These 3 healthy recipes for energy balls are an easy snack that can be made in bulk for when you need something to munch on at home, in the car, or when you need a quick boost of energy. They’re also a great snack to grab on-the-go if you’re in a hurry and need something to hold you over for a few hours.
This post has 3 handpicked healthy recipes for energy balls for a people on the go. These recipes are budget-friendly and can be whipped up in 15 minutes or less. I’ve made them all for years, but I must say that I use the carrot cake one the most regularly!
Delicious Carrot Cake Energy Balls
Carrot Cake Energy Balls Recipe
Energy balls done well, are basically a power food. They contain healthy essential ingredients that can help increase your energy level and jeep it going at a steady pace throughout the day.
This recipe contains medjool dates for sweetness and texture, cinnamon for that authentic carrot cake taste, and of course lots of carrots. All of which provide you with essential nutrition for the day or night ahead.
It’s an awesome recipe because these bites really do taste like carrot cake, without all the fake stuff.
In all transparency, this recipe originally came from Carly Paige at fitlivingeats.com, and I can’t thank her enough. I’ve been making these delicious energy balls for over a year now, and I’m never going back to old carrot cake ever again.
My partner is a very healthy human (he doesn’t spend his Sundays gorging on Pringles, like I do). He loves these bites.
Ingredients for Carrot Cake Energy Balls
1/2 cup cashews
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 cup of raisins
1 cup medjool dates, pitted
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes.
1 cup grated carrots (about 2 medium-sized carrots)
Healthy Coconut Oil Energy Balls
Coconut Oil Energy Balls Recipe
This coconut oil energy ball recipe is easy and delicious! It’s packed with health benefits, antioxidants and probiotics which will boost your immune system. As always it’s allergy friendly and vegan too! These coconut oil balls are also gluten free so everyone can enjoy them.
Ingredients for Coconut Oil Energy Balls: 2/3 cup almond butter
1/2 cup shredded, unsweetened coconut
6 medjool dates, pitted
1 1/2 tablespoons coconut oil (solidified)
1 1/2 tablespoons flax seeds, ground finely with a coffee grinder or blender.
Other ingredients you can add to make the energy balls sweeter: vanilla extract, honey or agave nectar. You can also try adding more shredded coconut if you want them to be even sweeter. You can also try adding in some protein powder or wheat germ to boost the protein content. Substitute the medjool dates with regular pitted dates if they’re not available.
How to make Coconut Oil Energy Balls In a food processor combine the dates, coconut oil and flax seeds. Blend until creamy and you have a flour like texture. Transfer to a bowl and set aside. In a separate bowl combine the almond butter, shredded coconut, salt and protein powder. Mix well then add the date-coconut mixture and mix together. Roll into 1-inch balls and place on an oiled tray or in an airtight container. (You can also use a silicone muffin tray).
VARIATIONS: Instead of coconut oil you can substitute with extra virgin olive oil or even avocado oil (for nutritional benefits).
Hemp Energy Balls
Hemp Energy Balls Recipe
These hemp energy balls are full of healthy fats, protein and fiber making them the perfect snack to get you through the day. They are vegan and gluten-free, so they’re a great option for anyone. They’re also an incredibly powerful recipe that will enhance your immune system.
Ingredients for hemp energy balls
2 teaspoons ground flax seeds
2 tablespoons hemp protein powder
1 tablespoon hemp seeds
1 teaspoon coconut oil, melted (this is optional)
1 cup dates, pitted and chopped (about 1 ounce) (makes ~3 cups) [this is optional but highly recommended] [article background information: Dates are a fruit and don’t contain gluten or wheat. They are widely eaten all over the world. In Mediterranean countries they are often soaked in water overnight to get rid of the bitterness.
Is Agarikon Mushroom a natural COVID cure? It has been effective against the Zilka Virus and shows great promise as a natural COVID cure. John Hopkins is currently running a study on the compounds found in this incredible medicinal mushroom. This post will look into the hows and whys of Agarikon and its incredible potential as a COVID-19 preventative and cure.
