The effects of a psychedelic substance can vary considerably depending on a number of factors, including the user’s expectations, the amount taken and the setting in which it’s taken. As a class, the classic psychedelics are regarded as having very low toxicity to the body’s organs. However, when under the influence of any psychedelic, it is always important to take the necessary steps to have a great experience. Here are the top 5 preparation tips from the experts: Be intentional. Identify what you want from the experience and evaluate your physical and psychological risk factors. Check your supply. Know what and how much you’re taking. Unless you have expert guidance, it’s best to start with small amounts, using more only after you become familiar. Make sure you’re in an environment that feels safe. Don’t go solo with nontrivial doses. Have a sober sitter with you. Before your experience, discuss what kinds of physical contact (if any) would be comfortable for you. Psychedelics can amplify human emotions, from affection to joy, and having a sitter and clear boundaries can help create a beautiful experience. Have a plan for how you’re going to process and integrate your experience afterwards. Having someone to talk to about your thoughts and feelings can help you to process your experience and learn valuable lessons about yourself.

What is mushroom microdosing? Microdosing means that you are ingesting a ‘subthreshold’ dose of psychedelic mushrooms. This subthreshold is typically one-tenth to one-twentieth of a typical recreational dose. The objective is to experience the therapeutic benefits without the full psychedelic effects. Psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, is said to interact with the serotonin receptors in the brain, leading to altered states of consciousness. An observational study published in the Nature-Scientific Reports found that people who microdosed psilocybin saw small to medium sized improvements in symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress over a 30-day follow-up, compared to those who did not. The study included 900 people who reported microdosing psilocybin during the month, and a control group of 180 people who did not engage in microdosing psychedelics. Microdosing is still being studied and one of the things researches are trying to determine is the exact ‘amount’ of mushrooms constitutes a microdose. We’re sure there’s going to be a lot more information coming out in the following years, but today we’ll attempt to condense the research that has already been done and share with you the benefits of microdosing. In a 2019 study, researchers collected the baseline measures of 93 participants. Participants were instructed to follow Fadiman’s protocol (a specific microdosing protocol) and submit daily reports. 47.1% of the daily reports were made by participants microdosing psilocybin. The study found a clinically significant increase (p<.05) in measures of connectedness, contemplation, creativity, focus, happiness, productivity, and wellbeing. Long term measures were taken after 6 weeks of microdosing. Clinically significant reductions in depression, stress, and mind wandering were sustained.

