About 1 billion people around the world live with a mental health disorder. Some may benefit from psychedelic therapy, which involves ingesting a substance like psilocybin (from “magic mushrooms”) to alter consciousness and potentially trigger changes in the brain that alleviate conditions like PTSD or depression. But psilocybin can be illegal and difficult to access, so researchers have been looking at alternatives such as microdosing.
A Beginner’s Guide to Microdosing Magic Mushrooms
While bigger doses of magic mushrooms can cause hallucinations, a small community of mushroom enthusiasts takes much smaller amounts to improve mood and focus – known as microdosing. This practice is gaining traction although mushrooms and other psychedelic substances are still Class A controlled drugs – the same category as heroin and cocaine and liable to land you a life-changing prison sentence if you get caught with them.
For those who microdosing magic mushroom, the key to avoiding undesired effects such as nausea or anxiety is keeping it simple. A typical microdose includes just one or two psilocybin caps and, ideally, a food source such as bananas or toast that can help absorb the drug and reduce its side-effects. The mushroom microdosers we spoke to also often combine psilocybin with other supplements such as the medicinal mushroom lion’s mane, which is believed to enhance its therapeutic benefits.
Rosie, who preferred to remain anonymous to protect her family’s privacy, says she microdoses a few days a week to reduce her stress and improve her parenting skills. She has also noticed a change in her ability to focus at work and an improvement in her mood. “It’s not a cure-all,” she says, but it’s made a big difference.
