Microdosing for Anxiety Relief: Amanita muscaria's Natural Benefits

Do you feel crippled by the grip of anxiety in your daily life? Microdosing Amanita muscaria represents a natural, non-psychedelic and legal way to help relieve the symptoms associated with anxiety, without the risks associated with conventional anti-anxiety medications.

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health disorders that people experience. According to the 2024 American Psychiatric Association mental health poll, adults in the U.S. are increasingly anxious. Forty-three percent felt anxious in 2024, compared to 37% in 2023 or 32% in 2022. 

For those of us who live with anxiety and feel overwhelmed by the feelings and sensations that accompany it, finding sustainable and safe ways to manage symptoms is essential. Microdosing for anxiety relief has emerged as a natural means of diminishing the grip that anxiety can have on the body and mind. Emerging case study research and books based on people’s experiences suggest that Amanita muscaria microdosing for anxiety relief may help promote relaxation and elevate mood.

If you’re ready to diminish the effects of anxiety on your life, microdosing with legal options such as Amanita muscaria represents a natural alternative to conventional anxiety medication.

What is Microdosing for Anxiety Relief?

There’s an increasing visibility and interest in microdosing for mental health support. Microdosing encompasses the practice of regularly using these low doses in a way that does not impair cognitive function but boosts wellbeing. Most people who microdose with psilocybin, for example, use about 10% of the regular dose between 2-5 times a week. 

Growing evidence collected by experts suggests that many individuals are turning to microdosing for anxiety relief. Microdosing may specifically help with anxiety by reducing mental rumination, restoring emotional balance, supporting relaxation with intoxication, and enabling sound sleep. A large study published in Scientific Reports found that people who microdose showed improved mood and a greater decline in anxiety, depression and stress over a one-month period than individuals who did not microdose. The positive effects associated with microdosing were observed in all participants, regardless of the substance or combination of substances that they used.

Amanita muscaria represents a microdosing option that is legal (it is legal throughout the United States and Canada, with the exception of the state of Louisiana) and unique in its effects. The active compound within Amanita muscaria is muscimol, a powerful plant psychoactive that has sedative and tranquilizing effects. Amanita muscaria works in a different way on the body to psilocybin and melatonin–we’ll highlight some of its unique benefits in coming sections.

Benefits of Microdosing for Anxiety Relief

So, how can microdosing help provide relief for anxiety? The key lies in the dose, the substance and the process. Regular, sub-threshold doses of a psychoactive compound can create subtle but impactful shifts in how the body and mind responds to the anxiety-provoking triggers. 

Individuals who microdose for mental health purposes regularly report diverse benefits such as increased emotional resilience, less fear, enhanced mood, improved general wellbeing, and the ability to loosen their control and know that things are still okay. Microdosing may also help heal some of the deeper-seated causes of anxiety, such as trauma. 

For people who have experienced little benefit associated with traditional interventions for anxiety disorders, such as talk therapy, benzodiazepines or SSRIs, microdosing represents a natural alternative. Evidence from systematic studies of psychedelics have found that they are non-habit forming. Microdosing does not require the need for increased doses over time due to increased tolerance. In one recent review exploring the effects of LSD microdoses across 14 different studies, the authors found no evidence of serious adverse effects, and that low doses of LSD were safe.

In contrast, research demonstrates that conventional anxiolytic medication has been linked to adverse effects such as physical dependence, tolerance, addiction, and impacted cognitive ability. Dependence on benzodiazepines, for example, can take as little as two weeks to develop but months to wean off. For those who wonder how microdosing might compare to other natural remedies for anxiety, such as aromatherapy or meditation, it offers a more potent, fast-acting alternative, rapidly calming the mind and body. 

As one microdoser observed after reflecting on her experiences with microdosing:

“It suddenly occurs to me that I feel mindful, a feeling I have tried to achieve through meditation, though I always come up with zip. I am finding it a little bit easier to notice both my thoughts and my body moving through space.”

How to Start Microdosing for Anxiety Relief

If you’re curious about experimenting with microdosing for anxiety relief, it’s vital to find a safe and effective microdosing protocol. In other words, avoid adopting a haphazard approach to microdosing. 

There are a number of well-regarded protocols available online, backed up by substantial evidence. Dr. James Fadiman’s approach to microdosing represents one of the most popular protocols and is anchored in extensive research conducted by the psychedelic research pioneer. The Fadiman Protocol proposes following a dosing schedule of one day on, two days off, over a period of a month  and taking a reset before beginning a new dosing period. Fadiman’s protocol was designed to help people carry out a safe and purposeful experiment with microdosing. He also advises keeping a daily journal to help track the effects and any changes taking place. 

Your approach to microdosing for anxiety relief can also be very personalized. In a qualitative study published in Harm Reduction Journal about people’s experiences microdosing, the authors found that it was common for microdosers to establish a dose and dosage interval that resonated with their needs and preferences. There were many examples of people finding a microdose (1/10 of a standard dose) either too stimulating or not effective enough, and adjusting the dose accordingly to meet their personal needs. The study also pointed out the importance of cultivating clear intentions with microdosing, as it was a key part of elevating the efficacy of the experience. However, the authors also recommended letting go of specific expectations and trusting the process.

