A stack refers to a complementary blend of various substances designed to support your health. Microdosing is the practice of taking a tiny amount of psilocybin mushrooms on a regular basis.

Paul Stamets, a well-known mycologist, entrepreneur, and author, filed a patent for his particular formulation (known as the Stamets Stack) in 2017.

This guide will help you understand:

• What's in the Stamets Stack, and why?
• What is the Stamets Stack dosage?
• What’s the dosing schedule?
• What are the benefits of the Stamets Stack?
• Stamets Stack vs. Fadiman’s Protocol
• Other microdosing protocols
• Tips for microdosing beginners

What’s In the Stamets Stack, and Why?

The Stamets Stack contains

• Psilocybin - the psychoactive compound in magic mushrooms that studies show may help with depression, anxiety, addiction, cluster headaches, OCD, ADHD, and a variety of other issues. Humans have been working with psilocybin for millennia. The Aztecs called them Teonanacatl, which translates to ‘flesh of the gods.”
• Lion’s Mane Mushroom - An anti-inflammatory medicinal mushroom that stimulates nerve growth factor (NGF), supports brain health, and provides many other benefits.
  
• Niacin (Vitamin B3) - Helps the body convert food into energy, and supports healthy skin, nerves, and digestion.
  Because niacin activates nerve endings and improves blood flow, some microdosers believe it helps psilocybin and lion’s mane move more effectively through the nervous system and to its end points.
  On the other hand, taking too much can cause side effects including flushing, itching, and upset stomach.
  In fact, according to his patent application, one of the reasons Stamets added niacin to the stack is precisely to prevent abuse by those who want to take it just to get high.
  Some microdosers leave niacin out of their stack.

What Is the Stamets Stack Dosage?

In the patent, Stamets lists several formulas with varying dosages of each ingredient. For most people, the following dosages should be a good starting point:

• Psilocybin Mushroom Powder: 100mg – 200mg (0.1 to 0.2 grams)
• Lion’s Mane: 50 – 200 mg
• Niacin: 100 – 200 mg (optional)

Ultimately, it’s all an experiment. You can adjust dosages until you find something that works for you.

What’s the Dosing Schedule?

The Stamets Stack follows a specific routine:

• Days 1 to 4: Microdose.
• Days 5 to 7: Take a break.

In other words, 4 days on, 3 days off. Some people do 5 days on, 2 days off. Feel free to test it out for yourself. Whichever you choose to start is fine. There’s no right or wrong.

Most people follow this schedule for four to six weeks, and then take a break for two to six weeks. Again, once you start, you can follow your intuition and do what feels right for you.

‍What Are the Benefits of the Stamets Stack?

Some of the reported benefits of the Stamets Stack include:

• Reduction in anxiety and depression
• Mood stabilization
• Heightened creativity
• Potential regeneration of visual and auditory neurons
• Diminished irritability
• Relief from symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Lowered incidence of neuropathy
• Increased capacity for socialization and empathy
• Reduction in age-related effects on the brain

Stamets states that his formulation might help “those suffering from age or trauma related neuropathologies including but not limited to:

• Tinnitus
• dementia
• Alzheimer's
• Parkinson's
• Parkinsonism's
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Atherosclerosis
• trauma from accidents
• exposure to neurotoxins (sarin, organophosphates and other toxic compounds)
• heavy metals
• Prions
• amyloid plaque formation
• Demyelination
• nerve signaling
• neurotoxic viruses
• Stress
• numerous other agents causing neuropathies.”

What’s the Research Say About Microdosing?

‍To date, research on microdosing remains limited but promising.

• A 2013 study demonstrated that lab mice conditioned to exhibit a PTSD-like fear response were able to mitigate this learned trauma following the ingestion of psilocybin microdoses.
• A 2019 study tracking the experiences of 98 microdosers found that they showed “reductions in reported levels of depression and stress; lower levels of distractibility; increased absorption; and increased neuroticism.”
• A 2021 app-based study found that “[a]mong individuals reporting mental health concerns, microdosers exhibited lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress across gender.”
• A 2021 Imperial College study of 191 microdosers reported improvements in wellbeing and depression. The placebo group also improved, so the authors note “the reported cognitive and mood benefits (i.e. the anecdotal benefits) are potentially explained by placebo.”
• A 2022 study followed 953 microdosers and 180 non-microdosers over ~30 days and “identified small- to medium-sized improvements in mood and mental health that were generally consistent across gender, age and presence of mental health concerns, as we all as improvements in psychomotor performance that were specific to older adults.

