Start conservatively, prioritize safety, and remember that sustainable well-being comes from multiple factors, not just substances. Consider microdosing as one tool in a broader toolkit for personal growth and mental health. Research into microdosing is still emerging, but early studies and anecdotal evidence suggest several potential mechanisms of action. Psychedelics primarily affect the brain’s serotonin system, particularly the 5-HT2A receptors, which play crucial roles in mood regulation, cognition, and perception. When we say “sub-perceptual”, we mean that the tiny amounts used, usually less than 1/10th of a standard recreational dose, are so small that you won’t experience any strong psychedelic or hallucinogenic effects.
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User reported recreational doses depend on the species andexperience of the user (Rumackand Spoerke, 1994). Microdosing primarily interacts with serotonin receptors in the brain, particularly the 5-HT2A receptor, which plays a role in cognition, mood regulation, and perception. By gently influencing brain chemistry, microdosing can promote neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to adapt and form new neural connections — leading to improved mental performance and emotional resilience.
- If you’re curious about how to microdose for emotional resilience, starting with a consistent protocol and emotional tracking your can provide valuable insights.
- In a pooled analysis of psilocybin Studerus et al. (2011)classified active oral doses within a vast range of about one order of magnitudedifference, between 0.045 and 0.315 mg/kg, which translates into 3.15 to 22.05 mgfor a 70-kg human (Studerus etal., 2011).
- The data presented here were collected using a search of microdosing protocols thatincluded books, online fora and surveys.
- Let’s explore further how microdosing works in the brain, what research says about its long-term effects, and how individuals are integrating this practice into their daily lives.
Tracking Your Experience
As early as the 16th century, low doses of psilocybin, ‘teonanacatl’or sacred mushroom, were used medically (Schultes, 1940). Bernardino de Sahagún, aFranciscan friar during the period of the Spanish conquest of the Americas(1519–1521), reported that, ‘teonanacatl were … medicinal for fevers and forrheumatism. However, by 1640, 94% of the Aztec population was wiped outand alongside them, the traditions involving ‘teonanacatl’. Of note, the mentioningof visions here suggests this ancient ‘low-dose’ use does not refer to what iscurrently seen as microdosing, something that will be addressed below.
As Paul Stamets shared in his Joe Rogan Podcast interview, “So creativity brings happiness & happiness brings creativity. The opposite is true, with malaise and depression, you’re not as creative and aren’t enjoying life.” When we experience a block in creativity, it often correlates with a sense of disconnection or lack of purpose. Psilocybin can unlock creative pathways by shifting the way we think and interact with the world, making it easier to feel inspired and motivated to make a meaningful difference in our lives. But what exactly is microdosing, and how can you integrate it into your daily routine?
- When combined with goal-setting and intention, the effects of a microdose become stronger over long periods of time.
- This means that, in most places, microdosing LSD remains illegal (despite its excellent safety profile and therapeutic efficacy).
- The opposite is true, with malaise and depression, you’re not as creative and aren’t enjoying life.” When we experience a block in creativity, it often correlates with a sense of disconnection or lack of purpose.
- Small changes in a sub-set of variables werefound, i.e. decreased depression and stress, decreased mind wandering, increasedabsorption and increased neuroticism.
In fact, chronic microdosing does come with potential heart risk, though there is reason to believe that this may be relatively minor. Even though clinical trials on psychedelics are ongoing, the basic neuroscience of how they interact with our brains is well-established. Much of what we understand about how psychedelics work involves serotonin, a chemical that is among the brain’s most important neurotransmitters. Serotonin affects nearly everything we do, from how we feel to how we digest our food. Psychedelics such as LSD and psilocybin share a similar structure to serotonin and mimic the chemical’s effects. For Psilocybe cubensis, the classic magic mushroom, a typical microdose is 0.1 to 0.3 grams, although that amount may be smaller for people with clinical issues.
Unlike stimulants, which can cause energy crashes, microdosing works subtly to support cognitive flexibility and emotional balance, creating the ideal conditions for deep focus. The modern resurgence of microdosing began in the 2010s, fueled by anecdotal reports and research suggesting benefits for mood, creativity, and neuroplasticity. Today, alongside meditation and exercise, microdosing is being explored for its role in enhancing brain flexibility, with studies indicating potential reductions in anxiety, depression, and mind-wandering. Unlike stimulants that provide a short-term energy boost, microdosing appears to enhance concentration by fostering a state of mental clarity and emotional balance. The Beckley Foundation is leading the charge, where they are administering several placebo-controlled microdosing studies.
