The question of whether it’s necessary or highly desirable to have a psychedelic trip or not is controversial. When real psychedelic mushrooms were legal, the culture at the time was all about taking large amounts of hallucinogens for life-changing transformations in perception, outlook, and existential philosophy.
Scientists and psychiatrists took them a step further. They experimented with large and small doses of hallucinogens on their subjects. The result was that there were many benefits common to both, but each had its own unique purpose.
While large-dose hallucinogenic trips have its time and place, microdosing is even more popular for its ease of use every few days with brain-rewiring benefits. Learn more about what goes into deciding whether to trip – or not.
Taking A Trip: A Journey on a Large Scale
Back in the day when psychedelics were legal, users would take huge doses. The motto was “Turn on, tune in, and drop out.” The problem was, some people couldn’t successfully integrate those experiences into their daily lives. They could not function at a high level where they could handle various responsibilities at once.
At least 2 psychiatrists became involved in researching psychedelics in large and small doses. Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert were pioneers in the usage of psychedelics for therapeutic purposes, such as mood disorders, fear of death, and grief. However, many of these focused on large doses for big results in a short amount of time, especially for difficult cases.
There was also the question of accessibility. Soon, psychedelics would become illegal under federal law. Large doses interfered with work, school, and daily life in general. “Tripping” wasn’t everything there was to experience from psychedelics.
The Verdict: Large-dose psychedelics served the purpose of life-changing experiences with huge shifts in perception, including hallucinogenic visuals. They were especially useful for people with stubborn mood disorders, like chronic depression, or suffering from severe cases such as grief.
Microdosing: A Semi-Regular Ritual
Large-dose psychedelic administration for medical and research purposes, even therapy, required specific conditions. It became necessary for an alternative for people to self-treat their conditions, continue therapy themselves, or to simply be able to think and perform better.
Enter microdosing. Referring to a small or even a tiny fraction of a standard dosage, it is the opposite of the large-dose trip that instead gives a lot of cerebral benefits people who use their minds a lot or who want to maintain their memory will appreciate. Also, legal psychedelics do not contain psilocybin.
Since a psychedelic trip can shock some people, and make it difficult for them to integrate their experiences back into their daily lives, microdosing is the preferable option. It can help rewire the brain over time with subtle changes that won’t tax the user’s “fight or flight” survival mode.
Microdosing is also not like some other supplements, which are taken every day. With microdosing, the user can take it for one day and then have 2 days off, making it a twice-a-week practice.
The purpose of microdosing is to subtly shift perception day by day, and over time the brain rewires itself. It’s not a toss-up like tripping where it could be a life-changing dream or a disaster. Also, it feels far more natural than large-dose tripping – it’s you at your best.
The Verdict: Microdosing psychedelics became a way of both avoiding the inconveniences and negative effects of tripping as well as having legal amounts of similar substances that accomplish the same effects as psychedelics on a small scale. It can help rewire the brain to improve mood and thinking without the hallucinogenic visuals and other perception disturbances, anxiety, and nausea that happens with tripping.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Tripping | Microdosing |
| Dosage | Large or standard | Tiny or small fractions of a “standard” dose |
| Effects/Purpose | Visual and auditory hallucinations; huge transformative changes in perception, emotions, and outlook | Subtle shifts in awareness, perception, stress resilience, ability to think outside the box, better flow between tasks |
| Best for | Spiritual and consciousness explorers disconnecting from everyday life | People who want to perform better at cerebral and demanding tasks like studying, certain jobs, socializing, or even regular practices such as exercise, yoga, meditation, and mindfulness |
Deciding Whether to Trip or Not
The choice between microdosing or tripping is a personal one. For most people, microdosing is enough. It certainly gives cognitive and emotional benefits that won’t disturb your daily routine, but make it better. Experienced users may decide to venture further and take large doses for a unique journey.
Regardless of your decision, there is one psychedelic mushroom product that is made explicitly for microdosing without unpredictable effects or inaccurate dosing. Mindless Mushrooms by Real Botanicals is splittable into quarters or halves with each 5 mg tablet and a pleasant Blue Raspberry flavor. Sensitivity-aware and stomach-friendly ingredients make for a formula that’s all about the purity, potency, and consistency you can expect with every small batch-tested product from this manufacturer-direct vendor.
See “What You’ll Feel with Mindless Microdose Mushroom Tablets” or “Supplementing Your Social Life with Mushrooms.“