So, money doesn’t grow on trees. But Agarikon mushrooms do and they may be worth even more than money itself.
Could Agarikon mushrooms be the key to curing or preventing COVID infections? What a crazy world that would be… oh yeah, that’s right, this place is certifiably insane.
Paul Stamets (aka the Steve Irwin of mushrooms) believes that Agarikon is incredibly promising as a preventative or even as a cure for COVID-19.
Like their brethren, Agarikon mushrooms contain ultra-healing polysaccharides and other elements that have shown to be effective against lots of conditions from the Zilka virus to cancer.
What else are Agarikon mushrooms good for? Well, they have been used as a food source for over 10,000 years and are a rare delicacy in Europe (likely a delicacy because they take 50-70 years to grow, but we’ll get into that later).
Agarikon mushroom growing on a young tree stump
Could Agarikon Mushroom be a COVID-19 Killer?
Certain mushrooms are known to have potent medicinal uses, and Agarikon is no different.
This beauteous fungus is highly esteemed in Asia as an immune enhancer. But, like many other medicinal alternatives, it’s taking a minute to catch on in the US and many other western countries.
One study (MACH-19) is looking into a combination of Agarikon, Turkey Tail, and a Chinese 21-herb formula named Qing Fei Pai Du Tang (mQFPD). It’s a double-blind study that is testing the efficacy of the above in the fight against the COVID-19 virus.
Although this is one of the first studies of its kind, these methods have been used for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine and tribal medicines.
Mushrooms have a similar genetic makeup to human beings. In fact, mushroom DNA is closer to ours than animal DNA. Wild, huh?
Mushrooms also have their own immune systems. Yup. That means that they can be tested for their immunity toward viruses and how that immunity can be used in human cases.
Agarikon, a.k.a. Laricifomes Officinalis, mushrooms are one of the more difficult mushrooms to cultivate and they take 50-70 years to fully mature. Cool long-term project though.
According to research; once established, Agarikon mushrooms (Laricifomes Officinalis) are stronger than many other species of fungi in terms of their resistance to harsh weather conditions. This is demonstrated by the fact that it’s growing on wood in the Northern and Central U.S.
Can You Buy Agarikon?
If you’re looking to start supplementing with this incredible mushroom, the best place you can get it from is from Host Defense, Paul Stament’s lab. It’s the most potent and that guy knows what the hell he’s doing. Also, you’ll be supporting his efforts to save the Agarikon mushroom and many other mycological species from extinction!
I’ve tried it and found this combination to be utterly remarkable in avoiding COVID–even when surrounded, on several occasions, by people who had it! Please note that this is an affiliate link but, after countless hours of research and actual use of these three products, it is also my true and genuine recommendation.
Turkey tail is another fascinating wonder from the natural world. It is currently being studied for its effect on breast cancer.
Could Agarikon Mushroom be a COVID-19 Killer?
I obviously think so. Check out the rest of the Wildestry blog for deep research into natural medicine that could be used as a preventative, as a supplement to western medicine, and, dare I say it, maybe even a cure.
Bakuchiol is a natural, plant-based retinol alternative that has been touted to be safe for use while breastfeeding. Unlike retinol, which cannot be used during pregnancy.
Now, there are no clinical studies that show for absolute certain that bakuchiol is safe for breastfeeding mothers, but it has been used for thousands of years.
Having some kind of product that sloughs off dead skin/increases cell turnover does wonders for pregnancy acne and pregnancy mask (a.k.a. melasma).
Skincare Benefits of Bakuchiol
Bakuchiol has many properties that are very beneficial to the skin. Including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that battle free radicals also to help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
While not a moisturizer on its own, Bakuchiol has also been shown to keep skin hydrated and healthy when paired with a good moisturizer. It can also be used to treat acne, as it has been found to have antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.
Retinol can also be harsh on the skin, whereas bakuchiol is gentle and does not usually cause irritation, redness, or photosensitivity.
