I have taken both microdoses and doses large enough, just recently in fact, to generate a literal (or at least literal feeling) out of body experience. I'd say that there are very real benefits to both but the latter is definitely not going to be anyone's cup of tea. I gave my sister her first trip with five grams and she says it was positive and transformative but that the ride was very uncomfortable for a few hours. The results with microdosing aren't nearly as dramatic but when I have taken them I do feel generally better and more at peace with the world in a very real way.
It would be interesting to know if they synergize with those other herbs. Passionflower has an maoi and will greatly increase the effects and duration of the experience. A large spoonful of raw cocoa seems to work to a lesser extent, according to the native peoples in Mexico and also in my experience but its less clear as to why. I don't think there is a ton of research on the topic so its a matter of how willing we are to test things out on ourselves. lol
Exactly why stories on HIVE are worth reading and writing. Why we're trying to encourage stuff with The Herbal Hive. So much funding is needed really so we tend to rely on anecdotes, and theres a lot to be said for them as well. My shroom days are over really. last time I felt awful - hyper anxious - though I found them transformative in the past. I dont think I have it in me to experiment although I wouldn't say no if someone offered.
Anecdotes are a good place to start. At the very least, they give us a jumping off point. I learned about adding the cocoa powder to the mushrooms because I happened upon a YouTube video where some traveler was speaking with a native curendera woman in central Mexico. She styled herself as a mushroom shaman and she made a really big deal about the importance of consuming cocoa with the mushrooms. I started eating about a table spoon along with my usual weed cookie before I drink my tea (which I make from strong mushroom broth, green tea, grape juice, and CBD oil) altogether it seems to stretch the trip out for an extra couple of hours and mellow it while making it more visual (that's subjective, of course, but I'd be lying if I said that it just felt like mushrooms).
I know your reluctance. I didn't touch psychedelics for 12 years after some rough rides. I recently found a source for mushrooms though and I couldn't resist the opportunity. I did have a rather unpleasant experience last week so I chose to skip this week and I may skip the next one too.