TIP #1: START LOW AND GO SLOW! Micro-dose: 0.1g - 0.3g (RECOMMENDED FOR BEGINNERS) Microdosing can be for exploring improved focus, creativity, or relief from depression and anxiety. Microdoses are so small that psychedelic effects won’t be felt. Instead, the sub-hallucinogenic dose works over time, sometimes taking several weeks to realize benefits. Reported effects are: Improved mood Strange or pleasant body sensations Easy social connection and emotional awareness Greater focus and flow Creative ideas Mild anxiety or temporary confusion Low Or Mini-Dose: 0.3g - 0.5g Helpful to experience the threshold of a shroom trip, although this is a microdose for some. If you are new to psychedelics, trying out new strains, or are sensitive, this is a helpful "getting to know psychedelics" zone. Light euphoria Vivid emotions, connection to others Increased creativity or sense of meaning Museum Dose: .5g - 1g Around 1 gram of mushrooms is termed Museum Dose, coined by prolific chemist Alexander Shulgin. This range is ideal for feeling the effects of mushrooms while functioning in the world. A popular choice for concerts, walks in nature, socializing, biking, or art galleries. Mild euphoria Slight “body buzz” Increased connection to own emotions, other people, or nature Introspection, creative flow states Mild hallucinations - colors “popping,” profound music Slight confusion or repetitive thoughts Moderate or "Full" Dose: 1.25g - 2g For a first-timer, this is our recommended dose. This can be light and fun or get pretty deep. Proper set and setting are essential from this range and upwards. An ability to interact with people and your surroundings will likely be maintained here. However, surrendering to challenging insights or confusion at the higher end becomes necessary. Euphoria Body buzz, odd sensations, changes in body temperature Deeper connection to friends, community, environment, spirituality Introspection, a new sense of meaning, creative inspiration Amplified emotions or releases like laughter or crying Visuals - breathing walls, geometric patterns, closed eye visuals Altered sense of time Macro-dose: 2.5g+ Above three grams will be a powerful psychedelic experience for most people. Without an experienced sitter, this should be left to experienced trippers and should be in a safe space with people you trust. Be prepared to disconnect from “normal” reality in this territory. Intense euphoria, anxiety, fear, emotional release Strange or pleasant body sensations, sweating, increased heart rate Mystical experiences, sense of “oneness” Deep introspection and existential questioning Significant emotional revelations or release Higher chance of visuals, ability to “journey” with closed eyes Time, everyday objects, or your environment can be confusing, thought loops Partial or complete loss of motor control or speech High Dose / Heroic Dose: 5g+ (RECOMMENDED FOR ADVANCED USERS ONLY) The legendary psychonaut Terence McKenna coined the heroic dose. This is a high dose. This shouldn't be attempted without significant psychedelic experience and a willingness to work with whatever the mushrooms show you. Breath is a good anchor and could be the only thing that makes sense for a while. States of bliss, terror, or paranoia Powerful “body load,” extreme somatic awareness, changes in body temperature, heart rate, breathing patterns Ego dissolution and mystical experience Overwhelming emotional content Visuals overpowering reality Time may be exposed as an illusion Partial or complete loss of motor control or speech

I. Make Yourself Comfortable Do you need to sit down, grab a pillow, walk, find a bathroom, stretch, get some fresh air? A body check is simple, but can also be very grounding. II. Nourish Yourself Drink water. Yes, “drink more water” has become the new remedy for everything that ails us—but when it comes to a magic journey, dehydration can be a real concern. Even mild dehydration can result in headaches, dizziness, or fatigue, so keeping yourself well-watered will help ensure that your ride to the finish will be smooth. Eat something. Many people find that they have zero appetites while on their journey. Listen to your body and don’t force anything—but a little bit of food can be grounding, and if you eat fruit, you get the double bonus of all the water content. III. REST REST REST Sleep. This one may sound super obvious, but a good night’s sleep is a key part of a smooth recovery. IV. Touching Down Integrate. Integration can take many forms: thinking, journaling, drawing, talking to a therapist or friend, or just tuning in to the “felt sense” of your experience the day after. Some kind of next-day integration process is part of almost every clinical study of psilocybin, and researchers think that may be key to why many of the subjects in the studies have had such overwhelmingly positive results. Making sense of your journey can be very edifying, but some of these experiences just don’t fit into words—it’s also okay to just observe and feel your post-trip body and mind, and enjoy the afterglow if it’s there.

