Free Microdosing Guide

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Free 
Microdosing 
Guide
Introduction 
What is Microdosing? 
Benefits & Side Effects of Microdosing 
How to Microdose 
Microdosing Protocols 
Flow State 
Creating a Mindful Microdosing Practice 
Retreat Microdose Course & Coaching 
Psychedelics & the Future of Health 
Citations and Links
At Retreat, we are passionate about learning and teaching others about the benefits of 
psychedelic medicine and microdosing mushrooms. We have a well-rounded team of 
experts who have many years of experience (professionally and personally) with psilocybin 
(commonly known as magic mushrooms)  and we’ve come together to create this guide as 
an introduction to microdosing for the mushroom-curious.  
Our goal with this free guide is for you to have access to all-things microdosing 101. 
Starting with:
Introduction
• What is microdosing? 
• Why you might consider yourself? 
• How to get started.
For full microdosing support, consider joining our Retreat Microdosing Course. We’re 
glad you’re here!
http://www.retreatmicrodose.com/course
What is Microdosing?
If you’re reading this guide, then you probably have some basic understanding of what 
microdosing is or you’ve heard about it and want to learn more. 
By definition, microdosing refers to the act of taking sub-hallucinogenic doses of a 
medicine or a psychedelic substance, most commonly psilocybin mushrooms or LSD. 
People have microdosed many other substances, as well. At Retreat, we refer to and 
focus on microdosing psilocybin, more commonly known as magic mushrooms, in 
particular. 
It’s important to highlight that you should never feel the psychedelic effects of the 
substance you’re microdosing, such as visual or auditory hallucinations, which is what is 
meant by the term sub-hallucinogenic. In that sense, microdosing is considered safe to 
engage in throughout your daily life. The advantage of this approach is that you can 
experience the benefits and  life altering shifts over a period of time and in a more gentle 
way. Additionally, you avoid having to take time out of your day-to-day life and 
responsibilities to dedicate to a session like you would with a  heavy dose. (A macrojourney 
can last for around six hours.) 
Please consult with a medical professional before starting a microdosing protocol. If 
you’re not sure where to start, consider joining our Retreat Microdosing Course, which 
pairs you up with a medical professional and a psychotherapist. 
http://www.retreatmicrodose.com/course
BENEFITS OF MICRODOSING:
Benefits & Side Effects of Microdosing 
There are many benefits reported from Microdosers. Here is a list of just some 
of these benefits and research to accompany these claims! Join our Retreat Microdosing 
Course to explore these benefits in greater depth. 
Mental benefits include: Clearer Awareness; Improved productivity; Increase 
in concentration and focus; Better decision making, attributed to increased clarity of 
purpose and resulting in an increased overall sense of well-being; Taking responsibility for 
your actions and perspectives; Decreased depression, tension, stress, and anxiety; 
Decreased procrastination; Greater awareness and presence; Increased optimism; 
Reduction of depressive symptoms.
This study from 2019 explored the experience of 278 microdosers (mushrooms or LSD 
were used) and found that 26.6% of participants experienced an improved mood and 
14.8% reported increased focus. This study from 2019 found that some microdosers using 
LSD or psilocybin reported decreased levels of depression and stress over a six week 
period. What’s more, this 2019 study found that people who sought psychological support 
during and after microdosing psychedelics experienced improvements in their symptoms 
of PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
MICRODOSING 
PRESENCE
ENERGY
PRODUCTIVITY
MOOD
CREATIVITY
MICRODOSING BENEFITS
http://www.retreatmicrodose.com/course
http://www.retreatmicrodose.com/course
https://harmreductionjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12954-019-0308-4
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6364961/
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00672/full
Emotional benefits include: A greater sense of clarity on who you are and your purpose; 
Ability for self-reflection and honesty; Increased connection to yourself, your community, 
and your world; The ability to release patterns, thoughts, habits and/or people that no 
longer serve you; Strengthened ability to identify & sit with uncomfortable emotions; A 
deeper connection to the different parts of yourself and to your environment. 
