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This guide is for anyone interested in microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms. Inside, you will find a clear overview of what microdosing means, its possible benefits, and some common ways it is done.

What is Microdosing?

Microdosing means taking a very small amount of psilocybin mushrooms orally according to a dosing schedule, which is also known as a protocol.

Microdosing can refer to taking a small amount of different kinds of substances, but here I only focus on psilocybin mushrooms. The dose or amount of mushrooms taken is often between 100mg and 300mg (0.1g - 0.3g). The amount varies because bodies respond differently to psilocybin. The amount taken does not give you the psychoactive effects that higher dosages do; it is not a “high” nor an intoxication. The aim of the dosage size is to allow you to function in your day-to-day life as you normally would while experiencing the effects the mushrooms can provide within and across your daily activities. Some literature says a microdose amount is imperceptible, and I don’t think this is accurate. I discuss more about this in the section “What am I Supposed to Feel?”

Because everyone’s body is different, it is important to learn how your body responds to the mushroom. This is done by, for example, starting with a microdose of 100mg to 125mg on a day with minimal responsibility and seeing how that works for you. If you find it to be too much, try a lower dosage. If you feel “nothing,” you might need a higher dosage, but that's not necessarily the case. Read the sections below on “What is it for?” and “What am I Supposed to Feel?” before deciding you need a higher dosage.

The dosing schedule is as much a part of microdosing as the dosage amount itself. There are numerous dosing schedules that one can adopt, and some common ones are discussed below. I suggest picking a schedule and sticking with it for a week and up to a month to see how it works for you. Ultimately, the right schedule is what works for you and your body, not what is defined by others. I recommend taking any schedule as a suggestion, listening to your body, and adjusting as needed; don’t be afraid to experiment.

A note about higher dosages: some people consider taking 500 milligrams (0.5 grams) a microdose. I do not. I find that even 300 milligrams can be experienced by some as having a stronger-than-intended effect on one’s day. Additionally, since the dosing schedule is part of my working definition of microdosing, I do not consider taking 500 milligrams on a dosing schedule to be within my scope of microdosing. I relate to dosages between 250mg and say 1g as mini-doses and consider their usage and purpose to be different than microdosing.

What is it for?

Microdosing is a catalyst for awareness, an instigator for change, an ally for awakening. Microdosing can help us be more of an in-the-moment observer of our lived experience as we are living it. This puts us in an empowered position that can help us in various ways, each in our own specific way.

There is an abundance of anecdotal accounts and empirical evidence on the positive effects microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms has on people. Here are some noted in scientific literature: reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression; increasing our ability to empathize with ourselves and others; improving mood; enhancing or promoting social interaction; reducing ruminating thoughts; reducing mind wandering; improving cognitive functions such as memory, focus, concentration and problem-solving skills; enhancing creativity; enhancing aesthetic perception; enhancing sensuality; enhancing awareness of our body; enhancing our sense of our vital energy and improving overall well-being.

Hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people have been microdosing for some time, and while the anecdotal and empirical data regarding the benefits of microdosing is there, the scientific community is hard at work trying to ascertain, within the framework of clinical research, whether indeed microdosing has the benefits people are saying they experience. So consider this for yourself: many people who experience microdosing are saying it has numerous beneficial aspects for them, while the science struggles to show that these benefits exist within the framework in which research is conducted. If you are considering microdosing, I suggest evaluating whether it is right for you carefully, using multiple reliable sources.

What am I Supposed to Feel?

What is supposed to be felt is something you learn for yourself as you discover your body’s response to the mushroom. A microdose is not imperceptible, as some say, and its effects can be encountered both while the mushrooms are in our system as well as after.

The primary compounds currently identified and most studied in mushrooms are psilocybin and psilocin. Our body turns psilocybin into psilocin, which is considered the active compound of the mushroom. Studies show that within 20 minutes, psilocybin can be detected in our bloodstream, and psilocin appears in approximately 30 minutes. About 70 - 90 minutes after ingesting mushrooms on an empty stomach, the concentration of psilocin is highest in our bloodstream. About 6.5 - 7 hours after ingesting mushrooms, the majority of the psilocin is out of our system. What is felt may align with these numbers, and it may not align at all. Everyone’s biology is different; every being is different.

You have your own specific way of responding to mushrooms. Some people feel the presence of the mushrooms in their body within a few minutes after taking them. Others need longer. I, for example, can feel the presence of mushrooms in my body even at the 100 milligram dosage a few minutes after I ingest them. It is not a psychoactive experience, but I can feel it in my body nevertheless. Others may feel nothing at that dosage. Some people hardly feel an afterglow the day after a microdose, while others feel it for a few days. The answer to what you are supposed to feel is found in getting to know your own specific response.

The most important aspect of microdosing is awareness. Noticing. Noticing what you notice. How does it feel to be in your body? How does it feel inside your body? How does it feel on the outside? What do you notice about your thought patterns? What do you notice about your feelings or emotions? How are you relating to yourself? How are you relating to others? How do you notice others relating to you? What are you noticing is present for you in your body and your mind when you are in the presence of others? When interacting with others? All of these questions will help you develop a sense for how the mushrooms are affecting you. It is not the same every single time, but over time, you will develop a more consistent understanding of your own response to the microdose.