Studies have found it to be just as effective as retinol in terms of exfolitaing as well as reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. So, it’s a great natural retinol alternative for breastfeeding mothers who want to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
How to Use Bakuchiol
To benefit from Bakuchiol, apply a small amount onto clean skin after cleansing. If you have any other breastfeeding-safe serums that you’re using, just use the lightest first and so on.
Massage the Bakuchiol into your skin for 1-3 minutes until it is fully absorbed. For best results, use twice daily – once in the morning and once at night – for maximum effect. You can use it twice daily because it doesn’t make your skin sensitive to UV.
How Long Does it Take to Work?
Noticeable improvements are often believed to take effect after using it daily for 6 to 8 weeks.
Studies have shown that Vitamin A derivative, retinol, is NOT safe to use while breastfeeding. It’s a manmade type of vitamin A – and you know what that can mean.
Although it’s hard to tell how much, retinol is absorbed through the skin and can be passed onto the baby in breast milk.
Not only that but prescription-strength oral Vitamin A, often called Accutane (isotretinoin), has been shown to cause birth defects. Fetal retinoid syndrome causes intellectual and physical birth defects (congenital malformations) as a result of taking prescription retinoids during pregnancy.
Bakuchiol vs Retinol
TLDR: While they’re not the same, bakuchiol has been shown to be just as effective as retinol as an anti-aging product.
The science surrounding bakuchiol is fascinating. There have been a fair few clinical studies examining how bakuchiol functions similarly to retinol.
Iin one study, after just 12 weeks of treatment, participants experienced a significant reduction in pigmentation, photodamage, lines and wrinkles, elasticity, and overall firmness.
Another study revealed that gene expression can be regulated in a similar way to retinol by Bakuchiol, making it a powerful anti-aging alternative to retinol.
Bakuchiol is gentle and non-irritating which makes it ideal for sensitive skin types. Some of its magical plant-based properties:
Anti-inflammatory
Antioxidant
Moisturizing
Antibacterial
Antimicrobial
Anti-Aging
Overall, if you’re looking for a natural, plant-based retinol alternative, that is safer to use while breastfeeding, bakuchiol could be a truly excellent choice!
Bakuchiol Serum
You can totally just use bakuchiol straight up, but if you’re looking for a serum, know that many can have other ingredients that can be harmful while breastfeeding. A couple of the big ones to watch out for are nicotinamide and hyaluronic acid. Some serums even have retinol mixed in.
So, you can use just bakuchiol, which will give you the most potent effect of the plant-based ingredient. Or, if you want to do all of your anti-aging at the same time, just make sure to do some research on available serums. And, as always, consult your doctor before using any new product on your skin while breastfeeding or pregnant.
A Natural Retinol Alternative?
Is bakuchiol safe to us while breastfeeding? Bakuchiol is an excellent all-around product for keeping your skin looking youthful, radiant, and evenly toned. Its age-defying properties are especially helpful in reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles.
Bakuchiol is a great retinol alternative for breastfeeding mothers who want to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines while caring for their skin. Bakuchiol is gentle, non-irritating, and just as effective as retinol in terms of reducing wrinkles and fine lines. If you are breastfeeding and looking for an effective retinol alternative, Bakuchiol could be an excellent choice!
Psoralea corylifolia, more commonly known as babchi, is an ancient herb with a long-standing reputation for curing various skin diseases. Bakuchiol is an organic compound found in various parts of the plant. It is extracted in the seeds, where it is most concentrated.
The Ayurvedic system believes that bakuchiol has calming and rejuvenating effects that also help treat skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, and acne.
The compound has also been studied for chemoprotective, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. These benfits have made it popular for thousands of years in traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine.
History of the Babchi Plant in Traditional Chinese Medicine
In China, babchi seeds have been widely used in traditional medicine, because of their wide variety of health benefits.
