Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that forms after a person experiences a traumatic experience. While these experiences vary, they always leave an individual feeling more depressed and anxious than normal.

Unfortunately, not everyone benefits from traditional forms of treatment. With that, some wonder if microdosing mushrooms for PTSD is effective.

Since psilocybin mushrooms (sometimes referred to as magic mushrooms) remain illegal in the United States, this isn’t the most optimal form of treatment. Beyond the risk of legal consequences, the substance isn’t regulated like traditional medication is.

For these reasons, we cannot recommend mushroom therapy for PTSD. Still, we will give you some insight into how effective psychedelic treatment is and whether or not you’d benefit from microdosing mushrooms.

What are Psilocybin Mushrooms?

Simply put, psilocybin mushrooms are psychedelic fungi that have been used for thousands of years in both spiritual and medicinal practices. It was officially synthesized in 1958 by Dr. Albert Hofmann, the same man who synthesized lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). ²

When consumed, psilocybin produces hallucinogenic effects that cause you to see, hear, and feel sensations that don’t actually occur. The details of these effects vary from person to person, with their environment playing a substantial role. ³

Researchers don’t know exactly how psilocybin influences the brain and body. However, we know it strongly affects the brain’s prefrontal cortex, the area responsible for mood, cognition, and perception. ⁴ ⁵ It’s also reported that psilocybin affects other brain areas, such as those responsible for arousal and panic responses.

Still, we only know so much. Since psilocybin remains illegal in the United States, it’s difficult for researchers to look into its properties legally. With that in mind, most of what we do know about psilocybin’s effects comes from self-reports.

Can You Use Psilocybin Mushrooms for PTSD?

Dr. Mathew Johnson, an associate professor of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, has led psychedelic research concerning various health conditions. While his main body of work looks into depression, he’s also explored psilocybin’s potential to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

His curiosity stems from the fact that traditional talk therapy doesn’t always work with PTSD patients. The difficulty is past trauma can lead people with PTSD to distrust others, prevent clear communication, and inhibit one’s ability to grow close to another. ⁶

Since psilocybin can evoke feelings of trust, microdosing mushrooms may be beneficial in a therapy session. ⁷

Furthermore, psilocybin creates an emotional response that forces a person to come face-to-face with their trauma. While this confrontation is intimidating, it’s a necessary step in moving past negative life experiences.

With the right therapist – one who provides empathy and compassion – microdosing mushrooms PTSD may be integral in the healing process.

What Does the Research Say?

As discussed, psychedelic therapy is being researched for a wide variety of mental illnesses, including anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders. With that said, there’s only so much research looking at PTSD specifically.

Still, across all disorders, the therapeutic value of psychedelics lies in the mystical experience that allows an individual to garner a new perspective on life. ⁸ For this reason, studies looking into depression or anxiety may also apply to PTSD.

• A 2020 study concerning gay male survivors of the AIDS epidemic took eight to ten therapy sessions involving one dose of psilocybin. After three months, researchers reported those who took the psilocybin saw a significant reduction in symptoms of demoralization compared to a placebo. ⁹

• In a 2020 review (that looked into 24 prior studies), it was reported that 65% of studies found psychedelic substances could reduce symptoms of anxiety. ¹⁰

• In a 2017 study, people who struggle with treatment-resistant depression found psilocybin to help reduce severe symptoms. ¹¹

• A 2016 study looked into people struggling with anxiety and depression due to a cancer diagnosis. Those who took psilocybin saw a reduction in anxiety, hopelessness, and dread, even 6.5 months after the therapy session. ¹²

How Much is a Psilocybin Microdose?

Since psilocybin remains illegal, finding the right dosage is difficult. For one, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t approve of its use and has not given guidelines on dosage recommendations. Secondly, when purchasing mushrooms illegally, it’s impossible to determine how much psilocybin you’re receiving per dry weight.

However, most psilocybin mushrooms contain about 1% psilocybin. With that said, the following chart is based on this standard: ¹³

	Dried Msuhrooms	Estimated Psilocybin
Microdose	0.25 grams – 0.5 grams	2.5mg – 5mg
Low Dose	1 gram	10mg
Medium Dose	1.75 grams	17.5mg
High Dose	3.5 grams	35mg
Very High Dose	5 grams	50mg

If you’ve never taken psilocybin previously, we highly recommend only taking a microdose or low dose your first time.

How to Prepare for a Psychedelic Experience

If you plan on microdosing mushrooms PTSD, there are a few key things to keep in mind before diving into the experience. These are:

• Ensure You’re in a Positive Mindset – Mushrooms are a very mental experience and hold the potential to trigger psychotic episodes (a “bad trip”). It can help to meditate or destress throughout the prior week to ensure you have a good time.

• Have a “Trip Sitter” – It’s best to have a trusted friend who hasn’t taken psilocybin with you. They will be there to watch you and ensure your safety.

• Be in the Right Environment – You must be in an environment where you feel comfortable and surrounded by people you can trust. The wrong place, people, or situation can easily send you on a bad trip.

