Microdose Mushrooms: Find Out How to Maximize Benefits & Minimize Risks

Microdosing mushrooms began as a hobby among a few enthusiasts. Nowadays, thanks to the psychedelic renaissance, it’s everywhere. From Netflix shows to TikTok to Google searches, everyone’s looking to learn not only how to microdose mushrooms, but how to microdose them effectively.

In case you find yourself in the very same shoes, well, you have come to the right place.

Our guide below discusses in detail everything you need to know about mushroom microdosing, from what the terms mean to how to do it right and how to gauge your results successfully. By the time you’re done, you should be able to consider yourself a veritable expert in the craft.

Chris Dorcey

Inheal Editor

Post date

April 21, 2023

Time to read

13 mins 33 secs

How to Microdose Mushrooms Effectively

To understand how to microdose mushrooms effectively – especially as a beginner – you must first fully understand what microdosing is in the first place. So, what exactly is microdosing? On a general level, microdosing is the act of taking very minute doses of a psychedelic substance to experience positive, significant long-term changes instead of strong but temporary gratification.

Simply put, when you microdose, you take a minimal dosage of a substance, which is not necessarily enough to profoundly alter your mind state at the present, but will very much do so in the future the more you keep at it.

When you set out to microdose mushrooms, the very same principles apply. You take microdoses that don’t produce overwhelmingly strong effects in the short term, but more in the long term.

However, to microdose mushrooms effectively, you must first be able to get the right psychedelic mushrooms, know the right dosage, strategy, and how to get the best out of the experience.

Sourcing Your Psilocybin Mushrooms

To begin mushroom microdosing, you first have to obtain your microdose mushrooms. Before we proceed, it is worth mentioning that while it is possible to microdose different types of mushrooms, in this article we will be focusing mainly on psilocybin mushrooms.

Here are a few ways to obtain psilocybin mushrooms for microdosing.

Trusted Source
The first way to get your mushroom microdose is to source one from a trusted source that happens to be near you. Not many people have access to this, however, so in case you find yourself in a situation where you have a local source to call upon, feel free to consider yourself lucky.
Those who live in larger cities often fall into this bracket. And even so, it can be hard to find a trusted source, and you may have to give it a few tries before you find one.
Those who live in smaller cities, however, may have to consider the other options below.
DIY
While definitely the harder route, it is possible to grow your mushrooms yourself. In fact, it is effortless to get yourself a mushroom grow kit with spores. They are completely legal in the United States and have most of what you’ll need. Of course, if you’re a newbie just starting out, this may not be the best approach for you. Even experienced growers will say that it takes many tries to achieve a successful harvest. If this option seems too complicated or too unnecessary for you, however, then you can consider the last option on the list.
Online Purchase
Purchasing your mushrooms online is undoubtedly one of the most common ways for obtaining mushroom microdose. There are a handful of vendors with really great stores, discounts, and even quality products that excel over others. There are, of course, a few things you’ll need to know before you buy from a microdose mushroom company. Don’t worry, though, we take a look at these in the upcoming sections below.

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Getting The Best Out Of The Microdosing Experience

Not everyone gets the same things out of a microdose mushroom experience, and that’s perfectly fine. However, to put you in position to maximize the experience, you must first ask yourself what your objectives are. Are you looking to clear your head? Get a better perspective on things? Are you looking not to care so much and not worry about the little things you can’t control? A lot of these effects have been reported by people who have microdosed mushrooms. Knowing what your goal is should help you choose the right psychedelic mushroom and the right strategy to optimize for your desired effect.

Mushroom Dose Chart

Mushroom microdosing involves taking the right amount of mushroom dose that qualifies as micro mushroom. Of course, before you can do this, you have to understand exactly what quantity qualifies as micro and what doesn’t.

Below is the typical chart for identifying what size makes a micro mushroom and other forms,

From 0.15 g to 0.3 g = Minimal microdose
From 0.5 g to 1 g = Creative dose
From 2 g to 3 g = “Full trip” dose

It is important to make use of a precise scale for your measurements, that is a scale that can measure down to as low as 0.001g. You can also utilize gelatin capsules to house your dose and avoid tasting them directly.

Different Methods to Microdosing Mushrooms

As mentioned earlier, there are a few approaches/strategies to microdosing, depending on what your objectives are. Below are some of the most popular.

Fadiman Method

In his book on mushroom dosages, Dr. Fadiman proposed taking a microdose every 3 days. The rationale behind his specification is that this makes it harder for you to develop a higher tolerance level over time.