Some studies have been less enthusiastic:

• A 2022 study that gave .5 grams of psilocybin mushrooms to 34 participants found no improvements in wellbeing, creativity, or cognition. The researchers conclude that expectation probably explains some reported benefits.
• Another 2022 study found that microdosing “did not affect emotion processing or symptoms of anxiety and depression compared with placebo.”

There are many anecdotal reports from psychonauts and microdosing advocates posted on various platforms such as YouTube and Reddit. The majority claims the same thing: the Stamets Stack helps promote physical health and mental-emotional well-being.

It’s a mystery why so many people have experienced real benefits from microdosing, but some research does not reflect that.

Unfortunately, this protocol has yet to undergo formal medical review or clinical trials to determine its true effectiveness. One reason for the lack of clinical trials is that the pharmaceutical companies with means to fund these studies do not have much to gain.

In fact, if studies confirm microdosing is beneficial, profits from various anti-depressant, anti-psychotics, anti-anxiety medications would decrease as people realize there are much healthier alternatives.

The more people microdose, the more other industries (e.g. alcohol, tobacco, sugar, clothing) would also be affected, since psilocybin tends to make people question their habits and identity.

Governments would have to explain why mushrooms were illegal in the first place, when the benefits are so apparent.

Stamets Stack vs. Fadiman’s Protocol

A common question within the microdosing community is: which one is better, the Stamets Stack or the Fadiman Protocol?

Let’s discuss the main differences between the two:

The Stamets Stack has three ingredients, whereas Fadiman’s Protocol keeps it simple with just psilocybin. A common starting point for both is .1 grams of magic mushrooms.

The Stamets Stack has a higher dosing frequency, with advocates encouraging dosing four or five days in a row before taking two or three days off. The Fadiman Protocol is more spaced out at one day on, two days off.

In my personal opinion, neither is better or worse than the other. It’s a matter of preference. The Stamets Stack may cause emotions to bubble up to the surface more quickly. Some people are ready for that and others may want to take it at a slower pace.

Feel into it. Perhaps choose one to start and adjust from week to week. There’s no right and wrong here, just experimentation and being flexible.

Stamets Stack and Fadiman’s Protocol are just two of several microdosing styles. If you want to learn more about some of the others, you may want to read "Exploring Microdosing Protocols."

Tips for Microdosing Beginners

1. Start low, go slow. We can’t force results or rush the process. More and faster is not always better. It’s an infinite journey.
2. Practice mindfulness. Be aware of whatever feelings that come up before, during, and after your microdoses. There may be moments when we feel tired, irritable, frustrated, angry, confused, foggy. All these emotions are valid. There is nothing “wrong” that needs to be fixed. Microdosing can teach us patience, compassion, and acceptance.
3. Relax expectations, desire for instant gratification, and a sense of entitlement. Just because we want to feel a certain way, doesn’t mean we’re going to feel that way. Mushrooms are not a quick fix pill. They work on their own timeline, and will open doors for those who practice humility and gratitude. Develop faith in the process.
4. Get your life in order as much as possible. The quality of your sleep, diet, relationships, and meditation practice are just as important as your microdosing schedule. Reduce stress levels if possible. If your lifestyle is chaotic and unhealthy, the mushrooms will show that to you. The mushrooms can teach us about rest, movement, and connection.

‍Final Takeaways

If you're drawn to microdosing, start by doing your research.

You can explore microdosing communities online. Reddit's r/microdosing and the Microdosing Institute community have thousands of thoughtful discussions and first-hand accounts.

If you have any psychiatric history or are taking medications, you may want to consult with a professional or two who understands how psilocybin might interact with other substances, before you proceed.

The mushrooms are our ancestors. They have been living on earth for much longer than humans. Some of our human ancestors have been worshipping and communing with the mushrooms for thousands of years.

Whatever protocol you decide to go with, approach it with reverence.

Mushroom Tao is happy to support you every step of the way. Feel free to book a free intro call to disuss your situation.

Wishing you safe and beautiful mushroom experiences.