Microdosing

Amanita

Manual
 Foreword

This manual will be of interest first of all to those who're considering

microdosing amanita. If that particular method draws your curiosity and
attention, here you will find explicit, complete, and comprehensive information
about what microdosing of amanita is, how to use it, and what effects it
produces. However, those who are already experienced in amanita use will find
this manual worth their attention as well. We tried to summarize all the existing
information about amanita microdosing to date, as well as information about
amanita in general and related scientific studies.

This manual is split into theme chapters. Because we honor your time, the
first thing we're presenting is evidence in the form of statistical data. Then comes
the practical part—immediate guidelines for microdosing. It's followed by a
brief discourse on the culture of amanita use, which is evident in every place
where the mushroom grows. The scientific portion concludes this manual by
presenting information about how amanita affects the human brain and body.

Fly Agaric (amanita muscaria) in it's natural habitat in Siberia

 What is amanita microdosing?

Microdosing amanita is the consumption of dried fruiting bodies of

amanita or the extract made from such bodies in tiny, subperceptual
amounts. The key principle of this method is that the dose isn't enough to
palpably alter consciousness, but enough to induce positive change in mind
and body.

Amanita mirodosing provides such benefits as enhanced creativity,

raised levels of physical energy, emotional stability, and enhanced capacity for
solving difficult tasks. This method is also used as therapy for such ailments as
depression, anxiety, a range of addictions, insomnia, chronic stress, etc.

The benefits of microdosing amanita can be contingently split into two

categories:

1. Therapeutic use: to alleviate such conditions as alcoholism, nicotine

addiction, depression, insomnia, chronic stress, migraines, menstrual pains,
hypertension, and others.

2. Nootropic use: to increase creative energy, stabilize emotional

responses, and improve one's baseline condition.

microdosing capsules
 Statistics
The graphs presented below are based on the data provided by a direct
online survey of the Russian amanita microdosing community (7500
participants). The data relates to participants that finished a complete course
of microdosing (1-3 months).
 Statistics

This data shows that amanita microdosing elicits a wide range of positive
effects on the human organism. Most of the data serves as proof that amanita is
useful for curing or ameliorating certain ailments. But amanita can be much
more than just therapy or treatment. As such, it can serve as a helpful addition to
daily life, art endeavours, work, and sexual activity. Half of those surveyed use
Amanita exactly as a means to improve their baseline state and not as therapy for
certain conditions. This demonstrates that the therapeutic properties of amanita
have been known for thousands of years, with a vast proof base consisting of
scientific studies and historical data.

Note that the data presented in this manual cannot be used for a scientific
study. It is provided by a community of amanita pioneers and enthusiasts, and all
of them have different sources of their microdosing material, as well as different
ages and life conditions. Real-life controlled studies are yet to be conducted. But
results of this online survey already indicate that microdosing amanita is
beneficial for overall human health and can serve as a therapy for certain health
conditions. Most of the significant data is presented in the form of graphs. More
statistics can be found below in the form of a summary of certain surveys.

Note of Importance: Approximately 10% of people have a complete

tolerance to the effects of amanita. The reason is yet unknown, but be noted
that you can be in that group. The only reliable method to test whether you
are or not, is to try amanita yourself.
 Statistics
1. 96% of users describe their experience with amanita as positive.

2. 74% note that if they take a microdose in the evening, it helps them with their
sleep.

3. 88% report increased energy levels after taking a microdose in the morning.

4. 21% report relief from joint pain.

5. 66% don't experience any adverse effects of microdosing on their

gastrointestinal system.

34% note slight nausea, stomach rumbling, and slight flatulence at the start of
the microdosing course.

It should be noted that the effects of amanita on the gastrointestinal system are
strictly individual and very dependent on diet.

6. 70% don't experience any adverse effects.

10% reported light headaches at the start of the course.

7% reported the feeling of slight discomfort in their kidneys at the start of the
course.

7. 94% of those surveyed don't note any symptoms of intoxication.

