Mushroom Microdose Amount to Psychedelic Effects
Mushrooms microdose amount is entering the mainstream in a big way: Investors have staked billions on potential medical treatments, scientific research has skyrocketed and public sentiment signals growing acceptance. But major data points still lag behind, making it hard to gauge exactly how people are using psychoactive drugs. Two reports released this week, however, offer clues. Both suggest that mushrooms—specifically, psilocybin-containing ones—are the most popular choice among people who microdose.
Determining the Right Mushroom Microdose Amount
Microdosing involves taking just one-tenth of a typical “trip” dose of a psychedelic drug—too little to trigger hallucinations, proponents say, but enough to sharpen the mind and help overcome depression or anxiety. Hundreds of people on Reddit say they use psilocybin mushrooms for this purpose. London-based Compass Pathways is preparing to test large doses of psilocybin (in a pill form) to treat depression and suicidal thoughts, and the Food and Drug Administration has recently approved the first-ever clinical trial of psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression.
Moms interviewed for this article, who all wanted to use only their first names because psilocybin is illegal in many areas, say the mushrooms they take—generally, 0.1 to 0.3 milligrams—have helped them to have more patience and organizational talent in the midst of motherhood’s many physical and emotional challenges. They also say they’ve been able to reduce the amount of antidepressants and anti-anxiety medicines they take.
To see how the microdoses affected their brains, participants took a standard psychological test related to creative problem-solving and an assessment of fluid intelligence before and after their mushroom experience. Researchers also ran chemical analyses of the mushroom samples to determine their psilocybin content.