Physical benefits include: Better, more sustained sleep; More physical energy; Less 
physical pain, including reduced PMS symptoms; More connection and awareness to the 
physical body; Can support you in quitting negative physical habits and addictions.
There’s more to understand about how microdosing can help users quit addictions, but 
for now, one study found that 84 percent of participants significantly reduced their 
drinking to more manageable levels after taking a psychedelic (the majority of them 
experienced alcoholism). 
Spiritual Benefits include: Cultivating compassion, curiosity, humility, openness & 
courage; Increased optimism, confidence, openness, gratitude, grace, creativity; Increased 
child-like curiosity; Increased sense of community; Greater presence and awareness, 
including emotional awareness; Greater sense of purpose in life.
This study from 2019 concluded that microdosers of LSD and psilocybin reported 
increased creativity and open-mindedness, and may have to do with what researchers 
found in a 2014 study: that psilocybin encourages different parts of the brain to 
communicate in novel ways. 
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0269881119845793?journalCode=jopa
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-018-5106-2
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rsif.2014.0873#corresp-1
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rsif.2014.0873#corresp-1
Researchers found that 4% of users reported less than positive experiences with 
microdosing in their paper “Might Microdosing Psychedelics Be Safe and Beneficial? An 
Initial Exploration”. 
While 4% is a low number, it’s important to normalize that less than positive experiences 
can happen. Yes, you want to feel great, and you should. That comes with some self-care 
and work, as well. Just like the benefits can happen on different levels, a side effect can 
represent a lesson to be learned that’s not as obvious as its physical representation can 
suggest (like a headache or fatigue). You may be going through challenges physically or 
emotionally and microdosing can bring a new personal awareness that brings these 
challenges to the surface. This is all part of the “work”. 
Here are some more examples of potential side effects you could experience, though they 
are rare: 
Fatigue/Brain fog (This may be attributed to the fact that underlying emotional and/or 
physical needs are arising); Physiological discomforts, such as temperature dysregulation, 
digestive and appetite issues, tingling and numbing sensations; Building a tolerance 
(happens when users require more psilocybin each time to achieve the same effect); 
Challenges when coming to terms with changes in their consciousness and their 
perceptions; Uncomfortable emotions, feelings, thoughts, traumas that can come up; 
Reduced or impaired focus; Worsened or reduced mood; Feelings of disconnection 
(dissociation) - (can be a result of feeling like your current way of doing certain things isn’t 
serving you anymore and you’re wanting to re-ground into something more authentic); 
Excessive energy (restlessness, agitation); Physical risks can include nausea, headaches, or 
increased anxiety. 
Potential Side Effects of Microdosing
How to Microdose
We always recommend working with a professional before starting a microdosing regimen.At Retreat, we’ve compiled a team of experts to assist you along the way. Our Retreat 
Microdosing Course provides you with the ins and outs of microdosing, including how to get 
started. We have a whole module dedicated to the topic of “How to microdose”! 
For now, we’ll give you some general things to keep in mind. 
Once you’ve done your research and met with your healthcare providers, it’s time to start 
microdosing.
4. Form of the Medicine: Common ways to take your microdose are in a capsule (which 
you can measure and make yourself or they may come this way already), in a gummy 
or a chocolate, or the dry mushroom itself.
3. Source, Strain, Dosage: Find a reliable, expert source to get your medicine. Then 
decide what strain you’ll be using based on what’s available. Dosage will depend on 
the strain, your protocol, your personal constitution, and more! Our Magic Mushroom 
Dosing 101 guide can help you figure out where to start.
2. Set & Setting. Set is your mindset going into any experience, and setting is your 
physical space, your schedule, and your community.