Normally, it is common for a person who microdose mushrooms to feel great one day and start feeling it less overtime. With this approach, the feeling is sustained.

A typical chart for mushroom dosages under the Feldman Approach would look like this.

Week 1: Monday – Thursday – Sunday (0.2 g)
Week 2: Wednesday – Saturday (0.2 g)
Week 3: Tuesday – Friday (0.25 g)
Week 4: Monday – Thursday – Sunday (0.3 g)

The idea is to start with 0.2g microdose over the first two weeks and then increase gradually for the next week. This optimizes the results and minimizes tolerance.

Workaholic Method

If you’re looking for how to effectively microdose mushrooms for improving your work rate and output, the workaholic method may suit you better. This involves taking low dose mushrooms only on weekdays and taking the weekend off.

So, it looks something like this.

Week 1: Monday – Tuesday – Wednesday – Thursday – Friday
Week 2: Monday – Tuesday – Wednesday – Thursday – Friday
Week 3: Monday – Tuesday – Wednesday – Thursday – Friday
Week 4: Monday – Tuesday – Wednesday – Thursday – Friday

In this approach, you can vary the dosage as you please. You may start with a lower dose and work your way up, or even go the opposite route and start higher. You can also alternate between both approaches every week.

Balanced Method

The balanced method to microdose mushrooms involves taking one day off between each dose. So, in essence, your schedule should look something like this:

Week 1: Monday – Wednesday – Friday – Sunday
Week 2: Tuesday – Thursday – Saturday
Week 3: Monday – Wednesday – Friday – Sunday
Week 4: Tuesday – Thursday – Saturday

As for the exact dosage, the approach should be the same as the workaholic method. You may start with a lower dose and work your way up, go the opposite route and start higher, or alternate between both approaches every week.

The Benefits of Mushroom Microdosing

Low dose mushroom microdosing continues to receive attention from some of the brightest minds and biggest health organizations on the planet thanks to its array of numerous health offerings.

And although researching continued to go on regarding these benefits, there has already been tons of significant evidence supporting the anecdotal claims.

Combining both formal sources and anecdotal reports, some of the most popular effects of mushroom microdose include:

Stress & Anxiety: One of the most commonly reported benefits from those who microdose mushrooms is its positive effects on dealing with stress and anxiety. Anecdotal reports detailing positive experiences are numerous, but so are scientific reports such as the one from the National Center for Biotechnology Information[1], among many others.
Depression and Trauma: Another common benefit of mushroom microdosing lies in its ability to provide relief for patients suffering from treatment-resistant depression, as examined by this scientific paper in one of their placebo controlled studies[2].
Additionally, veterans and individuals who have gone through traumatic experiences and are going through symptoms of post-traumatic stress have also reported finding relief through psilocybin mushrooms.
Insomnia: Apart from the positive effects highlighted above, there are also tons of other reported benefits from those who microdose mushrooms, including its ability to help those suffering from sleep difficulty[3]. Because mushrooms can help their mind relax and take away focus from negative issues, they can rest and sleep better.
Others: Lastly, people who are microdosing have also reported benefits such as improving mood, boosting creativity, improving physical esteem, increasing the mood and mental state, lower dementia risk, alleviating traumatic stress disorder, treatment resistant depression and anxiety, and it has also been observed that can increase creativity levels.

Notable Magic Mushroom Research

Even though the controlled substances act has hampered progress a bit, numerous notable institutions, journals, and treatment centers have still carried out research into microdosing. And yes, research suggests that microdosing with magic mushrooms does have an impact on mental health concerns.

In case you’re still in doubt, below is an overview of some of the most notable papers published on microdosing with psychedelics to change your mind:

John Hopkins Psilocybin Research

Previous research by John Hopkins has shown that psychedelic use of magic mushrooms can have an impact on mental health, cognitive function, and creative problem-solving. One of their recent studies[4] published in the JAMA Psychiatry journal has shed more light on psychedelic use for harm reduction, particularly for dealing with major depression.

Other studies by the institution have looked into functional connectivity between LSD and psilocybin, the impact of lysergic acid diethylamide, psilocybin and MDMA among others.

Efficacy And Safety Of Psilocybin-Assisted Treatment By Journal of Psychopharmacology

A similar research published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology[5] came to the same conclusions as above regarding psilocybin for use in treating major depressive disorder. This study was carried out by recruiting 27 participants with a long-term history of anxiety and depression.

Apart from depression and anxiety, a few preliminary studies published in the same journal made use of a randomized double-blind double dummy design to compare experience with microdosing and psilocybin drug administration.

All in all, while experiences were positive, the verdict on long-term efficacy remained inconclusive.

