know and then I’ll do my best to help find you a true and accurate answer.