Macrodosing

The Practice of taking large doses of Psilocybin Mushrooms

A ceramic bowl with a blue and white checkered pattern contains several large, dried mushrooms with brown caps and white, slightly bluish stems. The mushrooms are arranged casually within the bowl.

Taking Psilocybin at a Macro-dosage, usually defined as between 2 and 5 grams of dried psilocybin mushrooms, has been shown by several scientifically meticulous studies to reliably elicit spiritual, mystical, or transcendent experiences that have lasting positive effect on the subject, with as little as one (large) dose.

In the modern day psilocybin is often used with one of two intents; recreational use or therapeutic use. When administered in a therapeutic setting it has proven to be highly effective in lowering anxiety, treating depression, breaking addiction, and alleviating the symptoms of PTSD. 

Studies at Harvard, Stanford, Yale, University of Toronto, Johns Hopkins University, and many other educational/research institutions have proven psilocybin’s efficacy in treating the aforementioned psychological conditions. These studies also corroborated beliefs that indigenous peoples have held into antiquity – that in addition to its medical applications, psilocybin also has the potential to radically improve the well-being, happiness, and overall mental state of ‘healthy’ individuals. 

 Based on the results of these studies, the U.S. Federal Drug Administration has also recently given psilocybin a “Breakthrough Therapy” designation, which is granted only when preliminary evidence suggests the drug may be an enormous improvement over already available therapy. This designation will fast-track many potential psilocybin treatments through clinical trials, which are underway. Health Canada has also awarded multiple licenses for the research and development of a psilocybin treatment.

A collage of various university and institutional logos, including Stanford, Johns Hopkins, UC Berkeley, Penn, University of Zurich, Imperial College London, Columbia, NYU, Yale, VA, University of Toronto, Harvard, King's College London, University of Bristol, Purdue, McMaster, University of Basel, Utrecht, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and UC San Diego School of Medicine.
*some of the institutions currently studying psilocybin

Macrodosing

The reason why Psilocybin experiences are referred to as “trips” is because psilocybin at high dosage often produces intense, immersive experiences that offer profound insights into your own psyche, and cause drastic shifts in thought pattern/process and perception. It has been firmly established (through almost 2 decades of research) that Psilocybin is one of the safest naturally occurring psychoactive substances, and can be utilized to treat a host of psychological conditions, but what exactly does a Psilocybin experience feel like?

​The effects of psilocybin can vary subjectively based on numerous factors, like body weight, mind-state, and even your expectation of what the experience will entail. Psilocybin’s effects can include euphoria, confusion, hysteria (laughing fits) synesthesia, altered thought process, altered sense of time, sensory enhancement, visual hallucination, spiritual or mystical feelings of unity and connectedness, and even out-of-body experiences.

We recommend starting with between 1.0 and 1.25 grams of dried mushroom per 100lbs of body weight if its your first time.

  • Sensory enhancement

  • Altered sense of time

  • Visual stimulation & hallucination

  • Unusual thought or speech patterns

  • Personal insight & reflection

  • Excitement & Euphoria

  • Creative epiphanies 

  • Uncontrollable laughter

  • Spiritual or mystical feelings

  • A sense of peace and relaxation

  • Out of body experiences

  • “Noetic” quality

  • Increased open-mindedness 

  • contact with “unknown” entities

A bar chart titled "Subjective effects of psilocybin." Bars compare DMT, psilocybin, and ketamine effects on various states like unity, positive mood, and altered time sense. Psilocybin has the highest rating for unity, altered space, and spiritual experiences.

The Science Behind Psilocybin

It has been known for millennia that ingesting Psilocybe mushrooms produce a state of consciousness that is in many ways enhanced, offering unique, almost omniscient perspective on personal issues and tribulations, profound creative insight, and even philosophical epiphanies about the nature of our universe. Our modern scientific understanding can help us quantify the pharmacokinetic process behind these effects, however cannot yet fully explain how OR why this fungi has evolved to produce these psychotropic compounds.

