Joseph, a designer in Austin who asked to be identified by only his first name for privacy concerns, was struggling with depression. He read research suggesting psilocybin, the active ingredient in hallucinogenic mushrooms, may help. But he didn’t want to take a prescription antidepressant. So he started microdosing — taking a tiny nibble of mushroom powder several times a week.

Magic Mushroom Microdose: What to Expect

Many people say magic mushroom microdose has improved their moods and mental health. But it’s not clear how much of those benefits are from the drug itself or from a placebo effect. Two of the largest placebo-controlled studies on the subject were published last year. Volunteers used their own drugs to participate, and unknown to them, they received either an active dose or a placebo packaged in identical capsules. The researchers ran standard psychological tests before and after the drug administration. They found that, on average, microdosers performed better on two tests of creativity and fluid intelligence than non-microdosers.

But the results also showed that the benefits were highly individualized. Grounded theory analyses grouped the 807.5 coded benefits into 11 categories, with the most commonly reported being improved mood and energy. Other reported benefits included increased focus, enhanced creativity, and fewer life challenges. Enhanced creativity aligned with previous studies showing that full-dose psychedelics can promote perspective-shifting and creative problem-solving, as well as greater openness to novelty and new ideas. This is an area for future research.