Other names for Psilocybin include: Magic mushrooms Mushrooms Shrooms

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring chemical compound found in more than one hundred mushroom species. It is usually consumed orally by eating either dried or fresh mushrooms, adding them to food or tea, or by taking a capsule of its dried material. It usually takes under an hour for the psychedelic effects to become noticeable, and the experience usually peaks one to three hours later. The entire trip can last six to eight hours. Indigenous communities in Mexico and Central America have used psilocybin-containing mushrooms in celebrations, healing rituals, and religious ceremonies for millennia. In the 1950s and 1960s, psychiatrists investigated the therapeutic potential of psilocybin, though less extensively than LSD. In the United States, most human psychedelic research halted in 1971 after President Nixon’s Controlled Substances Act—Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970—went into effect, designating psilocybin as a Schedule I drug. In 2000, researchers at Johns Hopkins University received federal and institutional approvals to give psilocybin to human volunteers who had never taken a psychedelic, leading to the landmark 2006 publication “Psilocybin Can Occasion Mystical-type Experiences Having Substantial and Sustained Personal Meaning and Spiritual Significance.” Since then, studies have suggested that in combination with therapy psilocybin can be used to alleviate anxiety and depression in cancer patients, substance abuse disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Researchers are also investigating the use of psilocybin to treat anorexia nervosa and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia. In some research volunteers, psilocybin has been shown to increase nature relatedness and overall well-being and life satisfaction. In a 2016 survey study, nearly two thousand respondents reported effects associated with their worst “bad trip” on psilocybin mushrooms. Eleven percent said they had put themselves or others at risk of physical harm, and 8 percent said they had sought treatment for enduring psychological symptoms at least a year after their trip. The survey also found that three cases appeared associated with the onset of enduring psychotic symptoms and three others with attempted suicide. Despite the negative effects, 84 percent of respondents reported that they benefited from the challenging aspects of their sessions. In the United States, psilocybin is listed in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, making it illegal outside of specially approved research settings, though some states including Oregon, Rhode Island, and New Jersey, as well as municipalities including Denver, Oakland, and Detroit, have decriminalized it or deprioritized the local enforcement of laws against it. Psilocybin-assisted therapy is legal in Oregon. In other states, some patients can receive this therapy by participating in federally-approved clinical trials. (Learn more about clinical trials here.) Sources: UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics Hallucinogenic drugs in pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance Survey study of challenging experiences after ingesting psilocybin mushrooms: Acute and enduring positive and negative consequences The Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelic Drugs: Past, Present, and Future Psychedelics as a Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease Dementia

Now that we have described the effectiveness of psilocybin therapy, you may be wondering how this form of psychedelic therapy compares to traditional treatments and therapies. When it comes to depression, for instance, antidepressant medication and psychotherapy are the conventional forms of treatment. Psilocybin therapy has some advantages over both. Psilocybin Therapy vs. Antidepressant It is thought by researchers that psilocybin therapy is fast-acting, with antidepressant effects occurring one week following treatment[*]. Antidepressants, in contrast, can take weeks or months to take effect[*]. Psilocybin therapy does not entail many of the unpleasant side effects associated with antidepressant medication, including: Insomnia Low sex drive Emotional blunting Nausea Headaches Dizziness Dry mouth Diarrhea Fatigue Blurred vision Weight gain Withdrawal symptoms (if you stop taking the medication) You do not need to take psilocybin every day, as you do with antidepressant medication. However, psilocybin is still not legal in most countries and regions. Psilocybin Therapy vs. Psychotherapy Psilocybin therapy and psychotherapy tend to go hand in hand. That’s because mushroom therapy involves only one or two psilocybin sessions and a handful of separate sessions talking with a psychotherapist. Conventional psychotherapy, on the other hand, can take place over many years, involving weekly sessions. If made legal and accessible, psilocybin therapy could be more affordable than psychotherapy on its own, which would make this form of therapy available to many more people. The Future of Psilocybin Therapy Carhart-Harris believes psilocybin therapy could become a licensed and marketable form of treatment in Europe and North American within the next five years[*]. If made a legal and accessible treatment, psilocybin-assisted therapy will be able to offer relief and recovery for patients living with depression and other conditions. As we have seen, psilocybin therapy may be a viable treatment for mental health conditions such as depression. Having highly effective and cost-effective treatments is needed to tackle the mental health crisis that we currently find ourselves in.

The term psychedelic was coined in 1956 by the psychiatrist Humphry Osmond to describe the effects of drugs like LSD and mescaline. Osmond chose the Greek psykhē for “mind” and dēloun for “show,” translating this new term as “mind manifesting.” Another term for this class of substances, entheogen, was coined in 1979 and connotes spiritual intention or effects. The older term hallucinogen is still found in some laws and scientific literature. There are hundreds of psychedelic compounds, and cataloging them is an ever-evolving process. Some of them occur naturally; others are created in the lab. The late chemist Alexander “Sasha” Shulgin estimated he created nearly two hundred new psychedelics, including 2C-B and 2C-T-7, which are phenethylamines, in the same category of chemical structures as mescaline and MDMA.