When psilocybin enters the body it is dephosphorylated (the removal of a phosphorus molecule) by the liver into psilocin. Contrary to popular belief the compound responsible for magic mushrooms mind-altering effects is not psilocybin, but psilocin. Psilocin bears a molecular structure very similar to serotonin (an important neuromodulator known to be involved in brain development, perception, cognition, and mood). Psilocin acts as a serotonergic antagonist, binding with serotonin receptors (specifically the 5 hydroxytryptamine (5HT) receptor group).

In addition to antagonistic function on the serotonergic system, Psilocybin has proven effect on several other neural processes, including;

​ The stimulation of neurogenesis through the increased production of Glutamate* and Brain derived Neutrophic Factor* (BDNF).

  • The dampening of activity in the Default Mode Network (a brain network that is overactive in patients with depression). 

The incitement of cross-communication between brain networks that do not communicate in the “sober” state of consciousness. 

*Glutamate is an vital neurotransmitter that accounts for over 90% of the synaptic connections in the brain, and is involved in crucial brain functions like cognition, learning, memory, and energy acquisition. Brain Derived Neutrophic factor is a protein that helps to stimulate and control the process of neurogenesis, it also plays a key role in long-term memory, neural development, coordination, and the deciphering of sensory input by the brain.*

Two circular diagrams depicting complex network graphs. The left circle is less dense with colored nodes and connections, showing limited links mainly around the perimeter. The right circle is densely connected with overlapping colorful lines forming a web-like structure.

Brain connections in a subject given psilocybin (right) and a placebo (left)

Two chemical structures are displayed: on the left is the serotonin molecule with the label "Serotonin Molecule," and on the right is the psilocin molecule with the label "Psilocin Molecule." Both have distinct arrangements of atoms.

Despite being rated the most pharmacologically safe substance, the potential does exist to have a negative experience, however this risk can be mitigated by taking time to prepare for the experience. We highly encourage anyone new to psychedelics to check out our ‘preparation page‘ for more information on how you can maximize both the acute effects, and long term benefits of psilocybin. 

While a “bad trip” can be challenging in the moment, Studies performed at John Hopkins University have shown that 84% of study participants, when interviewed 6 months after the experience, said that they had benefited from the “bad trip”. 34% of study participants said the bad trip was among the top five most personally meaningful experiences of their life, and 76% said that the bad trip had resulted in an improved sense of personal well-being or life satisfaction. Almost half said they would go through the experience again.

​When compared to most other drugs, the risk profile of psilocybin is exceptionally low. Magic Mushrooms reduce anxiety, ease the intense pain of cluster headaches, aid in the prevention of Alzheimers, alleviate OCD symptoms, combat depression, re-wire the fear response neural circuits of PTSD victims, and boost the psychological state of terminal cancer patients. 

Aside from the treatment of severe psychological conditions psilocybin also offers immense benefit to the recreational “healthy” user. A 2006 double-blind study sponsored by the U.S. government found that about 80 percent of people who took psilocybin reported that their well-being improved and remained that way for months after their psychedelic experience (the control group did not). Even over a year later, participants said that it was one of the most meaningful experience of their lives and that they continued to see benefits.

A graphic displays four statistics about psilocybin use. First, 94% reported increased well-being or behavior change. Second, 84% found challenging experiences psychologically beneficial. Third, 34% rated their psilocybin session among life's most meaningful. Fourth, 9% of adults have used magic mushrooms.

The Science Behind Psilocybin

We have curated a list of the most informative resources online regarding psilocybin mushrooms. Check these websites out if you wish to further explore this psychologically and spiritually profound fungi.

Communities

  • The Shroomery – A forum community mostly focused on cultivation.​

  • R/CubensisMOMS – A subreddit dedicated to Canadian Cannabis/Psychedelic enthusiasts.​​

  • Tripsitters – the largest database of psilocybin tripsitters and retreat/clinic Information​

  • Psilopedia – The Psilocybin Mushroom Encyclopedia​

  • Psillow – Demystifying Psilocybin​

  • The Third Wave – High-quality information specific to the classic psychedelics​

  • Tripsafe – Research-backed education on Psychedelics​

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