Microdosing It is the practice of taking a small dose of a psychedelic substance, usually 1/20-1/10 of a normal dose, with the intention of improving quality of life.
Who is Paul Stamets?
Paul Stamets is a mycologist, author, and researcher, and the world's leading expert on mushrooms and fungi. To date, he has received over 20 patents focused on mushrooms and has dedicated his life to discovering the potential of mushrooms to heal humans and our environment.
What is the Stamets stack?
Stamets Stack combines the medicinal mushroom Lion's Mane with niacin (vitamin B3) and psilocybin (the active compound in magic mushrooms or magic truffles ). Stamets came up with the combination of psilocybin mushrooms and Lion's Mane because of their dual ability to create new neurons and neural pathways in the brain, and also to repair existing neurological damage.
Stamets incorporated niacin into this stack for its potential to more effectively distribute psilocybin and Lion's Mane in the brain, thus enhancing the brain-boosting benefits of both substances.
What is Lion's Mane?
Lion's Mane, also known as Bearded Tooth Fungus or Hedgehog Mushroom, is a medicinal mushroom that grows naturally in North America, Europe, and Asia. Medicinal mushrooms are gaining a lot of attention these days, but Lion's Mane has attracted special attention for its unique nerve regeneration properties. Its use dates back hundreds of years in traditional Chinese and Japanese culture as a tonic to support overall health and longevity.
What does Lion's Mane do?
Lion's Mane is nature's brain food; it stimulates the brain to produce more NGF (nerve growth factors). These are responsible for the production, growth, and maintenance of neurons in the brain. NGF is specifically responsible for the production of the myelin sheath, a layer around brain cells that protects and enhances the conduction of stimuli between cells. Unfortunately, as we age, these sheaths can be damaged, and the conduction speed becomes much slower, leading to the deterioration of brain functions (as in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease). In other words, Lion's Mane helps keep the brain vital and healthy.
Evidence of Lion's Mane's brain-healing potential comes from two laboratory studies where researchers intentionally damaged the brains of mice by introducing a neurotoxin. They observed the mice's behavior and noted that they exhibited symptoms similar to dementia. Upon introducing Lion's Mane, the effects of the neurotoxin were reversed.
Other study Regarding Lion's Mane mushrooms, it is confirmed that they are a promising supplement for brain aging, activating neurogenesis and increasing neurotrophic pathways.
In addition, Lion's Mane contains antioxidants that support the overall health of your cells. The formula is simple: healthier cells, better energy transport, more energy!
The potential benefits of Lion's Mane
- It increases memory.
- Increase focus
- Increases concentration
- Anti-inflammatory
- Supports gut health.
- It improves your mood.
- Increases energy levels.
- Supports insulin sensitivity.
What is niacin and why is it in the Stamets battery?
Niacin (nicotinic acid), also known as vitamin B3 or vitamin PP, is a vitamin created in the body from the amino acid tryptophan. It is obtained in the diet from a variety of whole and processed foods. Although the names are similar, nicotinic acid has nothing to do with the nicotine in tobacco. To avoid confusion, nicotinic acid is more commonly known as niacin.
Niacin plays a vital role in energy and protein metabolism. Without this vitamin, the proper metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, and amino acids does not occur in the body. Niacin has an antioxidant effect and participates in many enzymatic processes. It is essential for the regeneration of skin, muscles, nerves, and DNA.
Paul Stamets reports that most neurogenesis occurs at nerve endings; since niacin acts as a flushing agent and causes vasodilation (expansion of blood vessels), it has the potential to transport molecules of other compounds across the blood-brain barrier and into the far reaches of the nervous system; Stamets theorizes that this helps distribute psilocybin and Lion's Mane deeper into the brain and nervous system, increasing their healing potential.
When taking niacin is not recommended:
- Hypersensitivity to vitamin B3
- liver diseases
- Ulcerus pepticum (stomach and/or duodenal ulcer)
- Drop
- Alcoholism
- Very low blood pressure
- decreased kidney function
- Diabetes
Niacin causes blood capillaries to expand (vasodilation) and blood to rush to the surface of the skin. This can cause what is called a "flush" when supplementing with a high dose of niacin – accompanied by redness, itching, or a burning sensation on the skin. Although uncomfortable, a niacin flush is harmless and should only last about an hour.
Starting with a low dose (50 mg) of niacin and gradually increasing it, as well as supplementing with a B-complex vitamin and vitamin C, can prevent severe flushing. Never take more than 500 milligrams of niacin per day.