Psilocybin is one of the main psychedelic compounds found in psychedelic mushrooms. Many studies on psychedelic therapy involve giving participants psilocybin, or magic mushrooms, as a way of treating a certain condition. This is known as mushroom or psilocybin therapy. Now gaining traction as a potentially highly effective form of therapy for a range of conditions, psilocybin therapy is showing particular promise with managing depression. As more research is conducted on the therapeutic application of psychedelics, , psilocybin therapy may become a legal and accessible form of mental health treatment. In this article, we’ll outline what mushroom therapy is, the conditions it can treat, how it works, and how it compares to more traditional treatments and therapies.

UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics Hallucinogenic drugs in pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance Survey study of challenging experiences after ingesting psilocybin mushrooms: Acute and enduring positive and negative consequences The Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelic Drugs: Past, Present, and Future Psychedelics as a Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease Dementia Psilocybin microdosing does not affect emotion-related symptoms and processing: A preregistered field and lab-based study Repeated low doses of LSD in healthy adults: A placebo-controlled, dose–response study. Self-Blinding Citizen Science to Explore Psychedelic Microdosing The emerging science of microdosing: A systematic review of research on low dose psychedelics (1955–2021) and recommendations for the field

Mushroom Therapy vs. Psilocybin Therapy With psilocybin therapy, you might expect that you’d take a dose of magic mushrooms. However, researchers do not give participants straight mushrooms, but rather synthesized psilocybin alone. . This psilocybin will typically be created through a chemical process by a chemist rather than extract it from a mushroom specimen. Magic mushrooms contain other psychoactive chemicals, such as baeocystin and norbaeocystin[*]. These are both analogs of psilocybin, meaning they share a similar chemical structure. Baeocystin and norbaeocystin are minor chemicals in psychedelic mushrooms, so we don’t know exactly how they affect a magic mushroom trip or to what degree. However, the experience of pure, synthetic psilocybin is more or less the same as a magic mushroom experience. Psilocybin therapy involves giving patients psilocybin in a certain context. It involves one or more psilocybin experiences, supplemented with psychotherapy. Patients do not take prescribed psilocybin to take on their own. In studies on psilocybin therapy, participants will have one or more sessions with a psychotherapist before their psilocybin experience, to prepare them for the journey. On a separate day, the participants will then take a dose of psilocybin, with one or more therapists present during the experience. The therapist is there to provide support if needed. But there is not usually much dialogue between the participant and therapist during the experience, not like there is in the preparation therapy session. On a subsequent day after the psilocybin experience, patients will meet with their therapist again, for one or multiple sessions. These sessions help the patient make sense of their experience. This is known as psychedelic integration. In many of the studies on psilocybin therapy, participants take two doses of psilocybin: a low dose and a high dose. In the Imperial College London studies on psilocybin therapy, for example, these doses are 10mg and 25mg, respectively[*]. The latter is high enough to induce a mystical experience. Read Also: Mushroom Dosage: From Microdosing to Heroic Doses

