Stamets · 4 on / 3 off
Stamets
Classic microdose cadence
Four consecutive dose days, three days of rest. The most studied rhythm — built for deep integration with the active formulas.
Protocols · Guided Practice
How to use MYKO. Properly.
MYKO isn’t a daily pill — it’s a practice. Before you choose a rhythm, start with the basics: what microdosing means, how a cycle is built, and why the rest days matter as much as the dose days.
Start Here
What the practice is.
Most supplements are simple — one a day, forever. MYKO’s active formulas work differently, and the difference is worth understanding before you begin.
A MYKO protocol isn’t really a dose. It’s a relationship between two kinds of days — the ones you engage, and the ones you let the body work on its own.
A normal supplement
Every day, the same.
M
T
W
T
F
S
S
Same input, every day. The nervous system adapts to whatever it sees constantly — and the signal slowly fades into background noise.
A MYKO protocol
A rhythm of work and rest.
M
T
W
T
F
S
S
Engagement days, then rest — deliberately spaced. The contrast between them is what keeps the signal sharp instead of letting it flatten.
The whole idea, in three words
The Amount
Microdose
Low and sub-perceptual — a signal, not a high. You’re not meant to feel a peak. That’s the point.
The Rhythm
Cadence
Dose days and rest days, spaced on purpose. The rest is the half where it quietly lands.
The Arc
Cycle
About 8 weeks, then a full break. The pattern is what changes you — never any single day.
Next on this page: the four rhythms · companions · a 30-day plan
See the four protocols →
How It Works
The anatomy of a cycle.
Every protocol is built from three units. Dose days do the work; rest days let it land.
One week · repeated ×8
4 Dose days
1234
3 Rest days
567
Then
Full break
1–4 weeks
Shown: the Stamets cadence — four dose days, three rest days, repeated for eight weeks, then a reset.
Dose Day
Take the active formula. Same time, same amount. Pair with one slow breath and move on.
Rest Day
Nothing active. The system integrates what the dose day primed — the other half of the work.
Full Break
One to four weeks fully off between cycles, to reset receptor sensitivity before the next arc.
Why Cycling Matters
The body listens better when you stop talking.
Continuous dosing flattens the signal. The nervous system adapts to anything it sees every day — including the compounds meant to nudge it. The rhythm of dose and rest isn’t a rule we added on top; it’s built into how these compounds actually work.
The reason isn’t mystical. It comes down to three things happening quietly in the background:
The problem with daily
Tolerance
Take something every day and the body turns the volume down. The serotonin receptors these compounds act on — the 5-HT2A system — gradually become less responsive, so the same dose does less. Daily use is generally understood to blunt the very effect you came for.
What rest restores
Resensitizing
Off days give those receptors room to recover their sensitivity. When the next dose lands, it meets a responsive system instead of a saturated one — which is why a small, spaced dose keeps working when a daily one wouldn’t.
What rest builds
Consolidation
A dose day sets change in motion; rest — much of it during sleep — is when the body consolidates it into something that lasts. Skip the off days and there’s no window for any of it to take hold.
One exception — ADAPT. It carries no active botanical, so there’s no tolerance curve to manage. It runs daily underneath any protocol, no cycling required.
Shared to help you understand the practice — not as medical advice. This is how this class of compounds is generally understood to work; individual response varies, and none of it is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Rest is not the absence of work. Rest is the work.
Four Protocols · One System
Choose your rhythm.
Each protocol is a different cadence of dose days and rest. Start gentle; graduate to self-directed cycling only once the rhythm is second nature.
Fadiman · 1 on / 2 off
Fadiman
Gentle daily rhythm
One dose day, two off. The lightest cadence — best for sensitive systems or building tolerance gradually. A common starting point.
Nightcap · Evening
Nightcap
Pre-sleep ritual
A sub-perceptual evening dose 60–90 min before sleep. Supports the wind-down shift and overnight integration.
Intuitive · Advanced
Intuitive
Self-directed cycling
A self-determined rhythm based on personal awareness. Requires an established baseline and confidence reading subtle signals.
Not for new usersBuild foundation with Stamets or Fadiman for one full 8-week cycle first.
The 30-Day Foundation
Before any active protocol, build the floor.
Whatever cadence you pick, the first four weeks follow one shape — same time, same dose, no new variables.
1
Establishment
Build the habit. Daily at the same time, one slow breath. If you feel nothing, you’re doing it right.
2
Adjustment
Notice subtle shifts. Steadier afternoons, cleaner mornings. Easy to miss — pay attention.
3
Integration
Notice absences. The slump that wasn’t as deep. Recovery that was quicker.
4
Evaluation
Compare baseline to Day 1 — sleep, energy, stress recovery. One observation, in your own words.
After day 30: extend the foundation, layer in an active formula, or both. ADAPT can run continuously underneath whatever you choose next.
The Companion Stack
What goes alongside.
