Overview on Microdosing Mushrooms for Pain
If you are you thinking of trying microdosing mushrooms for pain or are you in search of more information on this method before consideration, you have come to the right place.
In the 16th century, the Aztecs used it to stimulate mystical experiences. They called it ‘teonanacatl,’ or sacred mushroom.
In the modern age, workers in Silicon Valley have made microdosing mushrooms for pain popular. They use it as a productivity edge in uber-competitive work environment.
You might know this mystical substance as “magic mushrooms.” You may not know that 21st-century scientists are exploring the medical potential of a method of use called ‘microdosing.’
TLDR Video – Microdosing Mushrooms for Pain
A Brief History of Microdosing Mushrooms
Microdosing is not a new idea. The pharmaceutical industry uses microdosing to learn about a drug’s pharmacokinetics.
In the 1960s, psychologist and researcher James Fadiman was experimenting with using psychedelics as medicine. His research ended when recreational use of hallucinogens became popular and the government stopped funding the experiments.
At that time, the research on psilocybin was showing exciting promise in two areas: substance abuse and end-of-life anxiety and depression.
In the early 2000s, there was new interest in psilocybin, the active compound in “magic mushrooms,” as a medical treatment. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave the study of psychedelic drugs “breakthrough status.” Dr. Fadiman and others could now resume research in psychedelics as medicine.
Since its early use in Silicon Valley, more people began microdosing mushrooms. Many consider it a productivity hack because it can increase focus, cognitive ability, and creativity.
In this article, we’ll talk about the history and science of microdosing mushrooms, its potential benefits and side effects, and how it can help people with chronic pain.
NOTE: At this time, the hallucinogen in magic mushrooms is a schedule I drug (meaning it has no accepted medical use). It is still illegal in most places. Our intent in writing this article is to inform our readers of research that may have future benefits for chronic pain sufferers.
What Is Microdosing, and How Can It Help Pain Patients?
Microdosing is the use of a tiny dose of a psychedelic substance (one-tenth of the usual “trip dose”) to improve cognitive abilities, concentration, or creativity without experiencing an altered level of consciousness.
In the case of magic mushrooms, the active compound is psilocybin, a hallucinogen produced by many types of fungi. While pain relief isn’t the most common reason people give for microdosing psilocybin, some say it helps with certain types of pain.
There are few clinical trials on the microdosing of psilocybin for pain. Still, there are reports that it can be helpful with phantom limb pain and cluster headaches.
Another potential benefit for chronic pain sufferers is the treatment of pain-induced psychiatric symptoms. Psilocybin can elevate mood and reduce symptoms of anxiety and treatment-resistant depression. It may help to break the pain-depression-pain cycle that debilitates many chronic pain sufferers.
Microdosing Mushrooms for Mental Health Conditions
The effect of microdosing can be twofold for people with chronic pain. While it helps with long-term pain like cluster headaches, it also works as a psychedelic serotonin agonist (PSA). PSAs work on the neurologic pathways of the brain. They create new links that allow parts of the brain that don’t normally communicate, talk to each other and create new thoughts and experiences.
This reorganizing of brain pathways may be the key to how psilocybin improves anxiety and depression symptoms: It may disrupt dysfunctional pathways as it creates new ones.
The effects of this reorganization can have long-term results. Full-dose studies found that psilocybin reduced symptoms of cancer-related anxiety (with one dose) and treatment-resistant depression (with two spaced doses) for six months and three months, respectively.
In all, seven clinical trials found that psilocybin use caused reductions in psychiatric rating scores or improved response and remission rates.
What’s more, psilocybin may be protective against suicidality.
Microdosing Mushrooms for Addiction
The studies mentioned above found psilocybin to also be a promising treatment for alcohol and tobacco addiction with increased abstinence rates and no severe adverse reactions.
The mechanism that makes psilocybin a potential treatment for anxiety and depression may work in the same way to reduce addictive behaviors.
In another study, most participants reported significantly decreased use of alcohol, caffeine, cannabis, illicit substances, and psychiatric medications.
Researchers concluded that psilocybin microdosing warrants more research on its potential to treat substance use disorders.
This could be great news for chronic pain sufferers who form addictions by self-medicating to decrease pain.
For a more in-depth look at the use of psilocybin to treat addiction disorders, see this article at Psychology Today.
Risks and Side Effects of Psilocybin
For all its potential benefits, psilocybin also carries risks. The most common side effects are headaches that are not severe or disabling and mood lability. Both are more likely to occur with higher doses, however.
Other reported side effects include dizziness, nausea, muscle weakness, numbness, and loss of appetite.
The Future of Mushroom Microdosing
As discussed above, in 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a clinical trial of psilocybin as a treatment for depression. Since then, Johns Hopkins University has established a Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research.
For now, though, mushrooms are still illegal in the US, though three cities have decriminalized them: Denver, Colorado; Oakland, California; and Santa Cruz, California. The state of Oregon is working toward doing the same, but the coronavirus pandemic has slowed down their progress.
