Editor’s Note: This piece is part of a series produced by guest contributors to expand the voices on our site and in the greater conversation. We believe people’s personal stories of healing are an integral part of the psychedelic medicine space. While Microdose supports the education and exploration of these topics, the opinions presented in this work are the author’s alone and are meant for educational purposes only. Microdose does not promote the use of any illegal substances.
Psychedelics are a subset of hallucinogenics whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary states of consciousness via serotonin 2A receptor agonism.
The War on Drugs caused many stigmas, leaving people with horrible assumptions about psychedelics. In recent years, with cannabis legalization taking the nation by storm, and psychedelics following its lead, we are starting to understand collectively, through experiences and research, the amazing healing benefits of psychedelics.
Types of Natural Psychedelic Compounds
Psilocybin/magic mushrooms: Found in about 200 species of mushrooms that contain the chemical psilocybin, magic mushrooms are distinctively shaped and have been used in native or religious practices for centuries. They grow naturally all over the world. In the United States, they grow in places like: California, Florida, Oregon, and Washington to name a few. Psilocybin/magic mushrooms are actually fruiting bodies, but can still be classified as a plant.
DMT: N, N-Dimethyltryptamine is found in plants but also in rare species of toad. DMT has been and is current;y used in spiritual practices, and both psilocybin and DMT are part of the tryptamine family, which are indole alkaloids found in trace amounts in the human brain. It is theorized that like cannabinoids, DMT is produced in the human body, only DMT is produced in the pineal gland being released when we dream.
Ayahuasca: An entheogenic plant (like all psychedelics), turned into a brew, made from the leaves of the Psychotria viridis and Banisteriopsis caapi shrub. The drink is/was used for spiritual and religious purposes, originating in South America.
Peyote: A small cactus where the tops of the cactus hold “mescal buttons,” which are known for their hallucinogenic effects and contain the alkaloid mescaline. Mescaline is a naturally occurring psychedelic proto-alkaloid used by many Indigenous cultures for ceremonial and healing purposes.
Personal Stories of 3 People that Psychedelics to Heal
Which psychedelic plant did you consume and when?
My experience with mushrooms has increased significantly from none as of last spring, to a weekly microdosing regiment since the fall. I have smoked a small amount of mushroom crushed with cannabis flower and have also eaten a full 8th while hiking in nature. My last 8th dose was in September 2021 – Dom Hart
I have been consuming psilocybin- magic mushrooms and mushroom oil, for over 2 years. -Terry Byas
I’ve consumed magic mushrooms a couple different times in different doses. – IxChel Mooney
Did you do a full journey or micro journey (microdose)?
I currently microdose a few grams of psilocybin- magic mushrooms at least 3 times per week during working hours.- Dom Hart
I microdose.- Terry Byas
I’ve done both. I started with a micro dose that was so micro I barely noticed and just got a little giggly. On my full journey I felt like sorrow was being pulled out of me. I could feel the water in my pond breathing and I felt a major gratitude for how Mother Earth cares for us and helps us breathe.- IxChel Mooney
What was your set and setting (mindset and environment)?
Last year I joined a hiking group and experienced mushroom tincture in very small sublingual microdoses. While the hikes continued, I ate more and more small pieces of mushroom to a full eighth. Each large dose has been in nature near water. I was always surrounded by at least two to three people with whom I have a personal relationship. Everyone on the hike has usually been culturally similar to me. – Dom Hart
I was on a 30 day water fast, so my mind was clear, I was around nature and I was at peace. I sat on my patio at night, listening to the sounds of nature.- Terry Byas
My setting was my 63 acre homestead alone with my husband and animals. My mindset was healing. I’ve been diagnosed with PTSD and Acute Anxiety Disorder in 2018 and, like my journey with cannabis, someone had recommended mushrooms to assist with my healing journey and my desire to connect deeper with nature and her essence. -IxChel Mooney
Did you have a pleasurable experience or a bad one, please provide insight into the experience?
Every experience I have had while dosing has been phenomenal. I’ve never had a “bad” experience, though I can say some downloads have been heavy. Because mushrooms open my eyes to the things I am pretending not to see, I have had times where I cried more than I laughed. But NEVER BAD. In fact, my most intuitive readings for holistic clients have been while dosing with mushrooms. Spirit speaks through me instead of through my usual tools (tarot, oracle card, etc). – Dom Hart
I had a very pleasurable experience. It was like the Universe sat down and conversed with me, speaking about the not so secret ways that nature works. One day after I consumed a chocolate bar with mushrooms, I cleaned my house, wrote an article, and did a YouTube video within 3 hours and I wasn’t even tired. Terry Byas
I wouldn’t classify it as negative or positive. I would personally classify it as needed. The full dosage made it very clear to me that I’ve been holding on to things that hurt me or make me sad. I couldn’t stop myself from crying and laughing in waves of emotion as they came at me. It helped me realize that I don’t make enough time to honor my emotions and they’re all pent up inside me. It felt like my ancestors, through the mushrooms, pulled the sorrow out of me that I was refusing to let go. And in the midst of pulling it out, and even now, mixed tears of happiness and sadness come out because that is the divine ebb and flow of life.- IxChel Mooney
Are psychedelics a part of your regular medicinal practice?
Psychedelics are definitely a part of my weekly medicine, and that’s only because I haven’t figured out how to rectify my budget to make them a part of my daily regimen. But it’s coming!- Dom Hart
Oh yes, it has been a regular part of my medicinal purposes, since the first time I consumed; they bring my balance back, they bring my alignment back.- Terry Byas
Not currently but I would love them to be.- IxChel Mooney
What do you believe psychedelics healed you from?
Psychedelics heal me from debilitating anxiety and ego. When I’m dosing I am more consistent and focused on the interactions and work that I need to complete. Even with microdosing during work, I am more customer oriented, less agitated and anxious (taking and processing multiple orders under time causes extreme duress). I don’t down myself at all. I speak slowly and think more intuitively all the way through in record time. No glitches. – Dom Hart
Mushrooms healed me from my depression, feeling like days aren’t getting better, and when the walls are closing in. Also, healed me from procrastination; when I take too long to do a simple task, I consume and I get things done in hours instead of days. Terry Byas
Myself (lol). I’ve realized in my healing journey that it can be difficult to let go of pain, disappointment and sorrow. Mushrooms helped me to let some of that go and help me move on from my traumatic experiences.- IxChel Mooney
In Closing
“We did not find use of psychedelics to be an independent risk factor for mental health problems.”
“Controlled studies have not suggested that use of psychedelics lead to long-term mental health problems.”
“Psychedelics are not regarded to elicit violence and dangerous behavior leading to suicide or accidental death under the influence of psychedelics is regarded as extremely rare.
With statement like these coming from studies conducted on psychedelics for mental health, people are increasingly feeling safe in adding psychedelics to their mental health routine; and with impressive results continuing to come from research around the world, we will continue to hear about people’s personal mental health journeys. After all, this is what it’s all about.
