Mushroom Microdose – An Alternative to Antidepressants and Anti-Depressants
A new wave of scientific research on psilocybin, the psychoactive compound in magic mushrooms, has found that microdosing can reduce anxiety and depression. People who microdose report better moods, clearer-headed thinking and increased focus. But the drug is still illegal to buy and take outside of a clinical setting, and the risks can be high. That’s why many people are turning to mushrooms as an alternative to antidepressants and anti-anxiety pills. “Mushrooms are a surprisingly powerful tool,” says Russell Newcombe, known as Dr Nuke, an expert in drug use and harm reduction. “I think they’re really going to change the way we look at mental health.”
Mushroom Microdosing: A Beginner’s Guide
Unlike cannabis, MDMA and cocaine, psilocybin is not as well-known or widely used, but the number of users is growing rapidly. The latest Global Drug Survey (GDS 2021) found that the numbers of people who reported taking magic mushrooms rose from 8.6 percent in 2015 to 15.7 per cent last year.
Mushrooms can be bought as dried caps or powder, eaten whole or boiled into tea. The average microdose is a third of a gram, which is much less than the amount needed for a full hallucinogenic experience. But the doses can vary significantly from one person to the next, depending on where they’re buying their mushrooms and how much is in each capsule.
From white-collar business owners to vanlifers, the mushroom microdose train is picking up speed. Mothers like Courtney Epperson say the little capsules — which they can take daily, weekly or even monthly — help them cope with the endless, emotionally exhausting responsibilities of raising children. They’re more patient, resilient and able to find joy in the drudgery of laundry, temper tantrums and parenting.