How to Start Microdosing Psilocybin as a Complete Beginner

What is Microdosing?

Microdosing involves consuming small doses of psychedelic substances like psilocybin mushrooms and LSD. 

Evidence shows humans have used psilocybin for spiritual and therapeutic purposes over centuries. The Mazatec people from Oaxaca, Mexico, utilized psilocybin in healing ceremonies and spiritual practices. Xochitl Ashe, a fifth-generation medicine woman from the Mazatec lineage, describes how her ancestors stored mushrooms in honey, taking the mushrooms in small microdoses to address physical ailments.

Although the term ‘microdosing’ is modern, the practice of consuming small amounts of psychedelics has long-standing roots. Microdosing has grown increasingly popular in recent decades, particularly for daily improvement or creativity enhancement, and is claimed to alleviate anxiety and depression.

In 2019, Thomas Anderson and his team studied over 1,000 microdosers, finding that they showed improved emotional responses and were more open-minded and creative compared to non-microdosers.

Understanding Psilocybin

Psilocybin is a substance found in magic mushrooms. When you consume these mushrooms, your body converts psilocybin to psilocin.

This substance is known to produce psychedelic experiences when consumed in doses higher than one gram of dried mushrooms. Psilocin stimulates areas of your brain that use serotonin, which influences your mood, perception, and thinking.

These changes may include seeing colors more clearly, feeling more connected or experiencing intense thoughts and emotions. The effects vary depending on how much you consume, your personality, and where you are when you take it.

Even though microdosing means taking psilocybin in amounts that are too small to induce a psychedelic trip, some people say that their happiness, creativity, and outlook on life have improved.

The legal status of psilocybin varies around the world. In most places, purchasing, selling, or possessing magic mushrooms is illegal. However, some areas are beginning to change these restrictions. 

How to Start Microdosing Psilocybin in 5 Simple Steps

Starting a microdosing psilocybin practice requires a few steps to assure safety, legality, and efficacy.

Here’s a quick guide to get you started.

Step 1: Research Risks

Before you start microdosing, it’s crucial to:

• Understand the Potential Risks: While there are benefits, there can be side effects such as stomachaches, headaches, or more severe concerns like anxiety or cardiac risks.

• Weigh Benefits Against Risks: Consider if the potential benefits of microdosing outweigh any personal risks.

Learn more about the benefits of microdosing.

Step 2: Sourcing Psilocybin Safely and Legally

When buying psilocybin, finding a source you can trust is essential. Here are a few tips to get you started:

• Avoid risky sources: Don’t buy from stores or social media where legality and safety are uncertain.

• Demand precise product information: Great sources are transparent about the ingredients in their microdosing capsules and list accurate dosing information on the label. 

• Read reviews: Customer reviews can tell much about product quality and service.

• Educational content: The best stores provide information on how to microdose safely.

• Privacy: Choose a shop that provides discreet delivery for your order.

For a complete guide on safe sourcing, check out our guide on where to buy microdoses safely.

Step 3: Find Your Favorite Dose (or Sweet Spot)

The right microdose of psilocybin varies for every person and usually ranges from 50-250 mg of dried psilocybin mushrooms. Begin with a small dose to see how you react, then slowly increase your dose as needed. Start this process when you have nothing else to do.

This will allow you to appreciate the results fully. 

Tips for finding your optimal dose:

• Try Different Doses: Start with a low dose, such as 50 mg, and increase gradually. Taking things slowly allows you to observe how your mind and body react to psilocybin, which helps minimize the risk of side effects.

• Start on a Free Day: Pick a day with no scheduled activities. It will make it easier to observe the effects of psilocybin.
• Less really is more: Most unpleasant side effects result from taking a dose that is too high. Regarding microdosing, adopt the phrase, “Less really is more.”

• Try a Microdosify Sample Pack: Explore a range of doses to see which supports you best with our Microdosify sample pack. 

Step 4: Choose a Protocol

A microdosing protocol refers to how frequently you take microdoses to achieve benefits. 

People new to microdosing often like to start with the Fadiman protocol, named after James Fadiman. According to this plan, you should take psilocybin every three days.

The idea is to microdose on Day 1, monitor the results on Day 2 (a non-dosing day), and then rest on Day 3. People think this plan helps them fit the experience into their daily lives while keeping tolerance and side effects to a minimum.

To help you decide, here is a quick look at some of the most common microdosing protocols:

To learn more, check out this ultimate guide on microdosing protocols.

Step 5: Track and Reflect

Keeping a journal when microdosing is essential to track small changes and effects.

Doing this lets you track changes in your happiness, creativity, productivity, and other factors, giving you a complete record of your experiences. 

By writing down these changes, you can better understand how microdosing affects you and change the protocol or dosage to get the most out of it.

Final Thoughts

In this guide, we’ve covered everything you need to know to begin microdosing psilocybin as a beginner, focusing on the importance of doing it safely. 

The first steps are understanding psilocybin, determining the proper dose, and choosing a protocol. It’s also essential to buy psilocybin from reliable sources and be aware of legal restrictions.

While microdosing may have benefits, it is important to follow best practices, such as taking occasional breaks and starting with smaller doses, to minimize risks. Journaling your experiences can help you improve the process and maximize benefits.

If you want to ensure you’re as ready as possible before beginning microdosing, consider setting up a 1:1 meeting with one of our expert coaches.

They can offer guidance and assistance to help you get the most out of your microdosing experience.

FAQs

Can taking small amounts of psilocybin cause psychedelic effects?

No, taking small amounts of psilocybin doesn’t cause psychedelic effects.

Microdosing uses small amounts of psilocybin to avoid the powerful visual and sensory impact of significant doses.

The idea is to improve health and brain function without changing how people see things. If you experience psychedelic effects, then this is a signal that you’re taking a dose higher than what is considered a microdose.

How long should I try microdosing to see the effects?

Some people notice changes in a few weeks, while others say they see them in just a few days. To understand how a microdosing protocol affects your health and performance, you should stick to it for at least one month.

Can I microdose psilocybin and still go about my daily activities?

Yes, microdosing psilocybin lets people go about their daily lives without the side effects that come with taking more significant amounts of psychedelics.

Are there any health conditions that make microdosing psilocybin unsafe?

Yes, taking small amounts of psilocybin could be dangerous for some people with specific health problems. People who have had psychosis, bipolar disorder, or severe anxiety or paranoia in the past may find that psilocybin makes their symptoms worse. 

Psilocybin also affects blood pressure and heart rate, so people with heart problems should talk to a doctor before using it. 

References

• Griffiths, R.R. et al. (2016). Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized, double-blind trial. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 30(12), 1181-1197.

• Ross, S. et al. (2016). Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 30(12), 1165-1180.

• Johnson, M.W. et al. (2014). Pilot study of the 5-HT2AR agonist psilocybin in the treatment of tobacco addiction. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 28(11), 983-992.

• Anderson, T. et al. (2019). Microdosing psychedelics: Personality, mental health, and creativity differences in microdosers. Psychopharmacology, 236(2), 731-740.

• Polito, V. & Stevenson, R.J. (2019). A systematic study of microdosing psychedelics. PLOS ONE, 14(2), e0211023.

• Fadiman, J. & Korb, S. (2019). Might microdosing psychedelics be safe and beneficial? An initial exploration. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 51(2), 118-122.