Learn how to Macrodose Mushrooms
With our quick guide to full trips
What is macrodosing and why should I try it?
A macrodose is just what it sounds like: a big dose of Psilocybin mushrooms. There are plenty of reasons to drop a strong dose of psilocybin, but maybe the most compelling one is that it’s a lot of fun. This is why most people do it, and it’s a perfectly legitimate reason. But a heady psychedelic trip can also catalyze deep inner work. Maybe you’re pondering a big question, weighing a major decision, you want to challenge ingrained patterns of thought, or you’re just interested in some rigorous inner reflection. If so, psilocybin can get you there.
What about macro versus micro? Is macrodosing like microdosing, just more? Well, kind of––but there’s more to it than that. Of course a heavy dose brings stronger effects, but a concentrated burst of psilocybin also brings on sensations and experiences your 50mg capsule won’t. Not only visual, auditory, and other sensory experiences, but a face-to-face appointment with your ego that only a strong dose of mushrooms can arrange.
Psilocybin is complex. Every person and every trip is different. There are certainly risks to any psychedelic substance, but in the case of psilocybin, they’re heavily outweighed by the benefits, as long as you prepare properly. To ensure you have the most successful, enjoyable trip you can, we’ve put together this guide on how to best macrodose psilocybin mushrooms.
How long is a trip?
Generally a trip lasts 4-6 hours. But you’ll want to plan your day around it, as a trip can last up to 8 or 10, depending on dosage, and afterward leave you feeling content, but drained. Leave yourself plenty of time to enjoy the entire cycle: the come up, the trip, the come down, the afterglow.
How Much Should I Take?
Exact dosage depends on many factors and will vary from person to person and day to day. Mushrooms also vary in potency. That said, here are some suggested guidelines to follow, depending on the experience you’re after. If it’s your first time, it’s better to take too little than too much. You can always take more if you feel the need, but be sure to give the mushrooms enough time––1 to 2 hours––to take effect before you up your dose.
Microdose – 50 to 200mg
Generally, a microdose is considered anything between 50-200mg. Doses at this level are sub-perceptual and their influence should be very subtle.
Warm n’ Fuzzy – 200mg to 500mg
A fun amount to take with friends, this should send tingles and warmth through your body, maybe a case of the giggles, but little in the way of visuals. A good dose for first timers to feel out the effects.
Half dose – 500mg to 1g
This will deliver a similar level of body high and giddiness. Those with lower tolerances may start to have visual experiences.
Full dose – 1g to 2g
This should embark you on a full-on trip. With this dosage you’ll have the body high and may begin to see visual anomalies (think objects swaying and fractal patterns) along with other sensory amplifications.
Deep dose – 2g to 3g
This is entering serious dose territory. You may experience a heightened sense of “oneness” with the natural elements and people around you, and powerful visual and auditory hallucinations. You might also receive new, unfamiliar patterns of thought.
Heroic dose – 3g+
Anything beyond 3 grams could be considered a “heroic” dose. A dose this strong should be taken under supervision, with preparation, and in the pursuit of an intentional goal. Doses this strong are for experienced users.
How to take them
In this guide we’ll recommend three methods, but this is by no means an exhaustive list.
- Eaten raw: Just weigh out your proper dried mushroom dosage and toss ‘em back. This is the most direct method with the least preparation, but mushrooms can have an unpleasant, soily taste. If you don’t like the taste you can try mixing them with honey.
- Mushroom chocolate: Probably the most delicious way to ingest psilocybin. If your doing it yourself it’s trickier to precisely dose in this way, since it’s difficult to know how the psilocybin is distributed through the chocolate. And just remember this is potent stuff, so don’t let your sweet tooth take over. You can browse our varieties of mushroom chocolates here. All our products have precisely measured doses.
- Brewed into tea: For those concerned about taste, tea is a great option. You can largely mask the taste of the mushrooms with your favourite brew and still get a strong dose. Do note that steeping your mushrooms in hot water can bring on the effects of psilocybin faster and condense your trip into a shorter, more intense experience. Seremoni makes great mushroom tea ready to brew. But if your interested in making your own here is a basic recipe you can try.