8. 94% of those surveyed say their microdosing experience has been positive
overall, and they intend to continue the practice.

9. 64% of those surveyed who are involved in art work report that microdosing is
supporting them in their creative endeavours.

10. 29% reported improved sight and color perception.

11. 38% of those surveyed who had suffered a stroke reported improved recovery
after a microdosing course.

12. 76% reported stable improvement in their baseline condition after a course.

13. 71% of those polled with hypertension said their condition had improved.

14. 78% of those who suffer from prostatitis report improvements of their
condition
 Safety
The benefits of amanita are obvious, as evidenced by numerous accounts of
people who have used it. At the same time, this mushroom is considered poisonous
and shunned throughout the world. Let us elaborate on the subject of safety.

First of all, amanita can be dangerous when used incorrectly. But dangerous
levels of active compounds in amanita start at around 15+ dried mushroom caps, and
consumption of such a huge quantity is unlikely. In reality, only the fresh and
unprocessed fruiting bodies of amanita pose a threat to human health because of
their high content of ibotenic acid, which is neurotoxic and can cause nausea,
vomiting, seizures, and disorientation. Amanita is consumed in its raw form by such
animals as bears, elk, and squirrels. Consumption of properly dried and cured amanita
in reasonable amounts presents no threat to human health whatsoever, and it's even
more true in the case of microdosing it. Properly cured amanita caps don't contain
any of the dangerous ibotenic acid because, in the process of curing the mushrooms,
it is converted into one of the main active and safe compounds of amanita, muscimol,
during decarboxylation.

Never consume amanita raw.

If you're microdosing, make sure that either your provider has good reviews or
that you're properly curing the fruiting bodies yourself. If you're unable to gather
mushrooms yourself, make sure your provider follows strict protocol from harvesting
to packaging.

Make sure that possession of amanita is legal in your country as well.

It's important to work with ecologically safe mushrooms. Any mushrooms

gathered within a 30 mile radius of any city or agricultural enterprise have a high
probability of being contaminated either by heavy metals, pesticides, or both.

Note that the most suitable for microdosing subspecies of amanita is amanita
muscaria, a distinct red mushroom also known as fly agaric. Amanita pantherina is
quite common as well, but its fruiting bodies contain additional alcaloids, which alters
its effect in comparison to Amanita muscaria.

Amanita pantherina isn't for novices or those who want to experience

microdosing for the first time.
 Microdosing

Intention

It's of utter importance to have the right intentions and motivation for
microdosing amanita. Microdosing isn't a silver bullet, and the magic wouldn't
happen without you being responsible. It's unwise to think that a microdosing
course will right every wrong, and it's also unwise to embark on the microdosing
amanita journey without proper intention. Microdosing offers an opportunity for
change, but if one persists in their destructive ways, that opportunity can be
squandered.

In the vast majority of cases, people who establish their amanita routine
naturally start to follow a more healthy and balanced lifestyle, but there are also
those who keep following their ignorance without taking steps to enlighten
themselves, and in that case, microdosing, macrodosing, and even full-blown
psychedelic therapy lose their efficacy.

Know that the state of mind and body elicited by amanita microdosing
needs to be expressed and rooted in. The gems of self-knowledge and health
one can receive during a microdosing course need to take place in daily life, so
taking it very seriously is the best approach. Otherwise, microdosing will be just
another food supplement and a crutch to lean on, and in that case, it's nothing
else but a waste of potential. Despite how much Amanita can help you, you
can't free yourself from responsibility.

If you're intending to use amanita as a therapy for a specific condition, for

example, as a natural substitute for antidepressants, the standard course of
amanita muscaria will suit you the best. Remember that the benefits of
microdosing amanita aren't limited to its therapeutic properties. More than half
of microdosing users employ this method to kickstart a general positive change
in their lives, enhance creativity, gain emotional stability, work with their
established behavioral cycles, etc. Reports gathered in the amanita microdosing
community serve as testimony to amanita's ability to enhance personal
development. If that is your intention, take it as seriously as those who are intent
on using amanita as a therapy.
 Microdosing

Support Therapy

First of all, microdosing amanita alone is enough to elicit positive change

in life. That being said, there is direct survey data that shows the benefits of
combining amanita microdosing with other natural supplements that are
capable of complementing and enhancing the positive changes produced by a
microdosing course.