In the meantime, Johns Hopkins uses synthetic psilocybin in pill form in their clinical trials. A synthetic form of the drug would make therapeutic dosing accurate and predictable for use as a pharmaceutical.
Conclusion on Microdosing Mushrooms for Pain
Psilocybin is known to increase mood, concentration, creativity, and productivity, but research is still in the early stages. While we know that it helps with cluster headaches and phantom limb pain, researchers have only scratched the surface of its potential to treat pain.
Still, some researchers have found mushroom microdosing to be safe and non-addictive, and it may be an effective treatment for other conditions that can contribute to chronic pain, such as anxiety, depression, and substance abuse.
PODCAST
Meeting Stigma with Curiosity with Alice Policand and Suzanne Khan – Microdosing For Healing Today we are joined by Alice Policand and Suzanne Khan of Bien.health. They open up about their personal journeys that led them to explore the realm of microdosing, including how Suzanne, a biochemist engineer turned product enthusiast, first experienced earth medicine and how Alice’s mental health challenges paved the way for her to become a founder of Bien. You’ll hear about the multitude of benefits microdosing offers, as well as the transformative power of microdosing in dealing with life’s challenges, bringing clarity to day-to-day experiences, and fostering a reconnection with one’s true self.
Learn More About Microdosing Mushrooms for Pain
If you would like to know more about psilocybin microdosing research, visit the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) for a list of completed and ongoing clinical studies.
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Hello. I’ve been in spinal pain for over 20 years. As I age (mid 60’s) other pains and problems pop up.
Also chronic trigeminal nerve denervation for over 2 years which causes bad itching on my neck, feels the same as going to the dentist and the novocaine is just wearing off and you feel itchy but when you scratch it doesn’t help.
Refusing to be on pain meds and tired of steroids I finally tried microdosing a couple months ago. It’s made an amazing difference in my pain.
But the strange thing is that my trigiminal nerve is no longer numb and no more itch!! A Neurologist and my spine doctor both said there was nothing they could do for it.
Using magic fungus, several “cube” types, all work about the same for me.
Where do you get self grower .
I have a question? Who much would be best for 6’4″ 260 lbs man? I suffer from so much pain physically and mentally.
Thanks,
Brian
I’m interested .. I’ve had a back surgery and nerve damage with chronic pain for over 18 years now. I had a Spinal Cord Implant since 2009 as well.
Where do you get your mushrooms for chronic pain. Have tried cymbalta for chronic pain. Felt horrible. Help please:)
I would like to know the best type of mushrooms for chronic pain, anxiety, and depression, either separately or in one. Thanks.
I pray you can help me. 2 yrs ago I had a website that helped people figure out what medicinal mushrooms they needed and worked with them on the dosing etc.
I have not been able to locate them again and I need to. I was on their site and I know I saved it but of course cannot find it now.They showed each type of mushroom with all the info together with that variety and so forth. I am in dire need to find a Medicinal Pharmacy that knows about Psybos and other shrooms that help severe pain and inflammation thank you
Got mine from Mushroom Cupboard. So far so good
I’m wondering about how Psilocybin would work for Complex Regional Regional Pain Syndrome, Central Sensitization- with Allodynia and Hyperaglasia, Fibromyalgia, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Greater Thrombasic Pain Syndrome Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, TMJ, Cervical Neuropathy, Neuro Foraminal Stenosis, tinnitus,vertigo, migraines and possible vestibular migraines or Meniere’s Disease, Binge Eating Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder with PTSD symptoms, anxiety and depression, high blood pressure and sleep apnea as well as suicidality I am currently diagnosed with all of the above aside from possible vestibular migraines and Meniere’s Disease. My pain levels have been at a 10, on the pain scale of 1-10, for what I would say has been 80%+ time in the last 3.5 months. Vertigo/ tinnitus has also been rather unbearable most days which is causing suicidal thoughts or suicidality to be extremely frequent or high most days. Especially since I have recently been diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Cervical Neuropathy, and Neuro Foraminal Stenosis on top of all the other pain syndromes I already had. I am desperate to find something that is able to control and minimize the pain as well as help control binge eating disorder and vertigo.
It works pretty well for most neuropathic pain, but not with microdosing.
Do you mean that you need higher doses for neuropathic pain? I am interested in it for Atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia.
You need to use a Hyperbaric oxygen chamber It takes away pain and forces you’re body to heal It also releases neurotransmitters like dopamine and serratonin I have had CRPS for 20 years and was initially bed bound and wheelchair bound
After about 2 weeks of Hyperbaric oxygen treatments I was walking I urge you to do this immediately It’s costly but worth it I own a Solice 210 from Oxyhealth and you can rent to own or get a used one but you will need it for life
I also suffer terrible migraines I wonder if you have heavy metal toxicity The Hyperbaric chamber helps outgas all toxins All the best!
Hello to everyone in the pain for life club.
I suffer from severe CRPS in both feet that radiates upward to half my body by nightfall each day. — Also known as the Suicide disease.
What I can’t understand is that people like us are denied relief from an affliction that many see suicide as a cure. With terminal health and chronic pain, psilocybin offers hope. There are so many afflictions and diseases that could benefit from serious study and use of its potential that it could well be seen as cruel and criminal to deny this possible source of relief.
