Stephanie’s Experience with Mushrooms
I've experienced the full spectrum when it comes to mushrooms, from eating them on pizza, to microdosing my father, to having a full blown psychedelic experience crying to God in my shower! I’ve had a lot of fun (and profound experiences) with the fungi, but I’ve also seen it have a wonderful experience on people in my life. A few years ago, I worked with a psychedelic mushroom farm for a while and was able to put together a 12+ person study on their experiences of microdosing. Let’s just say these mushies have RANGE. But with so many mushrooms and so little time, what is the difference between them all? To keep it simple we’ll create two categories, functional and psychedelic.
Functional and psychedelic mushrooms, while both incredible in their own right, serve distinctly different purposes. Functional mushrooms, such as Reishi, Lion’s Mane, and Cordyceps, are prized for their health-enhancing properties, including immune support, cognitive improvement, and stress reduction. These mushrooms are safe for regular consumption and are integrated into various wellness practices. One of my favorite mushrooms to eat is Lion’s Mane, but they aren’t cheap!
These are actual Lions Mane mushrooms.
In contrast, psychedelic mushrooms, such as Psilocybe cubensis, contain psychoactive compounds like psilocybin that induce altered states of consciousness and psychological experiences. These mushrooms are typically used in controlled settings (or my North Hollywood rooftop multiple times during the pandemic) for therapeutic or spiritual exploration rather than for daily health benefits. Obviously we know that not all mushrooms are medicinal but most edible ones have medicinal properties. In many places around the world, mushrooms are used as food, medicine … and even in various types of cultural ceremonies. And it’s easy to see why from my personal experience.
I’m currently at a place where I don’t feel called to macro-dosing anymore. If you aren’t familiar, what this means it’s when you eat a large dose (for me, that was around 3.5 grams) of psychedelic mushrooms. Personally, these experiences were not for a public or party environment. This was for personal exploration that usually always ended up in tears, from laughing or crying. but I take this plant medicine in order to go deep into my own soul. All of my experiences macro-dosing have brought me to deep depths, facing myself and my own BS, and understanding the world in a way I sometimes cannot comprehend. Sometimes it would also lead to me gazing at the sunset on my old rooftop envisioning I was in the movie Aladdin. Whether the tears were from release, laughter, pain, grief - I’ve understood the importance of things needing to reveal themselves to heal. I think mushrooms can help you work through some of these things.
I recently met with someone I would call a healer, although he may not call himself that. After a few hours of sitting together at a coffee shop talking through a lot of things that are hard to wrap your head around, he told me he sensed my heart was blocked off. I was aware of that fact. I was informed about microdosing before bed. The concept was that it would open what’s going on in your subconcious more so. I normally microdose in the morning if I’m going to as I use them for creativity/productivity, so this seemed strange but I said game on. I did notice some breakthroughs emotionally during this time, really great sleep, and some strange dreams.
My father has Parkinson’s disease which is a neurological disease. I have read so much about the benefits of different mushrooms specific for things he’s going through. Anytime I visit him (he lives in NY and I live in LA) I would microdose him in the mornings. He was used to me trying different holistic approaches with him. He called me a witch doctor when he found eucalyptus hanging in the shower. Anyways, when I would microdose him I would notice a pep in his step (which I mean in a more of an energetic way, as he can’t walk. His spirits seemed higher and better cognitive function.
I believe mushrooms are the now and the future. And not just for humans. Did you know 1 in 4 dogs get cancer? I met a man whose dog was diagnosed with cancer. He researched everything he could about which supplements to give to his dog specific to cancer. She ended up living 3 more years, cancer free, and died in no pain of old age. From here, he formualted these into a single supplement. I ended up partnering with him to launch the Functional Fungi for Furry Friends Supplement under my brand! I own a dog training business in LA and have multiple dogs on this regiment. They are loving the Functional Fungi!
From personal experiences to the people and pets around me, mushrooms have woven themselves into the fabric of my life. From culinary delights to psychedelic journeys— the mushies and their powers continue to amaze me. The benefits they offer, whether through functional mushrooms like Lion’s Mane for cognitive enhancement or psychedelic varieties for deep personal insights, demonstrate their incredible potential. It’s clear that mushrooms are not just a fleeting trend; they are a significant part of holistic wellness for humans and animals alike. Embracing the full spectrum of mushrooms has not only enriched my life but has also allowed me to share their wonders with those I care about. So, whether you're exploring mushrooms for health, personal growth, or the well-being of your furry friends, remember that these humble fungi hold a world of possibilities.