The most common and useful supplement to amanita microdosing is

lion's mane mycelia. Mycelia of the lion's mane has neuroprotective and
neurotrophic properties. Simply put, it enhances neural growth in the central
and peripheral human nervous system. There are scientific studies that prove
the lion's mane's capacity to enhance memory and induce neural growth in the
region of the cerebellum and hippocampus. Because of such properties, lion's
mane is a perfect compliment to amanita microdosing.

It's worth mentioning that every new skill, every new behavioral pattern
that a human learns is mirrored in real material biological matter in the new
connections and reconnections in the brain. Promoting neural growth by
intake of lion's mane mycelia helps to root the positive changes at a biological
level. Therefore, we recommend combining amanita microdosing with a course
of lion's mane.

Fungotherapy is a branch of medicine that employs natural compounds

contained in various mushrooms for therapy. It is observed that combining
different fungi with various properties produces a synergistic effect.
 Microdosing

Dosage

It's our recommendation to begin with 1 gram of dried amanita caps.

Dosage can range from 0,3 grams to 1,5 grams, and only you can determine
the right amount. Tip: if a short time after a microdose you're noticing palpable
effects of your emotions, for example, the awakening of such emotions as joy,
euphoria, or, on the contrary, sadness, grief, and aggression, you've taken too much
of a dose and should cut back. The right dosage doesn't produce any noticeable
effects on the body or mind. Bear in mind that microdosing should be subliminal.

The effect of microdosing is best visible in hindsight. After you've established

a stable intake routine, it's wise to look back and compare yourself now with before
you started, and draw your conclusions from there.

If you're buying dry caps or harvesting amanita yourself, grind the dry caps
into a fine powder and use scales to measure the dose. Active compound content
varies from mushroom to mushroom, so it's better to mix the caps together and
then measure the dose.

Storage

Storage is not an issue in the case of capsules or extracts. However, if you've

ground dry caps, keep them sealed in an airtight container in the dark. Dry
amanita material tends to absorb water from the air. It increases its weight and
makes measuring the dose more difficult.
 Microdosing

Cumulative effect

Survey data shows that the effects of microdosing amanita are cumulative. To

achieve the best results, the intake of microdoses should be regular and systematic.

And although some immediate changes can be noticed, don't expect the effect of

microdosing to become apparent right after the start of the course. Instead, establish

your intake routine, follow it consistently, and analyze changes after 2-4 weeks.

Duration

The optimal duration of microdosing is 4–12 weeks. After the first month of
intake, it is our recommendation to take a 1-week pause. Such a pause allows your
body to return to its baseline state, flushing muscarine and muscimol out of your
system. It also allows you to reflect on the effects of microdosing on your life and
decide whether you need to continue or not. Thus, a 1-week pause is an important
part of the microdosing protocol, and we advise you not to skip it.

Most of the surveyed report following a microdosing routine for 8–12 as the
most optimal duration, which verifies the cumulative nature of microdosing amanita.

Frequency

An Amanita microdose is best administered 1 or 2 times per day. Taken in the

morning, the microdose produces an energizing effect in 88% of those surveyed.
Taken in the evening or before sleep, the microdose produces a calming and
sedating effect in 74% of those surveyed. Keep in mind that effects are individual, and
you might experience opposite effects, so it's wise to start a course on a day off. This
way, you will determine the effect that amanita has on your unique system without
disrupting your daily routine.
 Scientific data

If you're interested in the biochemical mechanisms behind the effects of

amanita, this chapter is for you.

It should be noted that it is not feasible to list all of the available

information on this subject here. The most relevant and most interesting
studies were chosen for this chapter to give you a clear image of how amanita
works in the human body.

