Description
What is “Stacking Psilocybin and Lion’s Mane”?
The “Stacking Lion’s Mane and Psilocybin” has been created by the famous mycologist Paul Stamets. It gained global awareness when it was discussed by Stamets and Joe Rogan in the Joe Rogan Experience podcast episode #1035, which aired on the 7th of November 2017. It has since received over 8 million views on YouTube.
In essence, Stamets proposed the idea of combining the consumption of psilocybin (through the form of mushrooms or truffles), Lion’s Mane, and Niacin (vitamin B3).
He hypothesized that this specific ‘Stack” of supplements can have a range of potential positive effects on the brain and our brain health.
These potential effects include primarily the creation of new neurons (neurogenesis), new neural pathways, and even repairing existing neurological damage.
Why is Niacin added to the stack?
Niacin (vitamin B3) is added to the stack purely for increasing the deliverability of the active components in the mushrooms or truffles and Lion’s Mane.
Although Niacin is primarily used to lower cholesterol levels, it also opens up our vasculature. The hypothesis is that niacin’s ability to stimulate the peripheral nervous system could extend the nootropic benefits of the other supplements.
So, the reason Niacin was added to the stack, is that it potentially allows the active components in truffles and Lion’s Mane to be better absorbed throughout the brain and body rather than limiting the absorption to the central nervous system.
What is the Niacin Flush?
The Niacin Flush, or “flushing”, is a skin reddening, itching, and/or burning feeling to start 10 to 20 minutes into the protocol and typically lasts for a maximum of 40 minutes.
However, flushing actually helps to improve blood flow, since the small blood vessels open up more. When Niacin is consumed together with mushrooms or truffles, the potential benefit of the Niacin Flush is that the active components in the mushrooms can be carried to the very tips of our circulatory system and capillaries accessing all parts of the body quickly and efficiently.
What does the Stamets Stacking Protocol look like?
The Stamets Protocol consists of four days on, three days off. This will look as follows:
Day 1: Microdose Truffles + Lion’s Mane + Niacin
Day 2: Microdose Truffles + Lion’s Mane + Niacin
Day 3: Microdose Truffles + Lion’s Mane + Niacin
Day 4: Microdose Truffles + Lion’s Mane + Niacin
Day 5: Lion’s Mane
Day 6: Lion’s Mane
Day 7: Lion’s Mane
Note: As can be seen in the table above, Lion’s Mane can also be consumed on the off-days.
Repeat this cycle for a maximum of one month. It is advised to take at least a two to four-week break after completing a one-month cycle.
How much do I need to consume?
According to the Stamets Protocol, Based on a person of 70 kilograms, the following dosages are advised:
Psilocybin Truffles: 0.5 – 1 gram
Lion’s Mane Erinacines/Hericinones: 50 – 200 mg
Niacin: 100 – 200 mg
Based on this, we recommended the following dosages of our products:
Psilocybin Truffles: 0.5 – 1 gram (0.5 – 1 dose)
Lion’s Mane: 3 v-caps which contain both hot water extract (Hericinones) and alcohol extract (Erinacines)
Niacin: 1-2 tablets (build-up, see below)
Niacin tolerance
The Niacin dose needs to be relatively high in order to achieve the flush. Since you build up a tolerance for Niacin, in general, the Niacin Flush gets less strong after a few days of consumption. As the Niacin Flush is desired in this protocol for maximum deliverability, we recommended building up the Niacin intake during the dosing days, and to take a break on the off days.
So, the complete protocol can look like this:
Day 1: Microdose Truffles (0.5-1 gram) + Lion’s Mane (3 v-caps) + Niacin (100 mg = 1 tablet)
Day 2: Microdose Truffles (0.5-1 gram) + Lion’s Mane (3 v-caps) + Niacin (100 mg = 1 tablet)
Day 3: Microdose Truffles (0.5-1 gram) + Lion’s Mane (3 v-caps) + Niacin (150 mg = 1.5 tablets)
Day 4: Microdose Truffles (0.5-1 gram) + Lion’s Mane (3 v-caps) + Niacin (200 mg = 2 tablets)
Day 5: Lion’s Mane (3 v-caps)
Day 6: Lion’s Mane (3 v-caps)
Day 7: Lion’s Mane (3 v-caps)
Personal preference
Note that personal preference can vary and that you can tweak and experiment to find your own personal sweet spot.
However, it is advised to take the above recommendations into consideration, as they aim at the so-called “minimum effective dose”. This means that these amounts should be consumed in order for the protocol to have the desired effects, and yet will not make you feel too uncomfortable.
This last part is important, as in general microdosing the aim is to feel comfortable and relaxed, with this protocol this is not the goal. This protocol strictly aims to achieve its proposed benefits of improved brain health and cognitive functioning.
When should the supplements be consumed?
The products should be consumed in the morning, as psilocybin can have an effect for 6 hours or more. Therefore, in order to prevent trouble with sleeping, it is highly recommended to consume the products in the morning before breakfast, in the following order:
Before breakfast: Consume the truffles and Lion’s Mane.
After breakfast / ideally 15 minutes later: Consume the Niacin.
It is advised to consume the Niacin around 15 minutes later and after eating for two reasons:
- The Niacin Flush will coincide with the truffles and Lion’s Mane.
- The Niacin Flush will cause more discomfort on an empty stomach, so it’s best to consume after eating a meal.
Can’t I just take No-Flush Niacin?
No. The reason for this is that Niacin is added to the stack for deliverability, for which the Niacin Flush is required.
“No-Flush” Niacin products are actually another substance, namely inositol hexanicotinate. So you will not experience the Niacin Flush, but also not benefit from the proposed benefits the Flush offers.
*We are not affiliated with Paul Stamets in any way.
**This information is for informational purposes only and has not been reviewed or approved by EFSA. Microdose Pro supplements are not medicines and should never be used as a substitute for regular medication.
