Our Dosing Guide: The Guide to Microdosing Mushrooms

The world of mushrooms is a magical world of exploration and adventure, internally and externally. But how much is too much? What’s the right amount to take? And what DO they really do? Our guide to microdosing mushrooms will help you to figure out your right dose.

First and foremost, it’s important to note that when it comes to exploring dosage, it’s all about personal preference. What you are trying to achieve from your experience will inform how small or large of a dose you want to take. Plus, personal factors can inform how hard a dose hits you. Two friends can take the same amount of something and experience vastly different effects. Why? 

Variables that affect your experience can include: 

• past experience! Cue Are You Experienced by Jimi Hendrix.
• your personality and anatomy (plus factors like how much you’ve eaten today)
• Individual tolerance to substances, generally
• Mental health factors, such as levels of anxiety or paranoia
• Set and setting: Internally: Your moods, attitudes, and vibes, Externally: where you are and how safe it makes you feel
• Intentions and expectations

Whether you are an experienced traveler or a true novice, understanding dosage and type of mushroom will only enhance your experience. When it comes to a guide to microdosing mushrooms, it’s important to remember this key. Start small. Take notes. If you want to, dose up accordingly.

A Note on Mental Health

It’s important to note that magic mushrooms are not recommended for people with certain mental health issues or a history of family mental health issues, especially disorders related to psychosis: Bipolar Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, or Schizophrenia. Although this has not yet been extensively studied, there is fear that using magic mushrooms may increase the negative effects of mental health issues or disorders. Overall, it’s not worth the risk.

Before using magic mushrooms of any kind, consult with your mental and/or physical healthcare provider. It is possible to seek out therapeutic therapy that uses mushrooms. This may be the best route for you. Research on this kind of therapy is in the early stages; more study is needed to understand the risk vs. benefits for mental health treatment.

A Guide to Microdosing Mushrooms: Common Types of Magic Mushrooms

There are over 180 types of magic mushrooms. The variety of mushroom you are enjoying will impact your overall effect.

The potency of a magic mushroom depends on:

• species
• origin
• growing conditions
• harvest period
• whether a person eats them fresh or dried

The EMCDDA suggests the amount of "active compounds" in dried mushrooms is about 10 times higher than that of their fresh counterparts.

Plus, nowadays, there are many brands selling different infused products. From drinks to chocolates to gummies, oh my. Every brand is different which makes an overall dosage understanding confusing. 

Some common magic mushroom varieties have funny names and slight differences. Take a deeper dive at SeattleMet’s comprehensive overview. Common varieties you might hear and see are Penis Envy, Blue Meanie, Golden Teacher, and Purple Mystic.

At Thinking Caps, each gummy is 350mg. With ten gummies per tin, a whole tin is 3.5 grams. Thinking Caps uses single-source, California grown, dried Albino Penis Envy mushrooms to ensure a consistent experience. 300mg are made up of the whole fruiting body while 50mg are made up of a chemical-free concentrate.

Microdosing Mushrooms

So then, what’s a microdose?

A microdose is considered to be one-tenth of a recreational “Heroic Dose”. With a microdose you will not experience traditional elevated visual and distorted effects. You may experience a slight elevation of mood.

Here’s the reality, a microdose is extremely subtle.

Because of their subtlety, there are few known negative side effects. Some report that they make life feel lighter and brighter. Some say a microdose adds focus like a strong cup of coffee. Others say it make them more creative and better at problem-solving. These are the generally reported effects. 

Dosage Guide:

Microdose (50mg-250mg)

This small amount is often impercievable. It's designed to work in the background and you will not experience psychoactive effects. A microdose is meant to help you get more done, to feel a little lighter, and to create long-lasting healthy effects when taken regularly. 

Low Dose + (250mg-500mg)

Enhance the experience slightly. This is a touch of sparkle to add to your otherwise subtle effect. This is basically a microdose for those with higher tolerance levels. 

Half dose (500mg-1g)

This takes us to a new territory where effects will be more obvious. You may experience new sensations in your body, slight visual changes, and increased laughter, euphoria, or lightness.

Full dose (1g-2g)

Hop on the bus, the journey has begun. With this amount, you'll have body sensations and visual changes (seeing trees breathing, noticing patterns). Your senses will be enlivened. There's potential for a full-on experience.