Simple Tea Recipe
Step One: Weigh out your dose of mushrooms.
Step Two: Grind mushrooms into a powder.
Step Three: Chop up some ginger and add to mushroom powder
Step Four: Pour hot water over mushrooms and ginger and add a tea bag. Chamomile is good. If your using a tea that gets bitter if steeped too long you can wait and add it for the last 2 minutes of steeping.
Step Five: Let sit for 20 mins.
Step Six: Add honey or lemon to taste and enjoy.
Of course, these are just three popular ways to ingest psilocybin. There are many more. Experiment to find your favourite.
Set and Setting
Set and setting broadly refers to the circumstances in which you take mushrooms, “set” being your mindset and emotional state, “setting” being your physical surroundings.
Psilocybin will amplify your emotions and deepen sensations of sound, touch, and sight, so it’s important to prepare your physical surroundings for your trip.
It’s best to do shrooms somewhere you know well and are comfortable with, like your home or the home of a close friend. Be sure to keep lighting soft and warm, play soothing music or sounds, and avoid crowded, busy spaces. Consider burning incense, palo santo, or some other pleasant scent. Wear comfortable clothes, keep blankets and other cozy accessories at hand, and think about activities you may want to do during your trip, like putting on records, making art, or stretching.
You may also have a notebook ready to jot down any impressions, thoughts, or ideas that occur to you. While psilocybin doesn’t trigger munchies like marijuana, it can’t hurt to have some light, healthy snacks around, like fresh fruit and nuts, and some water.
Music in particular can be a powerful accompaniment to magic mushrooms. Think about what type of music you want to hear––something calm and soothing if you’re looking to relax, or perhaps something ambient to help focus if you have a particular goal or question to work through. We have a mix series you can listen to on our soundcloud. We have dj’s from around the globe providing musical journeys to accompany your trip.
Doing mushrooms outside in a beautiful, peaceful natural setting can be especially enjoyable. Just choose an area you know well, let someone know where you’ll be ahead of time and when you expect to return, and leave enough time to be somewhere safe by dark.
If you’re tripping with friends, ensure everyone is like-minded, non-judgemental, and comfortable. Discuss ahead of time what everyone is comfortable with and address any concerns. If it’s your first time, it can help to do them with someone who is experienced.
The Come Up
Depending on factors like your dosage, natural tolerance, and how recently you ate, it can take between 30 minutes and two hours to begin feeling effects, so don’t worry if you don’t feel anything right away. If you don’t feel anything after two hours, then you could consider taking more, but be sure to re-up in small amounts so you don’t overdo it.
Mushrooms can upset your stomach. If your stomach feels nauseous or achey shortly after ingesting, try taking something with ginger, like tea. Any physical discomfort should fade soon.
The Trip
Within the first hour or two of dosing your trip will begin. Psilocybin trips often begin with feelings of giddiness as well as drowsiness. Colours may deepen and grow more vibrant, sounds may become amplified, you may feel giggly and elated and some lightness in your body. You may see objects begin to sway softly, textured surfaces may begin to shift and warp. With stronger doses you might see brightly coloured fractal patterns coalesce before your eyes.
If you’re in nature, you might begin to see trees and plants sway and move, and feel a deep kinship with them and the other natural elements around you. You may get similar feelings of oneness towards the people you are with.
However, the effects of psilocybin will vary from person to person and from trip to trip, so if you don’t experience one or more of the sensations we listed above, or if you feel things not listed there, that’s totally fine, too.
Each trip is unique. Just lean into the experience and enjoy. If you do find your trip veering into negative territory or start to feel anxiety and fear, we’ve written on how to handle a difficult trip here.
The Come Down
Eventually you’ll begin drifting back down. Your visual and auditory amplifications will grow less intense and eventually stop.
The effects of psilocybin can come in waves, however, so if you feel yourself coming down, then feel the effects returning, there’s no reason for alarm. It’s just the natural cycle of the psilocybin working through your body and mind.
Your boosted mood may persist for a time after your trip. Psilocybin users call this the “afterglow.” These effects have been seen to last anywhere from 24 hours to a week.
HAVE A SAFE TRIP