Which is better, psilocybin microdose or macrodose? This is a frequent question among those who want to start experimenting with magic mushrooms and is the question that we are going to answer in this post.
To explain to beginners in a simple way, we can say that there are three types of dosage. psilocybin microdose, macrodose, and heroic dose. Each will have a specific range of weight in grams and different effects.
The number of grams will also depend on several factors such as the consumer’s body weight; the type of mushroom that is consumed and its condition, that is, whether the mushroom is dry or wet because there will be a difference in its weight.
With this in mind we can say that; Deciding which is the best dose for you will depend on the intention you have with this experience, rather than the amount in grams that you are going to ingest.
But so that you can make the best decision, it is important that you know the benefits and disadvantages of microdose and macrodosing so that you can establish which is the best in your case.
Effects of Psilocybin Microdose
When a person consumes microdoses, the intention is to achieve some changes in their levels of focus, creativity, and productivity.
These microdoses can bring you improvements in your mood and greater empathy in your social life without you having to experience a psychedelic journey.
Then microdosers can achieve therapeutic benefits from the substance while continuing to carry out their routine normally.
It should be noted that a psilocybin microdose should be performed every 3 or 4 days per week. In this way, we will avoid creating tolerance in the body to the substance, which will allow us to continue consuming it in small amounts for long periods of time.
The relevant thing about psilocybin and microdose is that after it enters the body; its effects prevail for several days without the need to ingest more grams of the substance.
To practice the microdose of psilocybin we can assemble small capsules that contain the dose we want to consume. Another popular method is to drink a tea made with magic mushroom powder.
What do scientists know about microdose?
Currently, there is a study by the Beckley Foundation in collaboration with Imperial College London; which shows that microdose psychedelics have positive effects on cognition; mood, and pain management in people who consume them.
Although there are still very limited data, so far, people who consume microdoses report that their effects work as long as they continue to take them.
It is known that they can affect mood and health in a positive way, which, of course; it can also affect the way people treat themselves and others, but these doses do not usually lead to deep and lasting transformations in personality as a regular dose or macrodose would.
What is known so far is that they are subtle changes that improve people’s routines.
So microdose is ideal for those who do not want to experience a psychedelic journey but are interested in getting the positive effects of magic mushrooms in their daily routines to take them as new habits in their life.
Now let’s talk about Macrodose
Psilocybin Macrodose
Macrodosing, commonly known as regular dose or full dose, is the consumption of magic mushrooms in quantities that allow you to experience the psychedelic journey.
This gives us the opportunity to have the sharpest senses, memories of the past, and experience intense feelings, among other emotions.
The effects of macrodosing usually last between 3 to 6 hours, during which it is difficult to perform daily routines because the person is in an altered state of consciousness and usually sees and hears everything around him more intensely.
On the other hand, unlike microdose that is consumed weekly, macrodoses are recommended to be consumed with a frequency of only once a month or once a year; the latter is because of the great effect that travel has on our psyche; which after the psychedelic experience, needs a break to be able to understand and integrate the whole experience into everyday life.
The intentions of macrodosters are of various kinds. Some seek to have experiences of therapeutic value that allow them to overcome some personal problems such as addiction; fear or harmful behaviors that are affecting their life.
Other macrodosifiers seek a spiritual and transcendent experience; under these altered states of consciousness, they can contemplate their inner world to accept it and thus release negative beliefs they have about themselves.
And other people take macrodoses for purely recreational purposes, as the substance can relax them and make them have a fun time.
But while these are your intentions, they may not be the results of the experience.
👉Because without the right context like prior education, the internal mindset of the person consuming, and their external environment (set and setting), a full-dose trip may be too much for some people, not to mention the risk of psychosis or the possibility of triggering schizophrenia, if you have an underlying mental condition.
On the other hand, if they take care of these aspects (set and setting); a beginner is more likely to have a safe and positive experience when supported by a psychedelic guide or experienced friend who takes care of their trip.
For this reason, some beginners may want to “start small and go slowly”, as they say in the psychedelic community. After all, you can always take more, but never less.
What do scientists know about macrodoses?
The study by Dr. Jacob Aday and the company talks about the benefits of psychedelic travel that are based on the adoption of better habits regarding thought patterns and the decrease of harmful behaviors related to addiction.
The scientist also found that people embarking on the psychedelic journey compare it to intense deep meditation practices, which increases the feeling of fullness overall.
Other studies show that the higher the dose, the more likely a person is to experience ego dissolution or an out-of-body sensation.
This can be transcendental, spiritual, and healing, but it can also be frightening without the proper guidance or context we’ve already mentioned.
Psychedelics dampen a part of the brain called the Network by default; when this region stops, one’s boundaries relative to the rest of the world collapse.
At this point we can experience a mystical sense of unity and old thought patterns or addictions can be more easily broken.
This is one of the reasons why psychedelic research at institutions such as New York University or Johns Hopkins has shown so much promise in administering macrodoses to people looking to treat anxiety, addiction, and other ailments.
Psilocybin Microdoses vs Macrodoses
On the one hand, the data have shown that there is value in macrodosing, in having classic and deep psychedelic experiences; and many proponents of psychedelics just don’t want that to be lost because of the sudden popularity of microdose.
In the case of microdoses for therapeutic reasons, the concept is that psychedelics can offer changes of perspective, in the same way as a higher dose, without the person having to spend a whole day traveling, something that for many beginners could generate fear.
So according to some psychonauts, a microdose can be a good way to acclimatize to the idea of taking a psychedelic before macrodosing.
For his part, the founder of Psychedelic Seminars, Mike Margolies points out:
If I’m trying to have an experience with mushrooms that’s curative and therapeutic and I’m trying to get information, then I probably want to take a higher dose, but if I just want to use psychedelics socially and hang out, then maybe a threshold dose,” about 0.25 to 1 gram, or a little more than a microdose, is more appropriate
And he adds,
… you can also get information by taking lighter doses when you have the window slightly ajar, but you are not totally in the full mystical or psychedelic experience…
Mike Margolies
👉In other words, the intention is everything, it seems quite clear that different doses will simply be suitable for different people at different times.
What you should be clear about is that psychedelics are not a panacea; taking a full dose is not a magic formula, and neither is a microdose.
The key is integration, which means incorporating psychedelic knowledge into daily life, whether it’s practicing meditation to increase mindfulness or implementing a major life change, such as ending up with a job that doesn’t give you happiness or changing habits.
And if you’re interested in microdose, there’s nothing wrong with looking for some energy in your routine to flow better throughout the day.
So while many experienced psychonauts agree that travel is medicine, that traversing a journey provides knowledge that would not otherwise be gained; there is no right or wrong answer to the debate of which is better whether psilocybin microdose or macrodose.
The answer itself is very personal and you can get it by asking yourself what kind of experience do you want to generate for yourself and which of the doses has a more lasting benefit for what you want to achieve?
Read also: Why Mushroom Industry is in Boom?
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