Deep dose (2g-3g)

This is a strong dose and will be a very intense experience. Experiences vary but at this level you may experience powerful visual and auditory hallucinations, heightened connection, new ways of thinking and feeling. 

Heroic dose (3g+)

Anything beyond 3 grams could be considered a “heroic” dose. This is not to be taken lightly and should only be taken under supervision for experienced users. It's recommended to have prepared for this amount and to have a specific intention. 

Guide to Microdosing Mushrooms: The Regimen

The recommended regimen for mushroom microdosing varies based on individual toleranced, desired results, and lifestyles. Taking a microdose everyday may decrease the overall effectiveness. Instead, it is often recommended to have rest days. 

Regimens may vary. 

At Thinking Caps for any given week, we recommend five days on, two days off.

How that might look in practicality is:

MONDAY ON,

TUESDAY ON,

WEDNESDAY OFF,

THURSDAY ON,

FRIDAY ON,

SATURDAY OFF,

SUNDAY ON.

This schedule allows for potential benefits to be experienced during the "on" days while minimizing the development of tolerance and potential adverse effects during the "off" days.

It’s important to start with a low dose and gradually adjust as needed. In fact, if you’re all new to this, you can try below the recommended dose and eat half a gummy. Once you see how that feels, you can add more and more until you are having your desired experience. 

In order to gain the benefits of long-term microdosing, we recommend practices of integration. Keeping a journal and recording your feelings, thoughts, and experiences is imperative to check-in for your overall dosage. 

Again, as a reminder:

It’s also important to work with a healthcare professional before beginning any microdosing regimen, especially if you have underlying health conditions or are taking other medications. If you have a therapist, counselor, or psychiatrist, you should absolutely be talking through the benefits and potential issues with microdosing, making sure that those who know you best are along for your journey. We also always recommend a trusted supervisor or "babysitter" for your experience.

Thinking Caps - How we Decided on our Dosage

Thinking Caps are Infused with California-grown, whole fruiting mushroom body and concentrate. They’re ideal for any time of day when you need your spirits lifted, a creative boost of energy, or just a straight up attitude adjustment. 

Here’s our sweet little user’s guide to microdosing mushrooms. 

1-2 gummies

• The Focus Dose 
• Tune in, tune in, tune in. Perfect for going deeper, working or chilling harder, and for finishing up a task. Individual results vary per person. When just starting out with micro-dosing- we recommend a half a gummy and see how you feel. 

3-4 gummies

• The Social Dose
• Heading out for the night and looking for an alternative to the typical alcoholic bar scene? Try a few extra gummies from the day dose and enjoy the party. This amount may lessen social anxiety, making your stories more soulful than ever. Plus, you’ll stay present with the evening without the negative effects and regrets of alcohol.

5-6 gummies

• The Adventure Dose 
• Now we’re going big. The adventure dose is perfect for the dreamer and the schemer. Draw out a big idea, sit back and discover your mind on the couch, or let yourself zone into a flower on the sidewalk. This is just starting to get you towards those visual and perceptual changes and upgrades that magic mushrooms are so celebrated for. This is a good dose for camping with friends in the mountains or bike riding and fruit foraging around your neighborhood.

7-8 gummies

• The Deep Exploration Dose 
• See the music, taste the color. Stroke the fuzzy wall, whatever. Talk to trees, watch the bees. Float around, no need for knees! Put on Pink Floyd and the lava lamp. Time to go deep.

9-10 gummies

• The Psychedelic Dose 
• This is the largest possible dose from a single tin of Thinking Caps. At this point, you are into a full on trip. You don’t need to leave your house to explore the world. So if you’re worried about your climate footprint, consider this the way for the modern day time traveler. 

A Guide to Microdosing Mushrooms: Legality

Remember when you are exploring that there are certain risks to consider. Psychedelics are not yet legal in the US, even in small amounts. They are currently decriminalized in several US cities and there is legislation being introduced in many states towards legalization. Keep an eye on the legal changes happening with psychedelics here. 

We can’t help to assume that it will follow a similar track as cannabis legalization has in the US. 

Microdosing Mushrooms

Overall, we hope this  guide to microdosing mushrooms has been helpful. Maybe the hippies got it wrong when they preached, “drop out, tune in.” Today’s psychedelic scene is far more dedicated to enhancing the lives we already have rather than having to jump out of society. If you do try microdosing mushrooms, know that taking it slow is the way to go. We hope it helps you to see the world in color.