English (United Kingdom) 
Русский (Россия) The practice of microdosing, specifically stacking, has been gaining attention in recent years. Stacking refers to combining microdoses of psychedelic substances, such as psilocybin, with other natural supplements and vitamins. The most popular method is the "Stamets Stack", which involves adding Lion's Mane mushroom and Niacin (Vitamin B3) to psilocybin. This combination is believed to stimulate the production of new brain cells (neurogenesis) and optimize the effects of microdosing.
Paul Stamets is an American author, entrepreneur and mycologist specializing in psychedelics, and the medicinal uses of compounds found in mushrooms. Rather than considering old-growth forests, particularly in the northwestern U.S., as a commodity for logging, he says their fungal genome has incalculable value.Stamets was born in Ohio and began his career as a logger before he became interested in mycology. His hypothesis is that Psilocybin is acting as a “cellular bridge” between two worlds. By comparing the evolutionary trajectory of humans and different species of mushrooms, Stamets believes that new interconnections within the microbiome can lead to several unique evolutionary benefits. It is his life’s mission to preserve as many species of mushrooms as possible and to protect pristine forests and woodlands. Many mushrooms, including the Wigweed a.k.a. Lion’s Mane, exhibit medicinal properties which can be used naturally in the field of mental health. Stamets suspects that his “stacking protocol” has the potential to realise the next quantum leap in human consciousness.
Nerve Growth Factors (NGFs)
Nerve Growth Factors (NGFs) are like special proteins that help brain cells (neurons) grow, stay healthy, and survive. They're part of a bigger family called neurotrophins. Here's how they work:
Receptor Activation: Think of NGFs as keys that unlock certain parts of brain cells. They attach to specific areas on the cell surface called Trk receptors, particularly one type called TrkA. When NGFs attach to these receptors, it's like turning a key in a lock, which activates the receptor and gets it ready to send important signals inside the cell.
Intracellular Signaling: Once those receptors are turned on, they start a chain reaction inside the cell, passing messages from one molecule to another. This chain reaction carries the "grow and stay healthy" message from the outside to the center of the cell (the nucleus).
Gene Expression: When the message reaches the nucleus, it tells the cell to turn on certain genes. These genes are like instructions for building the parts that the cell needs to grow and function well.
Neurite Outgrowth: NGFs help the brain cell to grow long fibers called neurites, which are like the branches of a tree. These branches reach out to connect with other brain cells, which is super important for how the brain works, especially when it's repairing itself after damage.
Synaptic Plasticity and Strength: NGFs make the connections between brain cells stronger or weaker, depending on how much they're being used. This is a big deal for learning new things and remembering them.
Here's a breakdown of the data presented:
HE Myc 12% OHF 98d EtOAc 62.5 µg/ml: The first blue bar represents the effect of Lion's Mane mycelium extract on neurite length, showing a 114.80% increase compared to the control.
psi-z 0.3 µg/ml: The second orange bar represents the effect of a Psilocybin analog on neurite length, indicating a 107.70% increase relative to the control.
He Myc + psi-z Theoretical Additive Effect: The third bar is split into blue and orange, suggesting the predicted additive effect if Lion's Mane and Psilocybin were to work together without synergy. It shows an increase of 122.50% in neurite length, which is roughly the sum of their individual effects.
He Myc + psi-z Stack: The fourth green bar represents the actual observed effect when Lion's Mane and Psilocybin are combined, showing a 136.27% increase in neurite length. This indicates a synergistic effect, where the combination of the two results in greater neurite growth than expected from their additive effects.
Lion's Mane
Lion's Mane mushrooms contain compounds —hericenones and erinacines that help make more NGFs in the brain:
Crossing the Blood-Brain Barrier: These mushroom compounds can get through a tough barrier that usually stops things from getting into the brain. This means they can directly affect the brain cells.
Stimulating NGF Synthesis: Once they're in the brain, these compounds encourage the brain to make more NGFs. We're not exactly sure how, but it seems like they might be giving the cells better instructions for making NGFs or helping the cells to release more NGFs.
Promoting Neuronal Health: More NGFs mean healthier brain cells. They grow better and connect more, which might help with thinking and could be really important for diseases like Alzheimer's, where these growth factors are usually lacking.
Researchers are still figuring out exactly how Lion's Mane helps to make more NGFs and boost brain cell health, but this could be really exciting for developing new ways to treat brain-related conditions.
Stacking
Let's imagine you're a coach putting together a dream team for a relay race, where each runner has a specific role that contributes to the overall performance. In this analogy, the team members are the components of the Paul Stamets microdosing protocol, and the race is the complex task of boosting brain health and function.
Here's how each member contributes to the team:
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Lion's Mane (Hericenones and Erinacines): These are your long-distance runners. They set a steady pace for brain health by encouraging the production of NGFs, which are like the training regimen that helps the brain cells grow and stay healthy.
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Psilocybin Mushrooms: This is your sprinter who can quickly flip the serotonin receptors' switches, signaling the brain cells to grow and connect. It's like a burst of speed that propels the team forward, helping to form new neural pathways.
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Niacin (Vitamin B3): This team member is like the coach who ensures the runners are visible to the spectators (in this case, the body's receptors). Niacin helps deliver the benefits of the other two runners to the broader system by increasing blood flow, ensuring the growth signals reach far and wide across the brain.
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Vitamin B12: This is the nutritionist of the team, making sure all the runners have the energy they need to perform at their best. B12 is crucial for producing red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the brain, and for maintaining the health of neurons. It ensures the team is well-fueled and ready for the race.
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Cordyceps: Think of this as the endurance coach that boosts stamina. Cordyceps is known for increasing energy and oxygenation, which means it helps the brain cells sustain their activity over the long term, reducing fatigue during the race.
When Paul Stamets suggests microdosing with this team, he's proposing a protocol where each component plays a specific role at different stages of the race to enhance brain function. The synergy comes from how these components interact:
- Niacin boosts circulation, making sure the benefits of Lion's Mane and psilocybin are delivered effectively.
- B12 supports fundamental cellular processes that keep the brain cells energized.
- Cordyceps provides an extra kick of energy and resilience, ensuring that the cells can sustain the growth and connectivity promoted by Lion's Mane and psilocybin.
So, instead of each runner just contributing their part independently, they're passing the baton to each other in such a way that each lap builds upon the last, creating a compounding effect that's greater than the sum of their parts. The idea is that by following this protocol, you're not just nudging your brain toward health—you're setting up a well-coordinated team where each player boosts the others' strengths, resulting in a more significant overall effect.
References
Single-Dose Psilocybin for a Treatment-Resistant Episode of Major Depression
Microdosing Protocols: The Stamets Stack
Should You Be Stacking Your Microdose with Other Supplements?