Using Psilocybin Therapy to Treat Depression and Other Conditions Research now shows that psilocybin therapy can effectively treat a range of conditions, most notably major depression. Psilocybin Therapy and Major Depression Major depression is a mood disorder affecting over 264 million people worldwide[*]. While many people respond well to traditional treatments (e.g. antidepressant medication and psychotherapy), many do not. They have what is known as treatment-resistant depression[*]. Psilocybin therapy can alleviate this hard-to-treat depression, as shown by a study published in 2017 by a team of researchers from Imperial College London[*]. In fact, psilocybin therapy is so effective at treating severe, treatment-resistant depression that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated it as a Breakthrough Therapy[*]. This means the therapy meets an unmet need for those suffering from major depression. Psilocybin Therapy and End-of-Life Anxiety Many patients with a terminal illness experience what is called end-of-life anxiety. This is a kind of existential anxiety, anxiety about one’s life coming to an end. A study published in 2016 demonstrated that psilocybin therapy produces substantial and sustained improvements in both depression and anxiety in patients with terminal cancer[*]. Psilocybin Therapy and Addiction Addiction is often a hard-to-treat health condition, with many sufferers struggling to gain sobriety and avoid relapsing. However, various studies have shown that psilocybin therapy can help smokers quit more effectively than traditional drug treatment[*]. There is also evidence that psilocybin-assisted therapy can treat alcohol dependence[*]. How Does Psilocybin Therapy Work? Studies on psilocybin therapy yield impressive and promising results. But how exactly does psilocybin cause major depression, for example, to lift? Depression is the most common condition listed above and the ability of psilocybin therapy to treat it also has the strongest evidence base. So let’s focus on the explanations of how psilocybin therapy can treat depression. #1: Potential Growth of New Brain Cells In patients with depression, neurites (the sections of a neuron that connect neurons together) shrivel up in the hippocampus[*]. The hippocampus is a key brain region responsible for memory and emotion. The shrivelling up of neurites in this region is one of the hallmarks of recurrent and hard-to-treat depression. One animal study has suggested that psilocybin may support the growth of brain cells in the hippocampus (this is known as neurogenesis)[*]. Another sign of depression is the shrivelling up of neurites in the prefrontal cortex, a brain region that helps regulate mood, emotions, and anxiety. It’s possible that psilocybin can promote the growth of neurites in this brain region as well[*]. #2. Promotes High Brain Entropy The psychedelic researcher Robin Carhart-Harris argued in a 2014 paper that conditions like depression result from ‘low brain entropy’[*]. This is when brain activity is predictable. But according to Carhart-Harris, psychedelics actually increase brain entropy, which means they cause more chaotic and unpredictable brain activity. Low brain entropy is associated with rigid states of mind, such as depression. If you experience depression, you may find yourself stuck in long periods of low mood, rumination, and low self-esteem. High brain entropy, on the other hand, is linked to more flexibility. Carhart-Harris believes that compounds like psilocybin can help depressed patients break free from their rigid brain states. Studies have suggested that psilocybin leads the brain to become ‘hyperconnected’[*]. This means brain regions that don’t normally communicate with each other start talking. For patients with depression, this experience can offer new and healthier ways of viewing themselves and the world. #3. May Provide a Mystical Experience Researchers looking at psilocybin therapy have suggested that antidepressant effects depend on the quality of the psilocybin experience[*]. More specifically, if psilocybin induces a mystical experience, this will be more likely to alleviate treatment-resistant depression than a psilocybin experience without mystical effects. The features of mystical experience that researchers have explored include ego dissolution, the experience of unity, blissful state, insightfulness, and disembodiment. To achieve the best possible effects of your psilocybin (or any psychedelic) trip, it’s important to pay special attention to the set, setting and dose of compound you’re ingesting. Most participants of any psychedelic therapy achieve the best results when supervised and guided through the process, like in a retreat. Also read: What is a Mushroom Retreat #4. Supports an Increased Emotional Connection It is not just a mystical experience, it seems, that can help you to manage the symptoms of depression. A study published in the journal Neuropharmacology found that psilocybin therapy helps to treat depression by increasing emotional responsiveness[*]. In other words, psilocybin (taken in appropriate conditions and dose) may allow you to become more connected to your emotions. This is in contrast to many people’s experiences with antidepressant medication like SSRIs, which may lead to emotional blunting. Another study, published in 2019, discovered that psychedelics may support an increase in feelings of well-being by causing emotional breakthroughs[*]. These are experiences where you face difficult feelings you usually avoid and get closure on an emotional problem.

