Microdose Mushrooms drugs are becoming increasingly popular in America, and psilocybin—found naturally in the mushrooms formerly known as magic mushrooms or shrooms—has taken off especially quickly. In fact, according to a new study from the RAND Drug Policy Research Center, psilocybin now ranks as the second most commonly used psychedelic in the country after MDMA or ecstasy. But these days, most people aren’t taking full doses to “trip” or hallucinate; instead, they’re taking much smaller amounts to improve their mental health. This practice is called microdosing.

In a typical clinical setting, it takes 20 milligrams of psilocybin for a full psychedelic experience, but a microdose is usually just one to two milligrams, taken several times per week to help improve mood and boost creativity. But despite the popularity of this trend, there’s still a lot we don’t know about it.

For starters, there’s no widely accepted definition of what a microdose is, which can make it difficult to conduct consistent experiments. Generally, researchers assume it’s around 1/5 to 1/20 the potency of a recreational dose. But in reality, the strength of a mushroom can vary greatly from batch to batch, and even a small amount can have significant effects—which is why most researchers recommend consuming them in a controlled setting under supervision.

The Benefits of Microdosing Mushrooms

Additionally, many microdosers take multiple substances together—a practice known as stacking—to optimize the experience and achieve specific outcomes. For example, psilocybin can be paired with a plant called lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus; HE) to treat depression and anxiety and improve cognition. Eesmyal Santos-Brault, co-founder of the Psychedelic Data Project and investor in MycoMedica Life Sciences and a paid member of the Scientific & Medical Advisory Board at Clerkenwell Health, has been working on a controlled study combining psilocybin with HE for psychiatry.