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Leary and Alpert

In 1960, two psychologists working at Harvard University in the Centre for Research and Personality ordered psilocybin from the Swiss company Sandoz. Their names were Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert, and their experiments would put them on the map forever. The scientists were both personal advocates for the discovery and use of psychedelics, with their academic work involving psilocybin, LSD, and mascaline.

Mystical trials

What separated their series of experiments from previous ones, was the shift away from purely safety and physiology. They wanted to draw focus on the mental and emotional impact of the drug, creating an appeal to intellectuals and artists at the time. The overall aim of the trials was to look into the potential of using psilocybin as a solution to emotional problems in the West.

The pair set up a series of experiments, involving 167 subjects from a variety of backgrounds. Apparently “practically anyone” who was willing could join in on the trial, testing samples of the synthesized psychedelics. They believed that “negative reactions” to the drug such as paranoia and psychosis, were largely due to the surroundings of the taker. Therefore, all trials were conducted in a soothing controlled environment, described as “spacious, pleasant, and aesthetic.” Each individual was in full control of their own dosage and no one took drugs with strangers. Interestingly, Leary and Alpert usually took the drugs with their subjects. The experiences of the participants after their trip were reported back and evaluated.

The results are in

It was found that 75 percent of subjects found the experience generally pleasant, with 69 percent finding a broadening of awareness due to the trip. When the study reached a conclusion, 95 percent of individuals reported participating had changed their lives for the better. These positive results lead to a suggestion by the pair for future psychotherapy, using psilocybin as a mind-opening substance to work through your problems.

Inmates going on a trip

In the following two years, further experiments were carried out. Leary and Albert’s second project, The Concord Prison Experiment, explored the role of psilocybin in the rehabilitation of inmates. They conducted an experiment where the inmates would visualize themselves in a “cops-and-robbers game”. In the scientist’s view, all human behavior consists of “games”, each with its own rules, jargon, and rituals. They believed that all Westerners were playing games in their everyday lives, although they merely couldn’t see it, getting bogged down with one particular role.

They wanted the individuals to use this therapy to break free of their assigned role, with the aim of reducing relapse into criminal behavior. The short-term results seemed positive, with a reduction of 39 percent reincarceration rate after six months, compared to the prison records average. Though this experiment was carried out on 33 participants, a small sample size. To see if this therapy truly works a longer and larger study needs to take place.

God is everywhere

Another famous experiment in the following years was ‘The Marsh Chapel Experiment’. Here, 10 students were given psilocybin and another 10 a placebo just before a Good Friday service. The purpose was to determine if the drug could trigger profound religious feelings. Eight out of the 10 who had taken the drug reported a ‘mystical’ experience, with reports of the participants walking around announcing things like “Oh the glory!” and “God is everywhere”.

Gone but not forgotten

Even though the series of experiments had the intention of use for the greater good, other professors at Harvard had safety and legitimacy concerns about them. Both lead scientists were fired from their academic positions at Harvard due to the controversy surrounding their project. According to The Psychedelic Science Review, Leary was fired for not fulfilling his teaching duties, and Alpert for administering psychedelic drugs to an undergraduate student.

Although their Harvard careers came to a swift halt in 1962, their philosophy carried on influencing other psychological research around the globe. On-campus students were unhappy, organizing public protests to express their outcry. In a letter to the University, the decision to fire the professors is branded as “timidity unworthy of a university which claims to encourage free inquiry and exploration.” Not only did their firing shake up academic settings, but also the drug culture of America, with Leary and Alpert becoming household names. The average citizen had now turned to the idea of psychedelics being used for spiritual and moral growth, increasing the consciousness of the nation.

We need more studies

Research into the effects of psilocybin is a field full of potential and promise for medicine. We do not yet understand the full extent of the short and long-term impacts of the drug. Studies like these, although short-lived, are key in getting closer to that answer. Hopefully, as more awareness gathers about the abundance of positive medical use of this mind-altering substance, larger and longer clinical trials can take place.

More than just psilocybin

Psilocybin is the vital component of magic mushrooms which makes us trip. When digested, this compound is converted to psilocin by the body. It is this chemical which holds the incredible and mysterious psychoactive properties of the mushrooms. There are also a number of other molecules found in small amounts in these plants, such as psilocin itself, norbaeocystin, baeocystin and more. The exact role of each component is still unclear, though a growing number of scientists are investigating the potential individual impact these may have on the brain.

Fungal serotonin

Researchers have been investigating the complex neurological changes triggered by ingesting these plants for decades. Although, as the current understanding of the human brain is pretty cloudy, we still have a long way to go before an in-depth picture of the system is able to be drawn out.

So far, we know for sure that psilocybin impacts our neurological chemistry. It does this by binding to serotonin receptors in the brain, the most important type being 5-HT2A. The reason the psilocin can bind to these is its similar shape to serotonin and therefore compete against each other for its spot at the receptor. Serotonin is a key neurotransmitter controlling mood regulation in humans. It has been shown to help produce feelings of well-being, also playing roles in eating and sleeping. Therefore, misregulation of the amounts of this protein is linked to diseases like depression and OCD.