• Try to Stay in One Location – While it can be exciting to go to different places during your psychedelic experience, it can also be intimidating. If you’re new to psilocybin, it’s best to stay in one place throughout the trip.

Final Word

Since psilocybin is still in the early stages of research, it remains unclear whether or not microdosing mushrooms for PTSD is beneficial. Furthermore, since psychedelic drugs can cause a negative experience, it’s not in everyone’s best interest to take them for therapeutic use.

The best step to cure PTSD is through the traditional treatment methods of psychotherapies and medication. If you find these practices aren’t working, there are other (non-psychedelic) natural options to consider first.

References

¹ Mann SK, Marwaha R, Torrico TJ. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. 2024 Feb 25. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan–. PMID: 32644555.

² Geiger HA, Wurst MG, Daniels RN. DARK Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Psilocybin. ACS Chem Neurosci. 2018 Oct 17;9(10):2438-2447. doi: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00186. Epub 2018 Jul 16. PMID: 29956917.

³ de Mattos-Shipley KM, Ford KL, Alberti F, Banks AM, Bailey AM, Foster GD. The good, the bad and the tasty: The many roles of mushrooms. Stud Mycol. 2016 Sep;85:125-157. doi: 10.1016/j.simyco.2016.11.002. Epub 2016 Nov 11. PMID: 28082758; PMCID: PMC5220184.

⁴ Lee HM, Roth BL. Hallucinogen actions on human brain revealed. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Feb 7;109(6):1820-1. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1121358109. Epub 2012 Jan 30. PMID: 22308478; PMCID: PMC3277578.

⁵ Madsen MK, Fisher PM, Burmester D, Dyssegaard A, Stenbæk DS, Kristiansen S, Johansen SS, Lehel S, Linnet K, Svarer C, Erritzoe D, Ozenne B, Knudsen GM. Psychedelic effects of psilocybin correlate with serotonin 2A receptor occupancy and plasma psilocin levels. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2019 Jun;44(7):1328-1334. doi: 10.1038/s41386-019-0324-9. Epub 2019 Jan 26. Erratum in: Neuropsychopharmacology. 2019 Jun;44(7):1336-1337. doi: 10.1038/s41386-019-0360-5. PMID: 30685771; PMCID: PMC6785028.

⁶ Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (US). Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2014. (Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 57.) Chapter 3, Understanding the Impact of Trauma. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207191/

⁷ Rucker JJ, Marwood L, Ajantaival RJ, Bird C, Eriksson H, Harrison J, Lennard-Jones M, Mistry S, Saldarini F, Stansfield S, Tai SJ, Williams S, Weston N, Malievskaia E, Young AH. The effects of psilocybin on cognitive and emotional functions in healthy participants: Results from a phase 1, randomised, placebo-controlled trial involving simultaneous psilocybin administration and preparation. J Psychopharmacol. 2022 Jan;36(1):114-125. doi: 10.1177/02698811211064720. Epub 2022 Jan 4. PMID: 35090363; PMCID: PMC8801675.

⁸ Tupper KW, Wood E, Yensen R, Johnson MW. Psychedelic medicine: a re-emerging therapeutic paradigm. CMAJ. 2015 Oct 6;187(14):1054-1059. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.141124. Epub 2015 Sep 8. PMID: 26350908; PMCID: PMC4592297.

⁹ Anderson BT, Danforth A, Daroff PR, Stauffer C, Ekman E, Agin-Liebes G, Trope A, Boden MT, Dilley PJ, Mitchell J, Woolley J. Psilocybin-assisted group therapy for demoralized older long-term AIDS survivor men: An open-label safety and feasibility pilot study. EClinicalMedicine. 2020 Sep 24;27:100538. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100538. PMID: 33150319; PMCID: PMC7599297.

¹⁰ Weston NM, Gibbs D, Bird CIV, Daniel A, Jelen LA, Knight G, Goldsmith D, Young AH, Rucker JJ. Historic psychedelic drug trials and the treatment of anxiety disorders. Depress Anxiety. 2020 Dec;37(12):1261-1279. doi: 10.1002/da.23065. Epub 2020 Jul 5. PMID: 32627308.

¹¹ Carhart-Harris RL, Bolstridge M, Rucker J, Day CM, Erritzoe D, Kaelen M, Bloomfield M, Rickard JA, Forbes B, Feilding A, Taylor D, Pilling S, Curran VH, Nutt DJ. Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: an open-label feasibility study. Lancet Psychiatry. 2016 Jul;3(7):619-27. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(16)30065-7. Epub 2016 May 17. PMID: 27210031.

¹² Ross S, Bossis A, Guss J, Agin-Liebes G, Malone T, Cohen B, Mennenga SE, Belser A, Kalliontzi K, Babb J, Su Z, Corby P, Schmidt BL. Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial. J Psychopharmacol. 2016 Dec;30(12):1165-1180. doi: 10.1177/0269881116675512. PMID: 27909164; PMCID: PMC5367551.

¹³ Polito V, Stevenson RJ. A systematic study of microdosing psychedelics. PLoS One. 2019 Feb 6;14(2):e0211023. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211023. PMID: 30726251; PMCID: PMC6364961.