When it comes to microdosing Amanita muscaria mushrooms for anxiety relief, one central consideration is only microdosing products that have been decarboxylated. The decarboxylation process alters the chemical composition of the mushrooms by converting ibotenic acid, which can have toxic effects, and converting it into muscimol. Decarboxylated Amanita muscaria products allow users to enjoy the potential therapeutic benefits of the mushroom, without the harmful, unpleasant side effects of ibotenic acid.

Science Behind Microdosing Amanita muscaria

Amanita muscaria has long been harnessed throughout human history and across cultures for its mood-altering properties. In Microdosing with Amanita Muscaria: Creativity, Healing, and Recovery with the Sacred Mushroom, author Baba Masha notes that Amanita muscaria mushrooms can simultaneously calm and energize the mind and body, uplift mood, and relieve symptoms related to depression and anxiety. 

As mentioned earlier in this article, muscimol represents one of the main psychoactive compounds within Amanita muscaria and is unique to the Amanita family of mushrooms. Muscimol exerts its relaxing effects by modulating the body’s GABA receptors. GABA plays a critical role in regulating the body’s mood and sleep functions. When muscimol interacts with the body’s GABA receptors, activity in the central nervous system (CNS) activity decreases, which can help usher in feelings of tranquility and relaxation. 

There’s growing evidence that muscimol can support healthy sleep and reduce symptoms associated with anxiety. Benzodiazepines work in a similar manner to muscimol, enhancing activity at the body’s GABA receptors. However, muscimol and benzodiazepines differ in one fundamental respect: Muscimol is not known to induce addiction. In contrast, psychedelic substances such as psilocybin primarily work on the body’s serotonin 2A receptors.

A 2024 case study exploring the effects of Amanita muscaria microdosing for anxiety relief followed the experiences of a woman in her thirties who microdosed for approximately three months, experimenting with varying methods of consumption. As a result of her microdosing regimen, she noticed significant, ongoing changes to her state of mind and personal wellbeing, and counted the changes as among the most influential improvements of her life. 

Some of the Amanita muscaria microdosing benefits that the woman noticed included the ability to get over setbacks more easily, improved sleep, easier mornings, enhanced memory, a more stable mood, and social situations becoming more manageable. When she microdosed Amanita muscaria at night, it sedated her, and when she consumed it in the morning, she found it offered energizing effects. Most notably, there was a significant reduction in her anxiety and depression. 

According to the author of the study, Mika Turkia, “A reasonable conclusion about indications of Amanita muscaria might be that it is unsuitable for applications where a psychedelic effect is desired, but it may be suitable for applications where a sub-psychedelic effect is sufficient or more desirable.” 

In other words, Amanita muscaria microdosing for anxiety relief could be an ideal option for people who are seeking the therapeutic benefits of a very light psychedelic experience, rather than a full-on psychedelic journey.

Is Microdosing Right for You?

If you’re living with mild to moderate anxiety and are interested in experimenting with natural, non-psychedelic anxiety solutions to help manage your symptoms, microdosing for anxiety relief could be right for you. Microdosing Amanita muscaria allows you to enjoy a non-psychedelic experience by harnessing the psychoactive properties of muscimol. 

One of the most significant benefits associated with Amanita muscaria is that the mushroom is legal throughout the United States and Canada (with the exception of the state of Louisiana). You can microdose with Amanita muscaria and rest easy knowing that the mushroom is not included on the DEA’s controlled substances list. In contrast, mushrooms containing psilocybin are considered a Schedule I drug and are illegal at a federal level. 

If you do choose to microdose Amanita muscaria, it’s highly recommended to talk to a medical professional before you begin your regiment. Also, ensure that you select a product that has undergone extensive safety testing. Psyched Wellness Amanita muscaria products contain AME-1, a muscimol extract that has achieved GRAS status, an FDA designation that indicates that the product is generally safe for human consumption under the intended conditions of use. We’re currently the only manufacturer of Amanita muscaria products in the US to have achieved this recognition.

In summary, Amanita muscaria represents a non-psychedelic way to experiment with microdosing for anxiety relief. Muscimol, one of the key psychoactive compounds present in the Amanita genus, can help support relaxation without inducing psychedelic effects. Furthermore, muscimol acts in a similar way to benzodiazepines, but with no known evidence that it can cause addiction or dependence.

Although Amanita muscaria microdosing products are becoming increasingly available on the Internet and in storefronts, it’s essential to opt for brands that are trusted and produce high-quality products. 

Our Calm range has been formulated using our unique AME-1 extract formulated from wild Amanita muscaria mushrooms and subjected to extensive safety testing. When you microdose with Psyched Wellness gummies or tinctures, you can be assured of a safe and gentle entry into the world of microdosing, so you can enjoy the journey while you harness the unique therapeutic benefits of this iconic mushroom.