Altering reality

Scientists also think that psilocin impacts parts of the brain that are linked to senses. Normally these parts filter and direct this information to specific areas, allowing our mind to work as it does on the day-to-day. When mushrooms are involved, sensory information is handled differently and redirected to a person’s consciousness, resulting in hallucinogenic reactions and alteration of perception.

Magic mushrooms largely impact the prefrontal cortex, the region of the brain that regulates analysis, abstract thinking, perception, and mood. Though, studies have shown the drug can impact multiple regions of the brain. Not only this, but these various regions also have increased ‘cross-talk’ between them, meaning areas that normally do not communicate form connections. The result is the mind-bending and confusing world of a trip. A good example of this perplexity is people’s experiences of seeing sounds and hearing colors.

Not just the human brain

The reason mushrooms themselves make this magic substance is thought to be for protection against insects. In the brains of invertebrates, such as flies, psilocybin actually acts as an appetite deterrent. Scientists think the clever fungus uses the psychoactive substance to trick the insects into not eating them.

It is also thought that mushroom cells use the substance to communicate with one another in receptor mechanisms, similar to how our cells do. It’s interesting that two organisms that are so evolutionary far apart, have conserved such similar receptors and mechanisms to one another.

Mushrooms and mental health could make a great team

Many people who take mushrooms say it helps improve their outlook on life, allowing new thoughts and ideas to enter their minds. Scientifically it may be because of the hyperconnectivity of the brain whilst they tripped, it has been shown that this new way of thinking can change behavior up to 14 months after. For this exact reason, people have turned to mushrooms for disorders such as anxiety and depression since the dawn of time. However it is only since the 1950s, these ideas started to pick up in the scientific community, with clinical trials still ongoing to try and use these magical fungi as a treatment. A study also found that psilocybin reduced fear and tension, therefore carrying potential benefits for people suffering from PTSD.

Overall, we are a long way from understanding how our brains react to mushrooms. An overdose on psilocybin is deemed impossible, although until we know the full picture users should use the substance responsibly, as with any drug. Nevertheless, the beneficial potential of magic mushrooms is huge, with the field growing more and more each year.

Did you enjoy this article? Don’t hesitate to check out our other blogs. We regularly post interesting articles related to everything surrounding Mushrooms

The information provided by Mondo Grow Kits on this page is for general informational and educational purposes only and does not advocate the use of any illicit products, nor does it constitute providing medical advice or professional services. Always consult your doctor before making any decisions about healthcare.

Intro

People may be wondering if psilocybin is the only (psychoactive) substance that you can microdose. Well, the simple answer to that is “absolutely not”. Psilocybin is considered one of the oldest documented substances for microdosing, however there are many more substances available: LSD, DMT, CBD, Caffeine, MDMA, etc. This article will help the reader understand what each substance is, the dosage, the effect, and its respective benefits or challenges.

LSD

LSD, also commonly referred to as acid, is a synthetic compound discovered by chemist Albert Hoffman and is considered to be quite a powerful hallucinogenic drug. It is one of the most popular psychoactive substances in the world, alongside magic mushrooms.

In comparison to magic mushrooms/truffles, the quantity one must take in order to microdose is substantially smaller. Dosages for LSD are measured in micrograms due to its incredible potency, so you must be careful when microdosing it. There are 2 methods you can use to prepare and measure microdose: cutting or volumetric. Cutting consists of cutting LSD tabs into smaller doses and volumetric consists of submerging a tab into distilled water and taking small quantities of this water to microdose.  A typical microdose for LSD lies between 6 – 20 micrograms, which is roughly 1/15^th to 1/5^th of a single tab.

There are many protocols one can use for LSD, but we recommend you follow James Fadiman’s system (also used for psilocybin). This method requires you to microdose every three days for a total of 2-4 weeks. The time of day for dosing isn’t as important, but they do recommend taking it in the morning so that it emulates your day-to-day routine and does not interfere with sleep.

Benefits:

• Reduce the frequency and/or intensity of unwanted forms of illness such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc.
• Increases creativity, energy, productivity, etc

Risks:

• The law surrounding the chemical substance
• The potency of LSD is high so miscalculations in dosage can happen

DMT

DMT, also known as “the spirit molecule”, is a hallucinogenic tryptamine drug that occurs naturally in plants and animals. It dates back to 1000 years ago and was commonly used in South America as part of shamanic rituals. DMT produces intense and heavy visuals, as well as auditory hallucinogenic effects. Unlike LSD or mushrooms, this experience only lasts 10-20 minutes. However, when microdosing DMT, the quantities ingested are much smaller than for a regular dose.

There are two different ways in which you can consume DMT: smoking or drinking as a brew. The length of a regular trip when smoking is considered to be 5-10 minutes, whilst the length of a trip for drinking the brew is 120 minutes. However, when microdosing the dose is substantially reduced, so anything under 10 micrograms is considered to be a microdose and should not induce psychedelic effects. Nonetheless, it is best to start with the smallest dose possible and see how that goes.

