The Gift of Nature
WHAT IS PSILOCYBIN?
Nature's most studied compound, and what happens once it reaches the brain. In plain language.
Study Partnership
A RESEARCH
COLLABORATION
Earth Resonance collaborates with researchers at Maastricht University, home to some of the world's leading microdosing science. Through this ethics-approved partnership we contribute to real-world research, because we believe this field should be built on evidence, not hype.
University name shown to describe our research collaboration. Official branding used with permission of the partner.
What It Is
A COMPOUND FROM THE EARTH
Our sclerotia contain psilocybin, a compound from the tryptamine family produced by certain mushrooms and fungi, above all the genus Psilocybe. Once it enters the body, psilocybin converts into psilocin, which binds to serotonin receptors, mainly 5-HT2A and 5-HT1A, in the prefrontal cortex.
From there it reaches the Default Mode Network: the system that links different regions of the brain and holds our sense of self. This is where our beliefs about who we are, our identity, and our ego live. It is the story we tell ourselves about our own life.
A 2012 Imperial College study found that once psilocybin binds, blood flow to the Default Mode Network quiets down, and at the same moment neuroplasticity rises. New connections form between regions that normally stay in their own lanes, and the brain opens fresh routes to exchange information. In brain scans, a mind on psilocybin looks strikingly like the mind of someone in deep meditation.
Seeing Is Believing
YOUR BRAIN ON PSILOCYBIN
In Professor Carhart-Harris' landmark trial, brain scans revealed something remarkable: on psilocybin, regions that normally keep to themselves began communicating across the whole brain. The same opening-up did not happen with a standard antidepressant. Tap to compare.
A depressed brain often runs in rigid, restricted loops. Regions stay in their own lanes, and thoughts get stuck in the same grooves.
Illustration inspired by published fMRI connectivity findings (Daws et al., 2022). Simplified for clarity, not an exact scan.
Zooming In
HOW NEURONS FORM NEW CONNECTIONS
Zoom in from the whole brain to single neurons. Under psilocybin, neurons grow new branches and reach out, searching for and forming fresh connections. Tap to compare.
Before: neurons sit apart, with short, sparse branches. Signals stay local, and the network stays rigid and set in its ways.
Illustration based on Ly et al. (2018) and Shao et al. (2021). Simplified for clarity, not an exact scan.
Possible Mechanisms
HOW DOES PSILOCYBIN WORK?
From a single natural compound to whole-brain health, in five steps. Researchers are still mapping the finer details.
It activates 5-HT2A receptors
Psilocin, the active form, fits the brain's serotonin 5-HT2A receptors like a key in a lock, switching on a cascade of change.
It stimulates neuroplasticity
Neurons begin forming new branches and connections, making the brain more adaptable and open to change.
It raises BDNF
Levels of BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) rise, a protein that supports the survival and growth of neurons.
It lowers inflammation and oxidative stress
Research points to reduced cellular stress, one of the underlying drivers of aging and low mood.
It supports whole-brain health
Together these effects point toward healthier, more resilient cells, in the brain and beyond.
These are the leading proposed mechanisms from current research, shown for education. Much of this work is early or based on animal models.
A New Discovery
THE CRITICAL LEARNING PERIOD
What it means, in plain words: a window in which the brain becomes far more open to learning and change.
The idea
What is a critical period?
As children, our brains pass through special windows when we learn fastest: language, music, how the world works. Scientists call these critical periods. In adulthood most of them close, and change becomes slower and harder.
The discovery
Psychedelics can reopen the window
Neuroscientist Gül Dölen, at Johns Hopkins University, discovered that psychedelics can reopen this learning window. In her studies, a single dose made the adult brain open to learning again, a little like a child's.
How long it lasts
About two weeks for psilocybin
The window does not stay open forever. In mice, after a single dose of psilocybin it stayed open for around two weeks. Other psychedelics kept it open for shorter or longer, roughly matching how long their effects last.
Why it matters
Easier to change, and to learn
While the window is open, it becomes easier to learn new things, build new habits, adjust your behaviour, and let go of old patterns. This is why it is being explored for changing stuck behaviour and for breaking free from addiction.
The window is an opportunity, not a magic fix
An open window on its own changes nothing. You still have to do the real learning while it is open. That is exactly why intention, protocol, and integration sit at the heart of our approach: they help you make the most of a more open mind.
Our Hypothesis, Not Yet Proven
We believe that a gentle, building-up microdosing protocol may help keep this window of openness available over time. This is our own idea, and it has not been proven. The research so far used single, larger doses in mice, not microdosing.
