With high-profile figures like Elon Musk announcing he microdoses ketamine and Prince Harry saying mushrooms and ayahuasca helped him cope with grief, it seems psychedelics are going semi-mainstream. However, there are still plenty of questions surrounding the new trend, including whether or not it works, how safe it is, and whether or not it’s legal to microdose psilocybin-containing mushrooms.

A recent survey conducted by Psychable found that a growing number of people are using psilocybin in small doses to treat depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Unlike recreational psilocybin (also called magic mushrooms) used for “tripping” and higher dosages that cause hallucinations, the smaller doses of microdosing psilocybin don’t result in such effects. Instead, it’s meant to provide a “soothing experience that helps you focus and feel calm,” according to Psychable’s founder.

Microdose Mushrooms: Benefits and Considerations

Microdosed mushrooms often report feelings of increased happiness and a better ability to cope with the drudgery of everyday life. One mother, Courtney, who has a two-year-old son, says she microdoses psilocybin every three or four days. She credits the mushrooms with giving her more patience and a better understanding of her child’s development. She also says it enables her to be less reliant on antidepressants and anxiety medicines.

While the benefits of microdosing are many, it’s important to note that psilocybin is illegal in some areas and can be dangerous if taken too much or by someone with certain medical conditions. Additionally, it’s difficult to monitor the quality of mushroom products due to their illegal status.