The recommended protocol to follow for DMT microdosing is the James Fadiman Protocol, which consists of microdosing every 3 days. However, because DMT has little to no tolerance effect, it is also possible to microdose daily for 2 weeks and then evaluate the experience.

Benefits:

• Naturally occurring substance in our brain and body, making it easy to metabolize and fairly safe for individuals.
• Some studies claim it can decrease mood disorders such as anxiety, PTSD and/or depression

Risks:

• DMT hits you harder and quicker than most psychedelics so it can be quite physically disorienting
• Long-term lung damage or irritation if smoked frequently
• Psychosis in vulnerable users (elderly, heart conditions, high blood pressure, etc)

CBD

CBD, also known as cannabidiol, is the second most active ingredient in cannabis after THC. Unlike THC, CBD is not a psychoactive ingredient and is considered to have numerous medical benefits for those who take it. In contrast with the other substances mentioned above, CBD does not have a set dosage for individuals to microdose as it varies per person.

There is a variety of methods one can use in order to microdose CBD, but the best and easiest approach is using CBD oil. It is recommended to start off with a small 2-10mg dose per day and see if you feel any effects. It is possible to increase dosage frequency by splitting the dose into 2-4 even smaller doses. If no effects are experienced when taking such small quantities, then it is possible to raise the dose to figure out what is most suitable for your body.

Note: If you want to find out what your sweet spot dose is then you should follow this schedule: Hour 1 = 1 dose, Hour 2 = 2 doses, Hour 3 = 3 dose, and so forth until you find the right range for you. Once you have established your daily intake you can start microdosing that amount on a daily basis and see what the effects are on you.

Benefits:

• Potential to reduce chronic pain
• Reduction of anxiety, headaches, joint pain, etc
• Reduction of blood sugar

Risks/Side effects:

• Dry Mouth
• Lightheadedness and dizziness
• Drowsiness or tiredness

DISCLAIMER: All the substances above are considered to be illegal in most countries, therefore we do not encourage or condone the use of said substances. The purpose of this article and the role of the company is to inform those interested about the substances and their effects. This is done to ensure safety for those who do wish to use the substance.

The majority of people who are familiar with magic mushrooms know that there are several approaches to choose from when taking psilocybin. However, this does not mean that they are familiar with all of them. Subsequently, we have decided to explain the 5 most common approaches.

Method 1 – Eating Mushrooms/Truffles Raw

This method is considered to be the most popular way of ingesting magic mushrooms. In order for this method to be effective, you must chew the mushrooms thoroughly before swallowing. This is because you need to release the psilocybin from within the mushroom and let it mix with your saliva. Within 45 – 90 minutes, the psilocybin will mix with your bloodstream and you will gradually start feeling the effects of it. The downside of this method is the flavor of mushrooms and truffles. These have an unpleasant bitter flavor and tend to get stuck in between your teeth – leaving a nasty aftertaste. Nevertheless, this is the most efficient way to take them, if chewed properly.

Method 2 – Mushroom Tea

If you find the taste of raw mushrooms a big deterrent for taking them then this may be your best option. You can make a mushroom tea/brew to get rid of the bitter taste. In order to do this, you have to follow these steps:

1. Boil the water in a pan and take it off the heat so it can cool down a little
2. Crush or grind shrooms/truffles and throw them in the water.
3. Put the pan back on low heat, but do not bring to boil as this could destroy the psychoactive ingredient.
4. Mix it in for a few minutes and take it off the heat.
5. Let it rest for 15 minutes.
6. Drink the tea and enjoy yourself

Method 3 – Edibles 

Psilocybin edibles are on the rise and seem to be quite the gastronomical accomplishment. This method may be more time consuming and difficult for beginners, but it is still a great approach to getting rid of the nasty taste and queasiness. When cooking with psilocybin, it is important that you do not add the mushrooms in a cooking stage involving a lot of heat as this will break down the psychoactive component. The best shout is to add them to a sauce or condiment after cooking as this can be enjoyed cold or warm. The disadvantage of this method is that not everyone enjoys cooking or wants to go through such a lengthy process just to take magic mushrooms. The advantage of it is that you can come up with endless culinary ideas for eating psilocybin that may actually be quite delicious!

Method 4 – Capsules

The capsule method is the most common one amongst those who wish to microdose. This approach is most suitable for those who want to experience some euphoria and creative boosts, without being lost in another realm. This method is easy to do at home – all you need is capsules and dried mushrooms. You can just grind the dry mushrooms and fill the capsules as much as you need. The advantage of this method is that you completely remove the nasty and bitter taste of the mushrooms.

Method 5 – Lemon Tek

The lemon tek method consists of adding lemons to water with ground magic mushrooms. The acidic content of the lemon will supposedly break down the psychoactive component and intensify your trip. On top of that, the acidity of the lemon will get rid of the nasty bitterness of the magic mushrooms, making it easier to take.