1. Protocol:  Decide on a protocol to try out or if you’re wanting to create your own 
protocol, we dive into how to do that in our Retreat Microdosing Course. You’ll 
also learn about cycling and schedules.
http://www.retreatmicrodose.com/course
http://www.retreatmicrodose.com/course
https://www.retreatmicrodose.com/media/magic-mushroom-dosage-101
https://www.retreatmicrodose.com/media/magic-mushroom-dosage-101
http://www.retreatmicrodose.com/course
A microdosing protocol refers to specific guidelines or a structured schedule for dosing 
days. When working with psychedelics, it is important to note that the body builds a 
tolerance very quickly, therefore it is best practice to stagger dosing days to allow for the 
body to return to its baseline and to experience optimal benefits.  
There are several expert-recommended protocols. The two most common  approaches are 
the Fadiman Protocol and the Stamets Stack (which involves consuming psilocybin as well 
as 500 - 1000 mg of Lion’s Mane mushroom extract and 50 - 200 mg of Niacin). It’s 
important to find one that works for you. It may be one of these two protocols, a blend of 
them or a different one that your health expert recommends for you. 
With so much information out there, it can be overwhelming trying to determine which 
protocol is best for you. The Retreat Microdosing Course guides you in the best way to 
microdose for your unique needs. We explore all of the protocols in depth and teach you 
more about the supplements that the Stamets Stack recommends adding to your 
microdose. In our course, you’ll learn how to create your own protocol based on all of the 
information that’s available and our recommendations for doing so. 
Microdosing Protocols
DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3
DAY 4 DAY 5 DAY 6
BREAK BREAK
BREAK BREAK
FADIMAN PROTOCOL
DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3
DAY 4 DAY 5 DAY 6
BREAK
STAMETS STACK 
BREAK
DAY 7
BREAK
DAY 7
https://www.retreatmicrodose.com/media/the-fadiman-microdosing-protocol
https://www.retreatmicrodose.com/media/the-stamets-stack
http://www.retreatmicrodose.com/course
There’s a popular state of being known as the “flow state,” coined by positive psychologist Mihály 
Csíkszentmihályi in 1990. Flow states have long been accessed by spiritual seekers when fully absorbed 
in a transcendental spiritual practice. Abraham Maslow used the term “peak experience”. 
What does being in a flow state mean? According to Csíkszentmihályi, being in a state of flow involves 
“being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, 
movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz. Your whole being is 
involved, and you're using your skills to the utmost." He also notes that there is often a balance between 
the task at hand being neither too easy, nor too hard. 
Many people hear about microdosing and how it can induce a flow state. We go more in depth about 
the flow state throughout our Retreat Microdosing Course. We explore how to get into a flow state and 
how microdosing can help in the process. 
Flow State
http://www.retreatmicrodose.com/course
Creating a Mindful Microdosing Practice
In order to experience the most out of your microdosing journey, it is imperative that you 
create a mindful practice. There are three pillars to creating a mindful practice, the first 
being intention setting; define or identify an intention. What is calling you to this medicine 
and practice? This can feel like a loaded question, but it doesn’t need to be. Setting an 
intention can be as simple as defining how you would like to feel or show up in your daily 
life. An example might be, choosing a single word to embody your ideal state of being.  
There is, however, an important distinction here, which is creating an intention versus 
having an expectation.  
An expectation is often attached to a particular outcome, and creates the illusion of 
control, oftentimes resulting in a feeling of disappointment. An example of an expectation 
is, you expected that moving into a bigger home would make you happier, but it didn’t so 
you felt disheartened by the move.  
An intention is an embodied state. An example of an intention is, while settling into your 
new home you set the intention to be grateful for the expanded space it gives you to 
work and play with your family. 
An expectation is based on previous experiences, thus coming from the “ego” or the mind 
which creates limited outcomes. An intention is holistic and a state of being that you can 
arrive at in more ways than your ego could ever think up. By intending what state you’d 
like to experience, you release the outcome in how you arrive, and allow the most aligned 
path to guide you there. This opens you to new and expanded possibilities rather than 
cycling through old experiences and patterns. 