Dose: How Much Do I Take For a Microdose?
Plasmaconcentrations provide an objective measure of the substance that actually arrivesin the body by accounting for dosing, bioavailability and inter-individualdifferences in absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion. Plasmaconcentrations are also needed to compare formulations and substance exposuresbetween different studies and different research groups and should be generated foreach novel formulation. Unlike larger doses, microdosing allows individuals to experience subtle shifts in perspective, leading to improved emotional intelligence and cognitive flexibility. This can support personal transformation by helping individuals unlock creativity, rewire negative thought patterns, and cultivate a deeper sense of purpose.
Some people prefer to use free-form journaling, others like a prompt-style journal method. Double-check the potency of the DXM you’re using, and look for the addition of other compounds such as acetaminophen which can cause severe liver-toxic side-effects at this dose. Consider consulting a knowledgeable and experienced professional, such as a Psychedelic Integration Coach, to ensure safe and informed use. He grows his own mushrooms in Olympia, Washington, where psilocybin has been decriminalized. “I started microdosing and within a couple of months, I had a general sense of well-being that I hadn’t had in so long,” said Marine Corps combat veteran Matt Metzger. To my mind, the study published by Horsley et al. (2018) does not have anyseriously calculable implications for humans.
VLD was compared with a low dose (LD), amedium dose (MD) and a high dose (HD) defined as 115, 215 and 315 μg/kg p.o.,respectively. Although most physiological measures were similar between the VLD doseand placebo, a significant decrease was seen in maximum heart rate at the 6-hourpoint after VLD administration. Microdosing involves consuming a very low dose of a psychedelic substance, typically psilocybin truffles, in a structured routine. Unlike full doses, microdosing does not cause hallucinations but instead subtly enhances cognitive and emotional function. The practice has been around for decades, with recent research supporting its potential benefits for mental health and productivity.
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Begin by weighing out the desired dose in raw, dried mushrooms, or take the dose as a capsule. Most people will microdose for 6 to 8 weeks consistently, followed by a break of about a month or two. With that said, it’s important to take some breaks from microdosing as well.
In some cases, microdosing can trigger anxiety or make it harder to remain focused. Microdoses aren’t used to induce hallucinations or a spiritual experience. Instead, the goal is to improve creativity, boost professional performance, increase concentration, and support deeper and longer-lasting flow-states.
Analysis of gene expression in key cortical regionslike the medial prefrontal cortex indicated that LSD produced alterations in genesenriched for schizophrenia and bipolar depression that lasted long after the drugwas discontinued (Martin etal., 2014). Of note, here the interspecies scaling question arises, andit is disputable whether the (low) doses used in animals are comparable to thoseused by humans (Sharma andMcNeill, 2009). Related to these preclinical findings, another primarysafety concern for 5-HT2A agonists is the potential for adversepsychological response in humans (Carhart-Harris et al., 2016; Johnston et al., 2010;Vollenweider et al.,1998). Other potential and serious adverse events are cardiac valvulopathies due to repeatedactivation of serotonin 5-HT2B receptors, which psilocin activates alongwith many other serotonin receptors. Several drugs have recently been pulled fromthe market due to this concern. The first example of this was the diet medicationPhen/Fen, which had an unacceptably high fatality rate due to its effects on5-HT2B receptors in the heart (Connolly et al., 1997).
Your daily journal is used to track how you’re feeling, and how you’re progressing towards those goals. You can add as many prompts as you want here, but I’ve found it’s better to keep it short or you simply won’t fill them out every day. In most cases, a microdose is around 10% of the standard psychoactive dose — or less. One study found microdoses of LSD changed participants’ perception of time 2. While many people find it can alleviate symptoms like anxiety or poor focus, some people report the opposite.
He’s spent decades exploring the short and long-term benefits and safety of microdosing various substances. This psychedelic isn’t as popular as it used to be — but not because it’s less useful than the more common psychedelics. The reason most people don’t take mescaline is that you need to consume several grams of raw cactus at a time to achieve psychoactive doses. This amount of cactus can often upset the stomach and has the ultimate guide to microdosing psychedelics a very disagreeable taste and texture. Some people report microdosing MDMA helps them feel more connected with the people around them, elevate their mood, and help alleviate symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression.
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