Based on Nardou et al., Nature (2023), from the laboratory of Gül Dölen at Johns Hopkins University. This work was done in mice and studied social reward learning. Findings in animals do not always translate directly to people.
The Evidence
WHAT WE KNOW, AND HOW WE KNOW IT
The strongest clinical proof comes from higher, guided doses in controlled trials. This is that evidence. For the microdosing-specific research, see The Science of Microdosing.
Clinical Science
Johns Hopkins · Roland Griffiths · 2016
The study that changed the field
In Professor Roland Griffiths' groundbreaking trial, a single high-dose psilocybin session produced large, immediate, and sustained reductions in depression and anxiety in patients facing life-threatening cancer. About 80% still showed clinically significant improvement six months later. This landmark work reopened serious scientific interest in psilocybin worldwide, and helped move society to the edge of a genuine breakthrough in mental health care.
Imperial College · NEJM 2021
As effective as an antidepressant
In a head-to-head trial for major depression, psilocybin therapy matched a leading SSRI, and outperformed it on several measures of wellbeing.
Nature Medicine · 2022
The brain opens up
Brain scans showed psilocybin increased connectivity across the whole brain. This antidepressant mechanism was clearly distinct from the SSRI.
Johns Hopkins · 2014
Quitting smoking
In a pilot study, psilocybin-assisted therapy helped 80% of long-term smokers stay smoke-free at six months, far above standard methods.
JAMA Psychiatry · 2022
Alcohol dependence
Two psilocybin sessions alongside therapy sharply reduced heavy drinking days in adults with alcohol use disorder, versus placebo.
Cell Reports · 2018
Growing new connections
Laboratory research showed psychedelics promote the growth of dendrites and synapses, a biological basis for lasting behavioural change.
Johns Hopkins · JAMA 2021
Major depressive disorder
Griffiths' team found psilocybin therapy produced rapid, large antidepressant effects in adults with major depression, lasting for weeks.
Areas of Research
WHERE PSILOCYBIN IS BEING STUDIED
The clinical pipeline is expanding fast. A snapshot of the most active fields.
Mood
Depression & major depressive disorder
The most advanced area of research, with multiple trials showing significant, lasting reductions in depressive symptoms, including treatment-resistant cases.
Nervous system
Anxiety & stress
Studied for its power to ease anxiety, including end-of-life distress, by loosening rigid, fear-based patterns of thought.
Behaviour
Addiction: smoking, alcohol & more
Trials for tobacco and alcohol dependence show real promise in helping people break deeply ingrained habits when paired with therapy.
Focus
ADHD & attention
An emerging area: early self-report research suggests some people experience better focus and emotional regulation, though controlled trials are still needed.
Balance
Hormonal & cyclical wellbeing
Anecdotal reports point to microdosing supporting mood stability across hormonal cycles. This is a new frontier, promising but not yet clinically proven.
Long term
Longevity & brain health
By promoting neuroplasticity and easing chronic stress, researchers are exploring whether psychedelics could support long-term cognitive and emotional health.
'We are standing at the edge of a genuine breakthrough. The science on microdosing is still young, and we say that out loud. Some trials show clear effects, others reveal the power of expectation. That is exactly why our method never relies on the compound alone: intention, protocol, and integration turn a promising molecule into a real practice.'
The Earth Resonance ApproachSOURCES
- Griffiths RR et al. (2016). Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer. Journal of Psychopharmacology.
- Davis AK, Griffiths RR et al. (2021). Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder. JAMA Psychiatry.
- Carhart-Harris R et al. (2021). Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression. New England Journal of Medicine.
- Daws RE et al. (2022). Increased global integration in the brain after psilocybin therapy for depression. Nature Medicine.
- Johnson MW et al. (2014). Pilot study of psilocybin treatment for tobacco addiction. Journal of Psychopharmacology.
- Bogenschutz MP et al. (2022). Percentage of Heavy Drinking Days Following Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy. JAMA Psychiatry.
- Ly C et al. (2018). Psychedelics Promote Structural and Functional Neural Plasticity. Cell Reports.
- Polito V & Stevenson RJ (2019). A systematic study of microdosing psychedelics. PLOS ONE.
- Rootman JM et al. (2022). Adults who microdose psychedelics report health related motivations. Scientific Reports.
Start Gentle
MICRODOSING IS WHERE YOU BEGIN
You do not start with a high dose. Microdosing is a gentle first introduction to psilocybin: small, sub-perceptual amounts woven into everyday life. It is the calmest way to get to know this compound, and the perfect place to begin.
Start with the StarterFROM SCIENCE TO PRACTICE
See the evidence on microdosing specifically, or choose the protocol that fits you.
Shop ProtocolsThe Science of Microdosing