Babchi has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for thousands of years and is referred to as Pu Ku Chih or Bu Ku Zhi. In TCM, it is used in TCM to treat skin diseases, inflammation, kidney failure and urinary tract infections.
It is believed that the compound works by stimulating liver Qi which helps balance the body’s energy flow.
The active ingredients in babchi seed include some pretty damn powerful antioxidants. These help the skin in a myriad of ways, without irritating it.
This post includes affiliate links that I make a small commission on. However, please always know that I won’t recommend it unless I’ve bought it, tried it and approve of it (a lot).
Tremella is an extremely powerful mushroom, with tons of benefits for the skin.
Other nicknames for this beauty are “snow mushroom” “the beauty mushroom” and, not quite as flatteringly, “jelly fungus”.
Tremella is said to boost collagen production as well as drastically reduce the appearance of acne by preventing and repairing skin damage and reducing the appearance of old scars. It’s pretty much magic.
Additionally, Tremella can help to brighten skin and has anti-aging properties. So, pretty handy mushroom, all told.
Image of Yang Guifei, a Chinese Concubine Who Swore by Tremella Mushrooms
What is Tremella?
Tremella Fuciformis, is a member of the Tremellaceae mushroom family.
They have been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine. Their main uses being immune system boosting, lung support, and of course, skincare.
The Japanese name for them is Shiro Kikurage, meaning “white tree jellyfish,” which is a very accurate description.
Yang Guifei (719–756), an imperial concubine was considered one of the most beautiful women in Chinese history. She credited her youthful appearance to tremella mushrooms.
Among other things, studies show that tremella boosts collagen production, reduces dark spots, retains water, and helps to reduce inflammation. All very desirable outcomes for your average skincare lover.
Its abilities in skincare are beyond incredible. Let’s have a deeper look at Tremella Fuciformis in skincare so you know exactly what it can do for your skin.
Tremella Helps to Retain Moisture Better Than Hyaluronic Acid
One of the main benefits of Tremella is its ability to help retain moisture in the skin.
This medicinal marvel is more effective than hyaluronic acid in retaining moisture in the skin as it holds more water and absorbs into the skin better.
Super reasonable solution with both hyaluronic acid and snow mushroom
The polysaccharides in tremella form a flexible film on the skin that locks in moisture, smooths, and lends more elasticity.
It fungus also absorbs moisture from the air, making your skin feel soft. It draws moisture deep into your skin, hydrating it from within.
Tremella Boosts Collagen Production
Tremella has also been found to boost collagen production. Collagen is a protein that helps to keep the skin looking young and healthy.
As we age, our collagen production decreases, which can lead to wrinkles and other signs of aging.
By boosting collagen production, Tremella can help to drastically reduce the appearance of these signs of aging before and after they show up on your fabulous face.
Helps to Reduce Dark Spots
Dark spots can be caused by a variety of factors, such as sun exposure, age, and acne. By reducing dark spots, Tremella can help to improve the overall complexion of the skin.
Tremella has been shown to help reduce inflammation in the skin. Inflammation can cause a variety of problems for the skin, such as redness, irritation, and acne.
With a grip of antioxidants, Tremella can reduce inflammatory free radicals and help to keep the skin looking fresh.
Improves Overall Complexion
By reducing dark spots, boosting collagen production, filling cracks and retaining moisture in the skin, Tremella can help to improve your overall complexion.
This will help you achieve a more youthful appearance.
it’s a natural ingredient
One of the benefits of Tremella is that it is a natural ingredient. This means that it is not as likely to cause irritation or other problems for the skin, as some synthetic ingredients can.
Additionally, natural ingredients often have more beneficial properties than synthetic ingredients. So, by using Tremella in your skincare products, you can enjoy all of its benefits while also knowing that you are not putting any harmful chemicals on your skin.
It’s affordable
Starting at around $10, you can enjoy all of its benefits without spending a ton of money. Hell, you can make your own snow fungus skincare products at home, if you really want to save some skrills.
