MICRODOSING

The ancient wisdom stored in medicinal mushrooms is undeniable. It's a safe and effective way to take your physical and mental health into your own hands. When ingesting sub-perceptual amounts of specific strains of mushrooms you're rewiring and recalibrating your brain. The power to change is available to all.

"A 2021 study conducted at Yale University indicates that psilocybin, a psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms, has the ability to prompt neural plasticity and remodeling of the neurons in the brain" (1).

Psilocybin is non-addictive, you can not overdose on it and there is no wean-off period. The same can not be said about pharmaceutical anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medication. 

PROTOCOL

I've adopted the microdosing protocol of Paul Stamets and "The Stamets' Stack." The research validates what we all know to be true—mushrooms are a true healing gift from nature.

WHY PAUL STAMETS?

Stamets has spent his life studying the incredible life of mushrooms. He understands the importance of these magical fungi in the role of teaching and healing. His research is non-biased. His heart is in the right place. What better person to trust than someone who has dedicated his existence to learning all things mushroom? 

To microdose you do not need to follow Stamets, or my, suggestions. This process is between you and the medicine. No need to get fancy about it. Explore, experiment and trust your experiences. 

You will begin with a very small amount, preferably 0.05g (50mg) or 0.1g (100mg). You will gradually increase your dosage over time. For example, if you choose to do a day on/day off schedule, you could increase 0.05g every 6th dose.

Start Day: Monday: 0.05g

Tuesday: no

Wednesday 0.05g

Thursday: no

Friday: 0.05g

Saturday: no

Sunday: 0.05g

Monday: no 

Increase Day: Tuesday: 0.1g

Wednesday: no

Thursday: 0.1g

Friday: no

Saturday: 0.1g

Sunday: no

....and so on

You will continue increasing until you notice subtle positive shifts OR until you experience negative shifts. 

**For microdosing, you will not experience any psychedelic effects. If you do, you are taking too much. 

HOW TO TAKE YOUR DOSE

Best taken on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. Take with juice or water. 

• Lion's Mane
• Niacin
• Scale, measuring 0.001g 
• Journal

Paul Stamets has created a protocol that greatly improves the benefits from psilocybin. Called "The Stamets Stack," Paul studied the effects of adding Lion's Mane mushroom and niacin (B3) to the microcode and found that "the stack may have the potential to reduce anxiety and irritability, enhance cognitive functions and creativity, increase socializing, provide a greater general sense of well-being, and reduce the effects of aging. These benefits can also lead to secondary effects such as a boosted immune system."

BEGINNING DOSING

• Psilocybin 0.05g or 0.1g
• 50mg Niacin (If flush occurs, lower dose)
• 1000mg Lion's Mane

TIPS FOR STAMETS' STACK

1. Before trying the Stamets Stack, we usually recommend that microdosers try a microdosing cycle of 4-6 weeks with just psilocybin (mushrooms or truffles) first. This provides a baseline to help you understand if you get enhanced benefits by stacking Lion’s Mane and niacin. It also helps you find your microdosing sweet spot, or optimal dose of psilocybin mushrooms or truffles.
2. To avoid building tolerance to psilocybin mushrooms or truffles, it is important to take periodic breaks and to avoid microdosing every day. This is why it is not recommended to microdose with psilocybin for the entire week and to take a few weeks off of microdosing after a 4 week cycle.
3. The benefits of Lion’s Mane, however, are better received by the body when used consistently. It is safe to supplement Lion’s Mane every day, even when you are not microdosing.
4. When finding your sweet spot for microdosing, we always recommend starting low and going slow. Applying this concept to your niacin dose can give you a more pleasant experience during a Stamets Stack. Start with a smaller dose of niacin and slowly increase as your body adjusts to the flushing effects (2).

INTENTION

Setting an intention is beneficial with working with any plant medicine. Microdosing is no different. Check in and ask what you'd like to get out of this experience. Setting an intention sets in motion a clear path for the medicine. A good practice is speaking your intention prior to ingesting your dose. It can be as simple as "I am love," "I ask for more patience with my family," or "Allow me to release what no longer serves me."

JOURNAL DAILY

The changes are subtle and build up over time. It's easy to miss the slight shifts if you're not paying attention. By documenting daily you'll have more self awareness for the positive as well as the negative effects.

Positive shifts looks like:

• Enhanced mood
• Less anxious
• More energy
• Brighter outlook
• More calm
• Less reactive

Negative shifts look like:

• Distracted
• Irritable 
• Fatigue
• More depressed 
• More anxious
• More reactive 

GOAL

The goal is to find your sweet spot. You'll know you've reached it when you feel the positive effects. If you begin to feel the negative effects it means you're taking too much. Scale back to the previous dose and stay there for 2 weeks before increasing. 

References

(1) https://www.uhsa.ag/potential-impacts-of-psilocybin-on-neural-plasticity-post-depression/

(2) https://microdosinginstitute.com/microdosing-101/substances/lions-mane-stacking/