As psychedelic mushrooms online enter the mainstream, more and more people are microdosing them. Some claim it gives their life “a little sparkle”, while others say it helps them overcome mental health issues like anxiety and depression. While the anecdotal evidence is promising, there are still a lot of unanswered questions. For one, the mushrooms aren’t exactly safe. And it’s impossible to know if you are getting the right dose. That’s why UCSF is running the first trial of psilocin-based mushrooms on healthy volunteers.

Microdosing Protocols: Creating a Safe and Effective Routine with Psychedelic Mushrooms

The goal is to see how psilocin affects the human brain and body in a safe way. The study will include a control group and a group taking microdoses of the mushroom compound. The researchers hope to find out if the mushroom enhances mood, cognition and emotional regulation in a healthy, safe way.

Those who are interested in microdosing can purchase a kit that includes a scale and a small bag of mushrooms. A user can then break off a piece of the mushroom and place it on the scale. They can continue doing this until the scale reads their desired dosage. Alternatively, they can grind the mushroom into a powder and take it that way.

Despite the hype, it’s important to remember that microdosing is not scientifically approved and can be dangerous. In addition to the risk of psychosis, the user runs the risk of ingesting another substance or miscalculating their dosage and having a bad trip.