When exploring microdosing, you will inevitably come across the term stacking.

Stacking, as related to microdosing, involves combining psilocybin with complementary - generally non-psychedelic - substances for a synergistic effect.

The practice of stacking isn’t unique to microdosing, just take a look at your basic energy drink. Nor is it a modern-day practice; OG hipsters in the Middle Ages frequently added nightshade, stinging nettles and, yes, mushrooms to their small-batch craft beer to enhance effects. Ironically, this practice was outlawed in 1516 with the passage of the Bavarian Purity Beer Act, proving the hipster to establishment pipeline has been intact for centuries.

Aztecs added cacao - a psychoactive substance - to psilocybin mushrooms in a practice called ‘cacahua-xochitl’ (literally ‘chocolate mushrooms’). And the addition of various herbs, flowers, and honey have been noted in records across many historical and modern cultures. All of these remain popular stacking additions to psilocybin mushrooms today.

Popular modern day stacking agents include Lion’s Mane mushrooms, niacin, and Syrian Rue.

Lion’s Mane is a well studied functional (non-psychoactive) mushroom that has been found to protect against dementia, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and aid in repairing nerve damage.

Niacin is a B-vitamin used by our bodies to turn food into energy and keep our skin and nervous and digestive systems healthy. It has also been implicated in, not causing, but speeding the development of diabetes if present in the person, so like any supplement do your research and consult with a pro before imbibing.

Both Lion’s Mane and Niacin are popular in microdosing due to the synergy between their nerve stimulation properties and the increased availability o f synaptic connections in traditional microdosing agents.

Syrian Rue (Peganum Harmala) is a 'lil different as it's a hallucinogenic in its own right, used & noted by Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo as improving their eyesight & creative inner vision (thereby proving artist collectives are at the forefront of human experience or something like that). Rue is used for osteoarthritis, cancer, menstrual pain & other conditions albeit with no supportive scientific evidence but with no real scientific studies conducted.

Rue works as a potentiator, enhancing the effect of the stacked psychedelic so that less is needed for similar result. However, Rue is harmful at high doses and needs to be used cautiously and with guidance (again, seek out a pro). Rue is an MAOI, a class of medications used to treat depression, and should never be mixed with SSRIs or other antidepressants (hi, me again, seek out a pro). More information on Rue is available in my free 7 Legal Psychedelics Guide.

Everyone has different combinations of stacks that aid their transformation results when microdosing. As a microdosing coach, I help my clients with custom stacks for their needs. I’d love to help you too, reach out for a free consultation.