While they are active in the body, classic psychedelics can bring about visual and auditory distortions or changes; hypersensitivity to touch, light, and sound; an altered or slowed perception of time; synesthesia; and, in rare cases, hallucinations. Classic psychedelics are also associated with mystical-type or spiritual experiences, often marked by a sense of oneness or unity, or a dissolution of ego.

Potency: Above Average Cultivation: Beginner to Intermediate Species: Psilocybe cubensis Substrate Recommendation: Rye Grain Jack Frost is a ghostly-white albino strain of Psilocybe Cubensis that has it all — looks, potency, and contamination resistance. Although this mushroom is relatively rare, his two “mother strains”(True Albino Teacher and Albino Penis Envy) are celebrity strains in their own right, both being revered for their above-average potency. A hybrid such as Jack Frost takes the best of both worlds and combines them splendidly. Albino Golden Teachers and Albino Penis Envy excel in terms of reported hallucinatory potential, euphoria, and reported therapeutic benefits. Jack Frost is the new kid on the block, with reports of vivid hallucinations, intense euphoria, synesthesia, and reports of deep therapeutic benefits. Among the psychedelic effects, users have reported time dilation, visual hallucinations, spiritual connectedness, contemplation, and others. Eating Jack Frost raw is reported to deliver almost immediate effects. Individuals with other medical conditions and symptoms have reported its ability to alleviate: Cluster headaches Treatment-resistant depression Anxiety Insomnia Lack of appetite Alzheimer’s disease symptoms Nausea The Jack Frost Family Tree True Albino Teacher is a non-pigmented progeny of Golden Teacher — an extremely popular Psilocybe cubensis strain renowned for its easy cultivation. Albino Penis Envy is a non-pigmented version of Original Penis Envy shroom — one of the strongest Psilocybe cubensis strains ever developed. The combination of these genetics could make Jack Frost appealing for several attributes — including its appearance, potency, and contamination resistance. Jack Frost has above-average potency. Users report strong visuals, mild euphoria, and time dilation after consuming average doses of these mushrooms. Some neuronauts compare these shrooms to the likes of Penis Envy and Tidal Wave — two of the strongest Psilocybe cubensis strains cultivated to date. This strain gets its name from the aesthetics of the fruiting bodies it produces. Jack Frost produces flat caps that curl upwards as they begin to drop a blanket of fine white spores. They look as though they’ve been covered in a dusting of fresh snow. The gills take on a bluish hue, which is a clear indication these shrooms contain a lot of psilocybin. The fruiting bodies are medium in size, with dense stems and relatively heavy caps. Once dried, Jack Frost mushrooms retain their ghostly white appearance for the most part. However, you may observe areas that take on a light to dark-blue coloration due to bruising that occurs during the harvest, drying, and storage process. If you handle them carefully, it’s possible to end up with milky-white mushrooms as the final product. This is a truly stunning albino strain that’s relatively easy to grow while maintaining above-average potency. It’s a rare strain and can be challenging to find depending on where you live — but we’re noticing this strain is becoming more common every year.

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The 1Oakland Psilocybin Experience Survey was created to gather comprehensive insights into individual experiences with psilocybin, commonly referred to as 'magic mushrooms.'

As awareness and interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelics grow, research institutions are conducting rigorous clinical trials to understand their benefits and risks better. Minority communities, however, have been historically underrepresented in clinical research, leading to a gap in understanding their unique experiences and needs. Our goal is to bridge this gap. By gathering data from diverse individuals, we aim to shed light on the experiences of minority communities with psilocybin. We believe that by understanding more about individual experiences, particularly regarding mental health and the effects of psilocybin, we can provide valuable insights to researchers and institutions. This will not only enrich the current body of knowledge but also ensure that future clinical trials are inclusive and considerate of diverse experiences. Finally, by collaborating with established research institutions, we aspire to become a trusted referral source for potential patient volunteers, ensuring that the voices and experiences of minority communities are included in the forefront of psychedelic research. Thank you for being a part of this journey towards a more inclusive and informed understanding of psilocybin.