Tremella is more easily absorbed than hyaluronic acid
One of the main benefits of Tremella is its ability to help retain moisture in the skin. It has been found to be more effective than hyaluronic acid. It has smaller molecules than hyaluronic acid, which allows it to be more easily absorbed by the skin.
Helps Prevent Fine Lines and Wrinkles
At some point or another, we’re all looking for wrinkle prevention, especially around the eyes and mouth where they can be more pronounced. Tremella destroys free radicals that can create wrinkles as well as plumping the skin with its superior moisture retention.
Tremella Can Help Reduce the Appearance of Acne
Acne is often caused by a variety of factors, such as hormonal changes, genetics, and stress. If you’ve been looking for a natural way to get rid of acne, check out How I Got Rid of My Acne Naturally.
Tremella reduces redness and inflammation, which plays down the appearance of acne. Not only that, Tremella can help to improve and even out the overall complexion of the skin–so, a win-win!
Boosts Your Immune System
One of the lesser-known benefits of Tremella is that it can help to boost the immune system. By helping to improve the function of the immune system, Tremella can help to keep the skin healthy and free from infection.
Additionally, Tremella can help to improve overall health and well-being–because no one looks their best when they’re tired. So, if you are looking for a mushroom that can do it all, Tremella is a great option!
Tremella Boosts Vitamin D
Another benefit of Tremella is that it can help to boost vitamin D levels. Vitamin D is an important nutrient for overall health but it also plays a part in keeping your skin looking young and fabulous. It packs a punch by helping to further retain moisture.
Vitamin D is also essential for strong bones and teeth, and it can also play a role in preventing chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
So, by boosting vitamin D levels with Tremella, you can enjoy all of its other benefits for the skin while also benefiting from its effects on overall health.
Repairs Skin Damage
A variety of factors, such as the sun, pollution, and smoking cause damage to the skin. Using polysaccharides, Vitamin D, and a ton of antioxidants, Tremella helps to repair skin damage.
This magical mushroom also uses antioxidants to help protect the skin from further free radical damage.
Helps Reduce Appearance of Scars
One of the benefits of Tremella is that it can help to reduce the appearance of scars.
Tremella has a high vitamin D content, which helps to stimulate cell turnover and growth. This can help to heal and get rid of acne scars even faster.
It contains 18 amino acids that have been shown to help with cell development. This helps to heal wounds and minimize the size and depth of a scar.
Close-up of Snow Mushroom in nature.
Additionally, Tremella can help to improve the overall complexion of the skin, which can make scars and acne scars less noticeable.
It Brightens Skin
One of the benefits of Tremella is that it can help to brighten your skin. This was one of the many reasons Yang Guifei, “The Most Beautiful Woman in Chinese History,” used snow fungus.
Melanin causes freckles, scars, and uneven skin tones. Studies have shown that snow mushrooms slow melanin synthesis, inhibiting its production by 59.7%. With its ability to take on melanin, Tremella is unequaled in its ability to brighten skin.
As mentioned, it can help to reduce the appearance of scars, which can also contribute to a brighter complexion.
Tremella has Anti-Aging properties
One of the benefits of Tremella is that it has anti-aging properties. This is because Tremella contains free radical-fighting antioxidants as well as Vitamin D, which helps to stimulate cell turnover and growth. This can help to keep your skin looking young and healthy.
Additionally, Tremella can help to improve the overall complexion of the skin, which can make wrinkles and other signs of aging less noticeable.
Skin barrier healthy vs damaged
It Can Repair the Skin Barrier
Damage to the skin barrier can lead to a variety of problems such as dryness, premature aging, acne, and redness.
Fear not tho, your skin barrier is repairable.
When the skin barrier is compromised, your lipid matrix (the outermost layer of your skin) isn’t as solid as it should be. This results in gaps and cracks on the skin’s surface. When that happens, your skin has a hard time keeping germs and irritants. It also makes it harder for your skin to retain moisture.
Due to its concentration of fatty acids, this beauteous mushroom helps to repair the skin barrier.