Tracking The Effects Of A Mushroom Microdose

The effects of psychedelic drugs should be tracked when possible. Thankfully, it is possible to track the effects of your microdosing sessions over the course of a long period of time. The key is to keep an eye out for a few noticeable effects in a few areas of your life.

Creative Effects: Check to see if you’re finding new perspectives on everyday things in your life and seeing a way to convert them into art. If you find your mind taking a trip to wandering directions, overwhelmed with ideas, or if you find solutions easily.
Mental Effects: Check to see if your thoughts differ from what they used to be. Iif you’re more or less overwhelmed by thoughts.
Social Effects: Check to see if you express yourself more freely. If you do better in a crowd, you smile more often, you’re afraid to speak your mind in an argument, or you talk differently with people who are familiar to you and those who are not.
Emotional Effects: Check to see if you have more or less control over your emotions. If small things get to you more or less. If you have a deeper emotional connection with people. And if you have a better sexual experience than before.
Physical Effects: Are you more or less conscious of your physical appearance? Do you feel stronger physical sensations? How do you react to food and drugs?
Disposition Effects: Are you more disposed to positive or negative outlook to experiences? Are you most disposed to fear and skepticism, or openness and optimism?

All of these considerations can help you keep an eye on your progress along the journey.

Microdosing Mushrooms Companies

As mentioned in the section on sourcing your mushrooms for microdosing, where you choose to purchase your mushroom matter. Getting your shrooms from the right microdosing mushroom company determines the quality and what to expect.

For instance, even though most come in dried whole form, mushrooms can come in different forms, including as liquid psilocin which is the active ingredient in psilocybin and even in crystal form.

Dried entire forms are the best, however, and the best microdosing mushroom companies would naturally have the most optimized form which could be presented as some sort of edible like mushroom gummies. They also ensure that you have an accurately measured dose with very little margin for error.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a microdose of mushrooms?

Mushroom prices vary. Factors influencing this price range include type of mushroom, quantity, packaging and other factors.

Do Psychedelic Mushrooms Expire?

The most important factor regarding how long your psychedelic mushroom lasts is how well you store them. A well-stored, dried mushroom should last for several months and even a year without expiring. After a year, it may start losing its potency. To properly store a mushroom, keep it in a dark place with moderate humidity and temperature. If not properly stored, that is if exposed to light or oxygen, the mushroom will degrade, lose its potency, and maybe even become dangerous.

Citations

Daniel J, Haberman M. Clinical potential of psilocybin as a treatment for mental health conditions. Ment Health Clin. 2018 Mar 23;7(1):24-28. doi: 10.9740/mhc.2017.01.024. PMID: 29955494; PMCID: PMC6007659.
Vargas AS, Luis A, Barroso M, Gallardo E, Pereira L. Psilocybin as a New Approach to Treat Depression and Anxiety in the Context of Life-Threatening Diseases-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials. Biomedicines. 2020 Sep 5;8(9):331. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines8090331. PMID: 32899469; PMCID: PMC7554922.
Rootman, J.M., Kryskow, P., Harvey, K. et al. Adults who microdose psychedelics report health related motivations and lower levels of anxiety and depression compared to non-microdosers. Sci Rep 11, 22479 (2021).
Davis AK, Barrett FS, May DG, et al. Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Psychiatry. 2021;78(5):481–489.
Gukasyan N, Davis AK, Barrett FS, et al. Efficacy and safety of psilocybin-assisted treatment for major depressive disorder: Prospective 12-month follow-up. Journal of Psychopharmacology. 2022;36(2):151-158.

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Disclaimer

The statements regarding the medicinal or health value of mushrooms have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Mushrooms are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Information on this website or in any materials or communications from Inheal is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition.

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Summary

Microdose Mushrooms: Find Out How to Maximize Benefits & Minimize Risks

April 21, 2023

How to Microdose Mushrooms Effectively

Sourcing Your Psilocybin Mushrooms

Trusted Source

DIY

Online Purchase

Getting The Best Out Of The Microdosing Experience

Mushroom Dose Chart

Different Methods to Microdosing Mushrooms

Fadiman Method

Workaholic Method

The Benefits of Mushroom Microdosing

Notable Magic Mushroom Research

John Hopkins Psilocybin Research

Efficacy And Safety Of Psilocybin-Assisted Treatment By Journal of Psychopharmacology

Tracking The Effects Of A Mushroom Microdose

Microdosing Mushrooms Companies

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a microdose of mushrooms?

Do Psychedelic Mushrooms Expire?

Citations