There are a number of completed studies of amanita compounds:

1. Muscimol is capable of relieving tremors in the case of Parkinson's

disease without impairing speech, locomotion, and coordination. Data provided
by a study of muscimol as a therapy for Parkinson's disease shows that it
produces a sustainable positive effect and, in some cases, is even capable of
reverting the symptoms.

However, in that particular study, pure muscimol was administered in the

form of subtalamic injections, which increased bioavailability of it to a level
where it can't be compared to, for example, microdosing of amanita.

2. Muscimol demonstrated neuroprotective properties in neurotoxicity

models in vitro.

3. Peroral doses of muscimol alleviate symptoms of schizophrenia.

4. Doses below 5 mg of pure muscimol have a sedative effect. Patients

reported more calm and stable conditions after taking such a dose and
expressed that their experience was pleasant.

5. Muscimol alleviates the symptoms of epilepsy.

 Scientific data

6. A derivative of hydroxypyrrolidine was found in the fruiting bodies of

Amanita muscaria. Hydroxypyrrolidine is a famous antibiotic and antifungal.

7. Beta-glucan, a polysaccharide found in the fruiting bodies of

Amanita muscaria, has powerful anti-tumor and immunomodulating effects.

8. A number of pharmaceutical products are based on muscimol:

tiagabine, tetrahydroisoxazole, pyridine, gabatril, gabaxazole.

9. A spirit extract of amanita has anti-inflammatory properties.

10. In mice, muscimol reduces the conditional fear reflex.

All of the data presented in this chapter was collected during a

metastudy and is available on sciencedirect.com.
 Biochemistry and pharmacodynamics
of amanita
The main psychoactive ingredients of amanita are muscimol, ibotenic
acid, muscarine, and bufotenin.

Muscarine was discovered in 1869. For a long time, it was considered to

be the main psychoactive compound of amanita. Muscarine is a selective
agonist of receptors located on the cellular membranes of various organs in
the human body. Those receptors are called muscarinic or M-receptors.
Muscarinic receptors have a range of functions, including regulating the
contraction of smooth muscle, dilation of blood vessels, lowering the
heartbeat frequency, and enhancing gland secretion.

Muscarinic receptors in the central nervous system regulate such

high-level neural processes as attention, learning, and memory. Secondary
functions of those receptors are locomotion regulation, adjusting pain
sensitivity, and body temperature regulation.

Muscarine content varies from mushroom to mushroom. After curing,

muscarine stays in the fruiting body of the mushroom, but overall its content
isn't significant and only adds to the synergistic effect of the main
psychoactive compound, muscimol.

muscarine molecule
 Biochemistry and pharmacodynamics
of amanita

Properly cured amanita mushrooms don't contain any ibotenic acid (aside
from maybe trace amounts depending on the curing process), but it is worth
mentioning in this chapter.

Ibotenic acid is a chemical compound that can be found in nature within

the fruiting bodies of certain amanita species. It's a psychoactive compound
with hallucinogenic properties. One hour after human consumption of 50-90
mg of pure ibotenic acid, the following effects can be observed: hysteria,
euphoria, hallucinations, drowsiness, depression, ataxia, delusions. In the process
of curing amanita fruiting bodies, ibotenic acid is converted into the main
psychoactive compound of amanita, muscimol.

ibotenic acid molecule

 Biochemistry and pharmacodynamics
of amanita

Muscimol, the main psychoactive compound of amanita, is cognate to

one of the major neurotransmitters in the human body -
”gamma-aminobutyric acidв”, so it does agonize the GABA receptors, but not in
the same way that GABA itself does.

Drawing the line under this brief excursion into the chemistry of Amanita,
we can state that major psychoactive compounds in it are cognate to human
neurotransmitters already present in the body. Microdosing of amanita
produces strictly individual effects, but overall the experience is positive and is
consistently reported to remediate psychological and physiological imbalances.
We see a clear parallel between reports and surveys and the
pharmacodynamics of amanita in the human body.

muscimol molecule