Healthy Gut = Healthy Skin
If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a million times: the gut plays a huge part in your overall health. Your gut produces 95% of your serotonin and 50% of the dopamine. Often called the “second brain,” it’s why we get a “gut feeling” when something’s not right. It also helps to regulate mood, immunity, and inflammation.
Unsurprisingly, studies have shown that a healthy gut can drastically reduce acne and improve skin texture.
When the gut is healthy, it means that your body is able to absorb more nutrients from food, leading to glowing skin.
Studies have shown that snow mushroom improves digestive health. It contains prebiotics, that help to support the growth of good bacteria in the gut.
Tremella Exfoliates
Tremella mushroom promotes the body’s production of superoxide dismutase (SOD). This, in turn, encourages the formation and preservation of new, healthy, youthful-looking skin.
The SOD also repairs cells and can reduce the damage done by free radicals.
You Can Use it WITH Hylauronic Acid
There’s often a common debate about which is better for your skin: Hyaluronic Acid or Snow Mushroom? While the latter touts a ton of extra benefits, why not use them together for dewy, plumped up, youthful, glowing skin?
As a lightweight, natural product, you can use Tremella face serums in conjunction with a whole myriad of other skincare products. Try layering it with hyaluronic acid serum for an extra boost.
It Beautifies from Within
If you’re very into skincare and general health, you’ll have heard that glowing skin comes from consuming fruits, vegetables, and… mushrooms?
We’ve got polysaccharides, kojic acid, Vitamin D, 18 amino acids, and antioxidants. As well as all that, there are anti-inflammatory, antitumor, immunostimulating, and anti-aging properties to boot.
Yep, edible medicinal mushrooms have a killer list of properties that boost you inside and out. Tremella is no exception. Everything you’ve read here today applies to consuming the mushroom as well.
You can buy snow mushroom in lots of different ways. If you’re looking to consume it, you can get dried mushrooms from Amazon to make into a soup, or spores from Etsy to grow your own.
For supplements, I recommend realmushrooms.com. They use hot water extraction to keep the important compounds in.
Many, and when I say many, I mean many companies that sell mushroom supplements grow on grain and leave that grain in. So, the majority of those products are rice or other grain-based. Many of the ones you find at the supermarket are bunk–some have no actual mushrooms in at all. After hours of research, I chose Real Mushrooms and have been happily using them for years.
One of my other fave supplements from them is their 5 Defenders – they make me feel like a freaking superhero. Anyway, I could bang on about that company for hours; I’ll save you that.
Use my discount code WILDESTRY to get your mushies for less.
For external mushroom skincare products, there are a ton of them out there, including mists, serums, and creams. Look for high potency, natural ingredients, and (obv) the best + most reviews. You can also DIY make your own snow mushroom serum at home.
Are There Any Side Effects?
Traditional medicine has utilized the benefits of snow mushrooms for thousands of years. There are no known side effects to using tremella mushrooms, as they are a natural and edible product. However, as with any new skincare product, it is always best to do a patch test before using it on a large area of your skin.
(Below) Powder Tremella supplement for smoothies, tea, and face serum experiments. You can also get this in capsule form from the same vendor.
Highly recommend this… was recently looking through pics from 2 years ago and somehow look much younger!!
Conclusion
The tremella mushroom is a powerhouse when it comes to skincare. More effective than hyaluronic acid in retaining moisture, boosting collagen production, reducing dark spots, and helping to reduce inflammation. Additionally, it can help to improve the overall complexion of the skin, making wrinkles and other signs of aging less noticeable.
Tremella can also help repair damage done to the skin barrier, and keep your gut healthy which will lead to glowing skin from within, exfoliate the skin and promote new cell growth for youthful-looking skin. There are no known side effects to using Tremella mushrooms and they are a natural product.
Wondering how to microdose mushrooms? Firstly, what is microdosing?