I also suffer from C-PTSD which I believe has been targeted by this treatment as well with good results. When are the people who make these decisions going to understand that the health risks and harm of having no cure or treatment for these things is far more detrimental to our health than looking for answers.
The current medications are known to destroy lives, let us try something better, let us try psilocybin. Would it be worse than living in constant pain.
I really wish there there was clinical trials in the U.K., I have severe osteoarthritis and have had multiple spinal surgeries, I also developed fibromyalgia after the first surgery. I cannot wean off my oxycodone as the withdrawals are hell, I’ve cut didn’t by 50%, but cannot get off them. I’d love to micro dose mushrooms, but cannot find sufficient info on dosage rates and frequency. It’s frustrating. I cannot use this safe option, but the NHS are happy to give me addictive drugs, which don’t work long term.
Magic mushrooms grow all over the UK. Store them when picked and they will last a long time.
Maz, I’ve had 4 stenosis back surgeries and have been on oxycodone for over 10 years. I recently changed pain doctors and was put on fentanyl patches and much reduced oxy. Currently I’m on 25 mcg Fentanyl patches, up to 3 ten mg oxycodone tablets/day and up to 3000 mg of Tylenol, as needed. I HIGHLY recomend going with fentanyl, the reasons: 1. Gloriouslly, no more constipation! 2. My thinking has drasticaly improved, no more “drifty thinking.” 3. No more “drugged” feeling…at all. Fentanyl patches (they’re sort of like a 2″ piece of Scotch tape) work like this: Stick one on (I use my chest), cover it with Tegaderm plastic stick’em so the patch stays on. Wear the patch for 72 hrs, then replace. There’s no withdrawl, very little other sensations. On the pain scale, I was typically at a 9+ and am now in the 6-7 range most of the time. It’s livable. By the way, I was on methadone for a while, but oxy has worked much better for me. Withdrawls from meth were indeed terrible, especially at night. It took me TWO WEEKS of torment before starting to slack off, and then the full blast of pain returned. If you are willing to pay the price, getting off pain crap is worth it. Start by getting a large stack of chocolate…you’ll quickly develop a big time craving for it. I made it through the withdrawls without missing any work, but the first 5 days or so were HELL, ‘specially at night. Pin prickles and muscle tension for 30 minutes, then freezing for a while, then totally boiling hot. And a hour or two after this, the pattern repeated usually with little sleep the whole night. But the bottom line is, no matter how strong you are, pain will eventually win and you’ll probably go back to the opiates. It is a very sorry torment, and in my case, promises to last a lifetime, but I have finally accepted the situation. That has, believe it or not, helped.
My wife has chronic pain but heavy drugs are slowly killing her.It’s so sad.
I’m on oxycodone for severe osteoarthritis and have had multiple back surgeries. I’m trying to wean off Oxy, but it’s impossible. All the doctors offer me is methadone which I’ve refused. I want to try micro dosing mushrooms, but am unsure of dosage size and frequency. I also have fibromyalgia, therefore I am super sensitive to drugs. I wish there was more trials on this area. To treat withdrawals off Oxy and severe pain relief, there’s nothing in the U.K. ?
I feel her pain. I’m addicted to Oxy for severe pain, mushrooms would be a safer option, but there no support in the U.K. for the this option. They offer me methadone to wean off, which I’ve refused. I feel trapped and hate taking it as it increases fatigue and actually makes you more sensitive to pain.
I also have chronic pain from 2 failed back surgeries that I had nearly 32 years ago. I have been taking opioid pain medication for the last 20 years. I don’t think I will ever be able to stop taking the medication. I am in severe pain most of the time.
I had C-D rods (similar to Harrington rods) put in at the first back surgery when I was 31 and a repair surgery 2months later.
I found out recently that both my hips are done for because the rods stop you from bending at the waist, so you bend at the hips instead. Oh joy!!
Now I’m up to 50 mg of oxycodone a day. I have had a spinal cord stimulator since March of this year. It definitely helps with the neuropathy in my feet, but not my toes! No help with my hips, unfortunately. The doctor told that it wouldn’t help with my hip pain, which was very disappointing.
I’ve tried acupuncture and marijuana with no success.
I’m really excited to try microdosing shrooms. I don’t think they will help much with the pain, but if I can lift my mood and focus on my artistic side (which has been lacking in my life) I will definitely feel much better. At least that is what I’m hoping for. I need to have some fun too!
I hope you’re wife will feel better too, I’m assuming she’s interested in trying microdosing also. That I certainly what I hope for, for both of us.
My grandson suggested this to me, and I had no idea that it was a legal thing now. I’m going to owe him a big one if this works.
Good luck and God bless you both!
Helps a lot
Seems to help the chronic pain in my knees and back …
Thanks for your comment, Anonymous. I’m so glad it helps!
Mushrooms are indeed magical fungus. As studies progress, it unfolds a lot of possible uses and applications in science and medicine. I hope this could be the future treatment of a lot of diseases.
Thank you for your feedback Noah!