Three companions support the protocols — one foundational, two optional.
Foundational · Daily
Magnesium
200–400mg daily, every protocol. The cofactor mineral most people run low on — Glycinate for daily, L-Threonate for cognitive.
Optional · Stamets-Only
Niacin (Flush)
25–50mg flush-form B3 on Stamets dose days only. Not required, and never used with Fadiman, ADAPT, or EMBODY.
Optional · Rest-Day
Lion’s Mane
An optional rest-day companion — ongoing cognitive-pathway support while the active formula cycles down.
The MYKO System
Five formulations. One biological compass.
Each formula maps to a cadence above. ADAPT is the daily foundation the others layer on.
Questions
What protocols actually feel like.
How do I choose between Stamets and Fadiman?
Stamets (4 on / 3 off) is the most studied microdose cadence and suits users targeting deeper integration with the active formulas. Fadiman (1 on / 2 off) is gentler and best for sensitive systems or anyone building tolerance gradually. Many users start with Fadiman for the first 8 weeks, then move to Stamets if they want more contact with the active days.
Do I need Niacin? Is it required?
No — niacin is optional, and only relevant on Stamets dose days. Some practitioners use 25–50mg flush-form B3 because the vasodilation may support distribution of co-dosed compounds (this is theorized, not conclusively proven). It’s never used with Fadiman, ADAPT, or EMBODY. Skip it if the flush is uncomfortable or if you have liver, gout, or anticoagulant concerns.
Why is Magnesium called foundational?
Magnesium is a cofactor in 300+ enzymatic reactions including ATP production, nerve transmission, and stress response. Most adults run mildly under-mineralized due to soil depletion and chronic stress. MYKO protocols pair best with Glycinate (gentle, daily) or L-Threonate (cognitive-focused). Highly recommended on every protocol; not strictly required.
Can I switch protocols mid-cycle?
Yes, but finish the current week first so you have a clean observation. Mid-week switches blur the signal and make it harder to evaluate what’s actually working. Switch on a rest day, journal what changed, then begin the new cadence on the next dose day.
What if I don’t feel anything?
This is the most common — and most correct — experience in the first 7–14 days. MYKO formulas are designed around mechanism, not perception. The work compounds quietly: steadier afternoons, cleaner mornings, faster stress recovery. Hold the protocol, journal weekly, and re-evaluate at day 30.
How do I know if cycling is working?
You’re looking for absences as much as presences. The slump that didn’t land. The recovery that arrived faster. Sleep that consolidated. Cycling works in the negative space — the wins are often what didn’t go wrong. Day 30 evaluation is where this becomes visible.
What if my schedule disrupts the cycle?
One missed day is not a failure. Resume the next scheduled dose day and continue. If multiple days are disrupted in a row, restart the current week from day one. The protocol is a frame, not a contract — consistency matters more than perfection.
Can I take active formulas without cycling?
ADAPT is designed for continuous daily use without cycling. NEUROGENESIS, CORTEX, EMBODY, and EUPHORIA contain an active botanical and are designed around a cycling cadence — continuous daily use of these formulas reduces signal over time. If you want a daily formula without cycling, use ADAPT.
How long until I should consider Intuitive cycling?
A minimum of 6 months of structured cycling (Stamets or Fadiman), with strong self-awareness and a journaling habit. Intuitive cycling is advanced practice — it requires reading subtle body signals that take time to develop. New users should not start here.
What’s the difference between rest days and a full break?
Rest days are part of the active protocol — 2–3 days between dose days where the system integrates. A full break is 1–4 weeks completely off the active formula between 8-week cycles, designed to reset receptor sensitivity. Many users take a 2-week break between cycles.
Can I run two protocols at once?
Yes — this is the most common layering pattern. ADAPT is the non-cycling daily foundation; an active formula (NEUROGENESIS, CORTEX, EMBODY, EUPHORIA) layers on top with a cycling cadence. The two work together: ADAPT supports the baseline, the active engages the specific pathway.
What happens after 8 weeks?
Take a 1–2 week break, journal what changed, and decide: extend the same protocol, switch to a different active formula on the same cadence, or stop and re-evaluate. The 8-week window is designed to be a complete observation arc — long enough for signal to register, short enough to remain intentional.
Safety · Read Before Use
Use with intention.
Some protocols and formulas are not appropriate for everyone. If any of the following apply to you, do not begin a MYKO protocol without first consulting your healthcare provider.
- Pregnancy or nursing
- History of psychosis, schizophrenia, or Bipolar I
- SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs, or other psychiatric medications
- Use of lithium
- Anticoagulant medication (caution for niacin)
- Diabetes medication (caution for niacin)
- Active liver concerns (caution for high-dose niacin)
- Age under 18
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before use.
Final Word
The rhythm is the medicine.
Choose a formula, support it with minerals, and cycle with intention. The practice is what turns five formulations into real change.