Always consult a healthcare professional if you are unsure whether a niacin supplement is right for you before starting Stamets' Stack.
Stacking Lion's Mane with niacin and psilocybin
At the microdose level, psilocybin has a sub-perceptible effect. Within this almost imperceptible effect, it has the potential to reduce anxiety and irritability, improve cognitive functions and creativity, increase socialization, and provide a greater sense of well-being. Through this increased sense of well-being, our immune system also becomes stronger.
Stacking Lion's Mane within the Stamets Stack protocol can also promote self-awareness, creativity, cognition, health, well-being, and recognition of the interconnectedness of all life.
Stamets believes that the Lion's Mane combination formula, psilocybin and niacin, should be considered and made available like any other vitamin supplement, claiming that its neurogenerative effect (over several generations) has the potential to initiate 'the next quantum leap in human consciousness.'
How to stack Lion's Mane according to the Paul Stamets Stacking protocol.
Microdosing using Paul Stamets' stacking protocol is simple. The stacking protocol is as follows:
DAYS 1-4: Microdosing days
- 0.1 to 0.2 grams of dried magic mushrooms (psilocybin) or 0.5 to 1.5 grams of fresh magic truffles
- 500 mg to 1000 mg of extract powder Lion's Mane high quality (or the dose recommended by the manufacturer)
- 50 –200 mg Niacin Vit B3 'Flush'
DAYS 5-7: Days without microdosing
- No microdose
- Optional: Niacin
- Optional: Continue implementing Lion's Mane
CYCLE: continue for four weeks
RESET: Stop microdosing with psilocybin because Two to four weeks. You can continue supplementing with Lion's Mane during this reset.
Not sure whether Stamets Stack or another protocol is better for you? Microdosing Institute video course: Explore Microdosing It will teach you the best way to microdose for your specific needs.
Lion's Mane Fruiting Body vs. Mycelium?
Lion's Mane mushroom mycelium has the potential to stimulate increased NGF (nerve growth factor) production; however, many suppliers who use mycelium in their powdered extracts also grind up the substrate used for mycelium and fruiting body growth.
The grain used for this substrate can occupy up to 30% of the total capsule. That's why we recommend looking for extracts made only with the fruiting bodies of Lion's Mane mushrooms. Our partners Foodsporen (via Microdose.nl in the EU) and Mushroom Revival (USA) use only high-quality mushroom fruiting bodies and a 3x extracted powder.
Is stacking lion manes safe?
When you take niacin at a dose of 50 milligrams or more, you may experience a "niacin rush"; a tingling sensation and redness in your face, neck, and arms, which is completely harmless. However, it is a symptom of the niacin doing what it's supposed to do.
Therefore, do not use the non-flush variety of niacin when stacking Lion's Mane and psilocybin. If your reaction is too intense with 200 milligrams, start with a lower dose (50 mg) and slowly increase the dose over time. Microdosers report that the flush effect becomes less intense as the body gets used to the stacking routine.
As a reminder, those with hypersensitivity to niacin, liver disease, peptic ulcer (stomach and/or duodenal ulcer), gout, alcoholism, very low blood pressure, decreased kidney function, and diabetes should not take niacin; however, psilocybin and Lion's Mane may still help in these cases.
If you are unsure whether these substances are safe for your health condition, consult a healthcare professional before stacking with Lion's Mane or trying Stamets Stack.
Tips for the Stamets stack
- Before trying the Stamets Stack, we generally recommend that microdosers try a 4-6 week microdosing cycle with psilocybin (mushrooms or truffles) alone first. This provides a baseline to help you understand if you get enhanced benefits by stacking Lion's Mane and niacin. It also helps to find the sweet spot for microdosing or the ideal dose of mushrooms or truffles with psilocybin.
- To avoid developing a tolerance to psilocybin mushrooms or truffles, it's important to take periodic breaks and avoid microdosing every day. This is why microdosing psilocybin for the entire week is not recommended, and a few weeks of microdosing should be taken after a 4-week cycle.
- The benefits of Lion's Mane, however, are best absorbed by the body when used consistently. It is safe to supplement with Lion's Mane every day, even when you are not using microdosing.
- When finding your sweet spot for microdosing, we always recommend starting small and going slowly. Applying this concept to your niacin dose can provide a more pleasant experience during a Stamets Stack. Start with a smaller dose of niacin and increase it slowly as your body adjusts to the flushing effects.