Microdosing truffles

Microdosing involves taking small doses of a psychoactive substance—anything from LSD and cannabis to psilocybin mushrooms and truffles. The goal? To avoid the intense trips triggered by large doses of these drugs while reaping the subtle cognitive, emotional, and mental health benefits they're reported to offer in smaller amounts. Microdoses typically range from 5–10% of a standard recreational dose, with factors such as tolerance and sensitivity dictating how much an individual should consume for optimal effects. The concept of psychedelic microdosing gained widespread attention during the 2010s following the work of psychologist and author James Fadiman—a pioneer of microdosing research. Since then, those in support of the practice have touted it as a means to drive neurogenesis and neuroplasticity, whereas more sceptical voices put any perceived benefits down to the placebo effect.

Different people have different ways of microdosing truffles, mushrooms, and other substances. However, many people choose to follow the Fadiman protocol when it comes to their microdosing schedule, as it forms a solid and reliable basis for beginners. The protocol centres around a 3-day cycle, which adherents follow for 4–8 weeks at a time. Day 1 involves taking the first microdose, day 2 is a “transition day” where no microdose is consumed, and day 3 is a “normal day” where no dose is consumed. The cycle begins again on the following day with another microdose. Repeat the cycle for 4–8 weeks, with 2–4 weeks of rest between each cycle. Users are encouraged to avoid caffeine—as it can skew the effects of microdosing—and to keep a journal to track their experience with different doses, and to maintain healthy habits such as a nutritious diet, exercise, and consistent sleep.

There are many variables at play when it comes to microdosing psychedelics; one person's microdose could be another person's tripping dose. The main factors that influence the size of a microdose include a person’s tolerance to a particular substance, their body weight, body composition, genetics, and speed of metabolism. Also, it's not only the weight of a microdose that determines its potency, but also the concentration of psychoactive molecules it contains. In most cases, a microdose weighs in at around 5–10% of a standard tripping dose for most people.

Because microdosing is relatively new and modern clinical studies involving psychedelics are still few and far between, psychonauts are pretty much left to themselves to determine their optimal individual dose. Many individuals use small digital scales to weigh up their microdoses. However, products such as Azarius’ Microdosing Magic Truffles provide users with six precisely weighed-out 1-gram doses. After starting with a low dose and working their way up, users are free to either divide up each dose or lump them together, depending on their sweet spot.

The length of the effects of microdosing truffles and other psychedelic drugs can differ depending on the person and the substance they choose to experiment with. The effects of an LSD microdose typically last 6–12 hours, whereas those of truffles and mushrooms tend to have a duration of 4–6 hours. However, the effects of microdosing a psychedelic substance can last 24 hours or longer in some instances. Some users also report residual effects, such as subtle changes in mood, the following day.

The potential benefits of microdosing psilocybin truffles, mushrooms, LSD, and other hallucinogens are made known to us through a series of small studies and a large cache of anecdotal reports. A 2022 psychedelic research study investigated the effects of microdosing and showed greater improvements in mood and mental health after microdosing compared to a control group. A 2021 study that involved 4,050 microdosers and 4,653 non-microdosers found psilocybin to be the most popular choice of psychedelic drug for the practice. Moreover, the psilocybin microdosers reported reduced stress, anxiety, and depression. Researchers also speculate that microdosing could play a future therapeutic role in instances of depression by triggering cognitive flexibility that results in less rumination.

People choose to microdose with magic truffles, mushrooms, and other psychoactive substances for a variety of reasons. Some engage in the practice in attempts to alleviate the symptoms of mental health conditions. Others employ microdosing methods such as the Stamets stack, a formula that pairs psilocybin with niacin (vitamin B3) and lion’s mane mushroom in hopes of boosting cognition, creativity, and overall mental performance. Remember, though, we need to wait for future research to confirm the effectiveness of microdosing benefits in these areas.

Individuals can develop a tolerance to psilocybin truffles and other substances when microdosing for extended periods of time. However, cyclical patterns of microdosing, such as the Fadiman protocol, purposely set aside time to allow the body to reset and tolerance to decrease. Surprisingly, some research shows that body weight and BMI have very little effect on microdosing, with individual sensitivity likely playing a much more important role in the subjective experience.