We hope you found this free guide informative and that you’ll consider sharing it with your 
community. If you found it valuable, consider joining one of our other offerings: we offer 
both a course and 1:1 coaching. 
In our Retreat Microdose Course, we cover all of these topics and more in much more 
depth, with 6 hours of educational programming —in audio and written format—that 
provides all the tools and information you need to microdose for change. Whether you 
prefer to read or listen, you’ll learn eve 
We also offer 1:1 coaching with trained microdosing coaches—like life coaching, but with 
microdosing as your catalyst for change. Our microdosing coaching sessions can be 
purchased on a monthly subscription, or in a la carte pack. 
Retreat Microdose Course & Coaching
Retreat Community
Looking for support in the form of a community? Apply to join our free, invite-only 
community. The Retreat is a digital oasis for collaboration, creation, and community 
around psychedelics. A gathering ground for both newcomers and experienced thought 
leaders, we aim to provide the foundation for meaningful discussion.
Psychedelics & the Future of Health
At Retreat, we believe that psychedelics are here to stay and that we are only scratching 
the surface of what’s possible pertaining to the mental health benefits—not to mention 
general well-being benefits—that psychedelic medicine offers. If you take a look at the 
plethora of research being explored on all topics related to psychedelics, you’ll find you’ll 
likely agree! 
Quick internet searches on current and future studies into psychedelics will lead you to 
articles in Yahoo Finance about “Every Clinical Trial Underway Right Now Involving Public 
And Private Companies” or to this article that highlights 5 Most Important Psychedelic 
Clinical Trials in 2022. 
In 2019, Doblin and his colleagues asserted that “after decades of persistent education and 
advocacy, rigorous research employing psychedelics as tools of discoveryand healing are 
abundant today” (Doblin, 2019) in their article on “The Past and Future of Psychedelic 
Science”. These articles by Harris and Goodwin and by Lowe and colleagues look at the 
present and future therapeutic potentials of psychedelics for treating mood disorders like 
depression and for anxiety disorders. 
We are dedicated to learning and growing alongside this expanding community and are 
thrilled that you’re here to explore psychedelics with us. 
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/psychedelics-research-fyi-every-clinical-175057984.html
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/psychedelics-research-fyi-every-clinical-175057984.html
https://psychedelicspotlight.com/5-psychedelic-clinical-trials-2022-maps-mdma-psilocybin-ketamine-lsd-dmt/
https://psychedelicspotlight.com/5-psychedelic-clinical-trials-2022-maps-mdma-psilocybin-ketamine-lsd-dmt/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31132970/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31132970/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28443617/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35458717/
Carhart-Harris RL, Goodwin GM. The Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelic Drugs: Past, Present, and 
Future. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2017 Oct;42(11):2105-2113. doi: 10.1038/npp.2017.84. Epub 2017 Apr 
26. PMID: 28443617; PMCID: PMC5603818. 
Doblin RE, Christiansen M, Jerome L, Burge B. The Past and Future of Psychedelic Science: An 
Introduction to This Issue. J Psychoactive Drugs. 2019 Apr-Jun;51(2):93-97. doi: 
10.1080/02791072.2019.1606472. PMID: 31132970. 
Lowe H, Toyang N, Steele B, Grant J, Ali A, Gordon L, Ngwa W. Psychedelics: Alternative and Potential 
Therapeutic Options for Treating Mood and Anxiety Disorders. Molecules. 2022 Apr 14;27(8):2520. doi: 
10.3390/molecules27082520. PMID: 35458717; PMCID: PMC9025549. 
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/psychedelics-research-fyi-every-clinical-175057984.html 
https://psychedelicspotlight.com/5-psychedelic-clinical-trials-2022-maps-mdma-psilocybin-ketamine-lsd-
dmt/ 
Citations and Links
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/psychedelics-research-fyi-every-clinical-175057984.html