Psilocybin, the psychoactive compound found in many types of magic mushrooms, has been used for thousands of years. People from indigenous cultures worldwide use it to induce spiritual experiences and increase creativity. 

People use psilocybin for various purposes, including treating depression and anxiety and helping people quit smoking. However, it’s not just people taking mushrooms who can experience these benefits. The use of microdosing shroom capsules is becoming increasingly popular among young professionals looking to improve their mental health and well-being without resorting to drugs like Adderall or Xanax.

What Is Psilocybin Microdosing?

Psilocybin microdosing is a practice in which people take a minimal amount of psilocybin and then go about their daily lives. This practice is becoming more popular as many people report experiencing positive effects from microdoses.

A microdose is one-fifth to one-tenth of your standard dose. For example, if you usually take one gram of dried mushrooms at once, you would use 0.1 to 0.2 grams for a microdose instead. By taking smaller amounts than usual, you lower your chances of having an intense trip or being overwhelmed by magic mushroom effects. 

Why Are People Microdosing?

The main reason people microdose psilocybin is to treat mental health conditions. But there are many other benefits of microdosing, as well. These include the following: 

  • Help with depression and anxiety
  • Alleviate pain from cluster headaches
  • Addiction recovery
  • Recover from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

How To Take Psilocybin for Microdoses?

The dosage of psilocybin depends on the strain of mushrooms you are using. Take the dosage on an empty stomach or with a light meal, as this will improve the absorption of the substance in your body. Experts recommend that you take your microdoses every 2 to 4 days. However, if you want to use it more often, you’re free to do so. 

Remember that there are no safety guidelines for recreational use of this substance since psilocybin doses differ from person to person.

What Are the Effects of Psilocybin Microdosing?

Psilocybin is a psychedelic. It’s a chemical that can alter your perception, thought patterns, and mood. When you take psilocybin, it gets converted into psilocin in your body. This molecule then binds to serotonin receptors in different parts of your brain. 

These altered brain states explain why some people experience euphoria or have mystical experiences when taking psychedelics like lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and  N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT). Both have similar structures but are technically different drugs because they have varying effects on neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine. 

How Long Do Magic Mushroom Effects Last?

The duration of the effects of psilocybin is highly variable, depending on different factors. Your body weight is the most critical consideration in determining how long a trip will last. How much you weigh determines how quickly your body can metabolize the drug. 

A more petite person will likely feel the shroom’s effects longer than someone with a larger body size. Generally, the average psilocybin trip lasts approximately six hours but can last anywhere from three to twelve hours or more for some people.

In addition to body weight, here are other factors that can affect how long your shroom experience lasts:

  • The strength of your dose: If you use a higher dosage than usual, the trip may also last longer than normal because there is more psilocybin in your system at once. It also takes longer for all of it to be flushed out of your body.
  • Whether you take vitamin C before dosing: Vitamin C binds with psilocybin so that less of this active ingredient remains available for absorption into your bloodstream. However, since vitamin C does not bind well with small amounts of shrooms, its effect on reducing bioavailability is negligible.
  • Whether or not you took other drugs before dosing with mushrooms: Cannabis oil or tobacco given progressively in more significant amounts until they reached levels considered high enough would rapidly affect one’s tolerance level. 

Get Your Shroom Facts Right

Before you start microdosing, understand its potential risks and benefits. Microdosing is an excellent way to experiment with psilocybin and see how it affects your life. It’s also an amazing way to familiarize yourself with the effects of psilocybin before taking larger doses. Call your doctor once you have questions about microdosing or want more information about the topic.