How to microdose with psilocybin mushrooms

The first step is to establish an intention. Why are you microdosing psilocybin? Remember, intentions should be flexible enough to allow for the results to emerge in their own way. Sometimes, especially after reading anecdotal reports online, people have expectations about how it should work for them. This can lead to disappointment and can take attention away from what is actually coming up in the microdosing experience. Consider finding a coach or therapist who is experienced with microdosing phenomena and can help you on your journey. While microdoses may not produce ‘full blown’ psychedelic effects, they may subtly sensitize a person to their environmental surroundings or internal emotional content. Therefore, treating microdosing with similar intentionality, supportive therapy, and complementary modalities to psychedelic assisted therapy is likely to produce the best results. In other words, set and setting still matters even though the doses are small.

Once you have decided on a protocol to use, it’s time to prepare your doses. A great way to have consistent microdoses is to use a coffee grinder to powder the dried mushrooms.  While many users online purport that caps contain more psilocybin than stems, there is no research to substantiate this claim. It is true that some mushrooms may simply be more potent than others; therefore, creating a more homogenous mixture is the best way to minimize variability between doses.

How much is a microdose of psilocybin mushrooms? For most people, a microdose is about 50-250mg (0.05-0.25g) of dried mushrooms. To measure out a microdose, you’ll need a jewelry scale that can measure in milligrams. If you are new to microdosing, try starting at the lower end of this range. Over time, you can experiment with what works best for your intentions. Taking note of your experience while microdosing could help determine the appropriate dose for you.

The microdose can be ingested in a gelatin capsule or mixed with food or drink like a smoothie. Some people experience nausea if they take the microdose on an empty stomach, while others find that an empty stomach works better for them since food can slow absorption. Many people find that the microdose increases their energy levels, so it’s recommended to take it in the morning or at least 6-8 hours before you would want to fall asleep.