The most frequently asked questions about microdosing truffles

Microdosing has been on the rise in recent years. It is done with all kinds of products, such as alcohol microdosing even popular at the moment. However, using psychedelics to microdose is more common. If you want to do this sometime, too, it’s important to be prepared. That is where this article helps, as you will find all kinds of interesting questions about using truffles in small doses.

According to The Beckley Foundation microdosing is taking a low dose of psychedelics. Typically, you use one-tenth of a recreational dose , which in the case of fresh truffles is about 0.5 to 1 gram. You can take this dose repeatedly, such as every other day for a few months. The purpose of microdosing truffles is basically that you experience subtle effects, such as more energy, increased focus, more creativity and/or a better mood. So you don’t want to get hallucinations or other psychedelic experiences, which is the case when you take a normal dose of truffles.

How does microdosing affect the brain?

The active ingredient in truffles is psilocybin , which is converted in the body to psilocin. This substance binds to serotonin receptors in the brain, specifically the 5-HT2A receptor. This changes the way information is processed, leading to changes in mood, creativity and perception. A placebo-controlled study by Cavanna et al. shows that microdosing truffles can actually cause this.

It stands to reason that one of your questions about the microdosing truffles is about its benefits. After all, if you don’t experience any positive changes, why do it at all? According to a study by Politio and Stevenson participants reported subjective improvements in mood, focus and creativity while microdosing. However, it is important to emphasize that this study is based primarily on self-reports, with no placebo control, making it difficult to draw causal conclusions. The findings provide an interesting insight, but do not yet constitute scientific evidence of efficacy. Further studies are needed to confirm these results. Users report these pluses, among others:

• Improved mood
• Increased focus and concentration
• Creativity Boost
• More motivation
• Better social interactions
• Relief from depressive feelings
• Less stress or anxiety

Do know that everyone experiences the use of truffles differently. These benefits are common, but you might not experience them yourself.

As James Fadiman, researcher and author on the subject, states:

“The heightened awareness that psychedelics provide comes in several forms. In higher doses, taken in a safe and sacred environment, they promote recognition of one’s intimate relationship with all living things. In moderate doses, they promote awareness of the complex psychodynamic structures of one’s individual consciousness. In low doses, they promote awareness of solutions to technical and artistic problems…”
– James Fadiman, The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide

Unfortunately, research on the possible long-term side effects of microdosing truffles is currently lacking. Some participants who participated in this study by Hutten et al. experienced negative effects of a psychological nature. They also occurred acutely while using the psychedelics. It was not a reason for many users to stop, but some people ended the process because it was not effective. By the way, you might experience these side effects if you use psychedelics in small portions to:

• Sleep problems (if taken too late in the day)
• Difficulty focusing or restlessness
• Headache
• Increased heart rate or mild anxiety
• Emotional intensity (old emotions may come up)

When using truffles in small portions, you probably have questions about how you do this. After all, you use a schedule for this where you don’t take the psychedelics every day. James Fadiman has a book about this called Psychedelics Explorers Guide which includes the Fadmin schedule. This is the most commonly used schedule in truffle microdosing and it looks like this:

• Day 1: microdose
• Day 2: sober day (after-effect)
• Day 3: sober day (reset)
• Day 4: new microdose

Repeat this regimen for 4 to 8 weeks and then take a break for at least 2 to 4 weeks. This way you avoid tolerance and can evaluate whether it has really benefited you.

Basically, it doesn’t matter whether you use fresh or dry truffles for microdosing. However, it is important to note that dried truffles are stronger than fresh ones, which is because the water is out of the psychedelics. Therefore, with dry truffles, you should use one-third of what you would with fresh truffles. So if you normally use 1 gram fresh, take about 0.3 grams dried. Dry psychedelics can be more convenient to use, by the way, especially since you can store them longer.

Disclaimer: Although microdosing truffles seems to have positive effects for many people, it is not a solution to mental health problems. This guide is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a doctor or psychologist before you begin microdosing, especially if you are on medication or have a mental illness. Use truffles responsibly and with respect for your own limits and health.