A note about variability: our body’s sensitivity varies, and there is variability in the concentration of psilocybin & psilocin in different mushrooms. Your response to the microdose can vary based on factors in your life, such as your monthly cycle if you are female, or any other combination of physical or emotional factors. Also, different species of mushrooms, even the same species grown in varying environments, can contain different concentrations of psilocybin and psilocin. This means that there can be variability in how microdoses coming from different mushrooms affect you.

Again, what is important is your awareness. Simply notice. Notice what you notice when you start a protocol, on your off days, and when you take a break for a week or two. Notice what you notice when you switch to a microdose containing a different variety of mushroom or adjust your dosage.

Dosing Schedules / Protocols

A dosing schedule, also known as a protocol, is a plan outlining when to take your microdose. The schedule specifies when you take your dose and when you don’t.

I like to think of a protocol as defining two specific cycles. One cycle is the number of consecutive days you microdose and the number of consecutive days you don’t. The other cycle involves how many weeks in a row you repeat the first cycle and how many weeks you take a break from the cycle before repeating it all again.

Protocols are quite simple, and people often refer to them by name or number, such as the Fadiman protocol or a 4/3 protocol. I describe the Fadiman protocol below, and 4/3 refers to taking a microdose for 4 consecutive days and then taking a break for 3 consecutive days.

The most important aspect of a protocol is that it works for you. People are constantly experimenting with dosing schedules, and it is normal to adjust one to suit your needs, based on your body’s response.

The Fadiman Protocol

One of the most popular dosing schedules was created by Dr. James Fadiman, a psychotherapist who has been experimenting with microdosing for decades.

The Fadiman protocol suggests taking a microdose on one day, staying with the afterglow of the microdose the following day without taking another one, and refraining from taking a dose on the third day. To summarize, it is one day on, followed by an afterglow day with no microdose, and then one day off. This cycle is then repeated for four weeks. After four weeks, it is recommended to take a break from microdosing for two weeks or more before restarting the cycle.

The idea of the afterglow day is all about awareness. The intention is to give yourself a day to notice what may be different in the way you relate to yourself, to those around you, how your mood might be different, how your body feels, and anything else that may be slightly different than your day-to-day functioning without microdosing. Observing this afterglow day orients you, over time, to how the mushroom is impacting your physical and emotional being, your overall Presence.

Given the one-day-on, afterglow day, rest day sequence, a month of microdosing consists of 12 doses. More information can be found on the Fadiman protocol on the website of the organization he created, The Microdosing Institute.

Stacked Microdoses

Taking a combination of different mushrooms and vitamins together is called a “stack.”

Paul Stamets is credited with popularizing the idea of a stack. The idea behind stacking is that combining different mushrooms and vitamins can produce a complementary effect and mutual benefit.

More about what is known as the Stamet’s stack is below.

The Stamet’s Stack

Paul Stamets, an iconic figure in the world of mycology, created a stacked microdose that combines psilocybin mushrooms, Lion’s Mane mycelium and Niacin (vitamin B3) that is taken using a 4/3 protocol.

Another popular protocol using a stacked microdose was created by Paul Stamets, a well-known mycologist who has been working with mushrooms, advocating for their importance and researching their benefits to our bodies and the planet as a whole for decades.

Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) mycelium has been shown in research to stimulate the regeneration and growth of neurons in the brain. Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, has the effect of promoting blood vessel dilation in the brain. Paul Stamets contemplated this and formulated a theory that combining psilocybin mushrooms, Lion’s Mane mycelium, and Niacin could have health benefits. The notion is that niacin could help deliver the mushrooms more effectively to the brain, and that the neural-stimulating and regenerating effects of Lion’s Mane would complement the effects of psilocybin.

This combination of psilocybin mushrooms, Lion’s Mane mycelium, and Niacin is commonly referred to as the Stamets stack. Initial research has been conducted, showing promising health benefits from this stack, particularly for individuals over the age of 50.

The protocol calls for taking a stacked microdose for four days in a row, followed by three days without taking a dose. This cycle is repeated for four to six weeks, followed by a break of two to four weeks from microdosing. The protocol can then be repeated.

A note about Niacin: The form of Niacin (vitamin B3) specified in the research is nicotinic acid, which is known to cause a flushing reaction in some individuals. The flushing reaction may be uncomfortable for some, but regardless of its strength, it is harmless. It can consist of a reddening of the skin on the face or areas of the body and may be accompanied by an itching or burning sensation. It often passes within 15 minutes without any intervention, and some report it lasting up to an hour.

A note about Lion’s Mane Mycelium: the research specifically names Erinacine as the beneficial compound in the Lion’s Mane mushroom, and it is most present in the mycelium (the “plant” body of the fungi, relative to the “fruit” body commonly referred to as the mushroom.) Little to no Erinacine is present in the fruit body, and so it is recommended that stacked microdoses use Lion’s Mane mycelium.

References

You can find more depth on the information above in these articles.