Microdosing is where a person consumes small amounts of psychedelic substances. These substances vary greatly. Even psilocybin mushrooms can vary in strength from one species to the next. Magic mushrooms can even change strength within the same species.
As far as microdosing goes, some people prefer psilocybin, which can be found in Magic Mushrooms. Other microdosers go for LSD, and some go for small doses of mescaline.
Even marijuana can be microdosed. For the purposes of this post, we’re going to roll with how to microdose psilocybin.
Why do people microdose?
People have reported that microdosing helps with focus, productivity, anxiety, addiction, memory loss, and creativity, to name a few.
If you’re having difficultly finding the right dose, check out the microdosing table below. Knowing how to microdose magic mushrooms properly will help you get the most out of your experience.
People microdose for a variety of reasons, the effects can vary from person to person and shroom to shroom. The psychedelic active ingredient in magic mushrooms is Psilocybin.
Psilocybin has shown to have effects like increased creativity, focus, and productivity. Steve Jobs even admitted to microdosing LSD for creativity and productivity, and that’s a man who got a lot of shit done.
Studies conducted over the last 10 years have seen some promising results for the positive effects of psilocybin on mental health. In a study performed by Johns Hopkins, psilocybin resulted in highly significant improvements in depression and anxiety.
Researchers followed up after four weeks and found that 71% of the participants had a “clinically significant response” to the treatment. 54% no longer showed signs of active depression. Not only that, but 80% of the patients found that their results lasted for over 6 months.
Other Psilocybin Studies
Other studies have seen similar effects including a study conducted on smoking cessation. The users often reported feeling more connected to themselves, to nature, and that the experience gave them clarity about their life purpose.
As well as studies, the internet is full of people who say they reap the benefits of microdosing psilocybin. Not only that, but magic mushrooms are considered non-addictive.
Upcoming studies by John Hopkins are also looking to determine the effectiveness of psilocybin as a new therapy for opioid addiction, Alzheimer’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (formerly known as chronic Lyme disease), anorexia nervosa and alcohol use in people with major depression.
(Source: The Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research)
If you’d like to participate in some of these studies, you can search for them on clinicaltrials.gov which is a government website that lists all of the current and upcoming studies that pharmaceutical companies are recruiting for.
how to microdose Magic Mushrooms: How Much to Take
So, how to microdose magic mushrooms? Depending on the mushroom and your tolerance, a microdose is anywhere from 0.05 grams to 0.25 grams. One easy way to remember is that a microdose can be one-tenth of a macro dose–that, however, is not always the case. Dosing is a very personal thing, and psilocybin effects everyone a little differently.
Macro and microdoses of psilocybin:
Microdose: 0.05 – 0.25 grams People who microdose have mentioned a boost in creativity, mood, and general mental health. A microdose can make you feel slightly lightheaded, in which case, you might want to try a lower dose. Microdosing shouldn’t make you trip.
Macro Dose Lite: 0.5 – 1 grams Depending on your tolerance and the type of mushroom you take, a light macro dose should give you a body high. It may come with some light visuals.
Macro Dose: 2 – 3 grams This is considered a full trip with pretty nice visuals to boot.
Hero Dose: 3 grams + A Hero Dose is usually a dose taken when you’ve already had a trip or two and/or you have a guide. Doesn’t mean that you have to have any of those things, necessarily, it’s just a considerably stronger trip than the usual dose.
How to microdose Magic Mushrooms
So, you’ve got your dose down, you’ve decided if you’re going to buy or grow your magic mushrooms at home, now what? How to microdose magic mushrooms? Well, you’ve got options.
If you have dried mushrooms, you can make your own microdose capsules by using a grinder and an at-home scale to weigh out the dose. The magic mushroom won’t fill an entire capsule, so you can finish it off with another supplement. Lots of people fill the rest of their microdose capsules with other brain (nootropics) and/or body-enhancing mushrooms like Lion’s Mane or Cordyceps.
You can also buy pre-made microdosing capsules from a reputable source (I’m not condoning this but, you know, whatever floats your boat). Some people have had great success finding microdosing capsules on sites such as Reddit and Etsy. Just sayin’. You can also buy dried shrooms or spores. It’s entirely up to you. For the dried or powdered, measuring is always a good idea. Lots of people try to eye it, and that’s the kind of thing that could really mess with your day (this comes from experience–try sitting in a Zoom meeting while you’re tripping balls).
How many times a week should you microdose?
There are a few schools of thought on this one. One of the most popular is “The Stamets Stack,” named by its founder; the iconic mycologist, Paul Stamets. He is a hero. As an aside, if you’ve never seen his documentary, Fantastic Fungi, or his Ted Talk, 6 Ways Mushrooms Can Save the World, they’re both well worth a watch.
How to Microdose Psilocybin: The Stamets Stack method
If you’ve been looking into how to microdose psilocybin, you’ve probably seen The Stamets Stack method. So, what is The Stamets Stack method?
Paul Stamets uses a very specific formula and dosing schedule. To his microdoses, he adds Lion’s Mane mushroom for enhanced cognition, hericenones and erinacines mushroom extract–also for increased cognition, creativity and neurogenisis, and Niacin for neurogensis as well as a more thorough and balanced distribution throughout the body.
Many in the community believe the Stamets method to be best for seasoned microdosers and Fadiman’s schedule (below) to be good for beginners as well as non-beginners. My personal favorite is the Stamets method because of the additional nutrients added.
The image below shows the amounts of psilocybin mushrooms that Paul Stamets uses for his microdosing schedule.
50 –200 mg of niacin (not the non-flushing. The flush you get with regular niacin is an important part of this method).
DAY 5-7: Non-microdosing days CYCLE: microdose for 4 weeks RESET: take a break from microdosing for 2-4 weeks
Note: The reason you take a break is to make sure that you’re not building up too much of a tolerance to the psilocybin.
How to Microdose Psilocybin: The Fadiman Protocol
The Fadiman Protocol, named after Dr. James Fadiman, is a 3-day cycle. You also dose for 4-8 weeks and then take a break for 2-4 weeks.
In 1966, Dr. Fadiman published a study called ‘Psychedelics in the problem-solving experiment’. The experiment honed in on the positive effects and uses of LSD on mental state including creativity, performance, depression, and more.
The Fadiman experiment is one of the most well-known studies into the effects of hallucinogenic drugs. Even with these intriguing results, the FDA banned all research into psychedelics just after the study was published.
Around the time Fadiman was getting into his research, Nixon started his War on Drugs. Nixon was ill-informed and he went hard on tarnishing the good name of shrooms. For that reason, there was a ban on medical research from 1970 until just recently.
In the meantime, Dr. Fadiman continued on, collecting thousands of reports from microdosers around the globe. The evidence, while anecdotal, came back with overwhelmingly awesome responses.
The Fadiman Protocol Microdosing Schedule
Fadiman’s Protocol uses 10% of recreational macrodose (see microdose chart above). But, how do you use the Fadiman Protocol for microdosing psilocybin? Here’s how:
DAY 1: Microdosing day #1 2 & 3: Non-microdosing days DAY 4: Microdosing day #2 5 & 6: Non-microdosing days
CYCLE: 4-8 weeks on RESET: 2-4 weeks off
Having said all of this, microdosing is unique to each human. How to microdose psilocybin is up to your own personal preferences as well as your tolerance, etc. One thing to remember with microdosing is that you’re not actually supposed to feel like you’re tripping.
Some people feel a little lightheaded and others feel nothing when they microdose. For some, microdosing has been said to cause increased anxiety and others have reported (anecdotally) that it relieves anxiety. If you’re feeling anxious while microdosing magic mushrooms, that might mean it’s time to dial down the dose. Ultimately, it usually takes a little experimentation to get the right dose.
Ted Talks About Magic Mushrooms
If you like watching TedTalks and want to find out more about the effects of Psilocybin, here are a couple of great ones:
