Not familiar with the term microdosing?
It is the act of taking small doses of psychedelics.
People do it to improve their mood, creativity, and focus.
A lot of people say that microdosing can help with anxiety and depression.
What is microdosing and how does it work for mental health?
Microdosing is taking very small doses of a psychedelic drug.
Some people do this with LSD or magic mushrooms.
By taking small amounts of the drug, you can experience some of the benefits of microdosing. That too without experiencing any of the negative effects.
How Does it Work?
Microdosing works by taking tiny amounts of a drug.
The doses are so small that you won’t feel any effects from the drug itself.
For example, if you were to microdose LSD, you wouldn’t feel any trip effects. Such as visual hallucinations.
Some people believe that microdosing can increase their creativity, focus, and energy levels.
The concept of microdosing isn’t new.
It’s actually been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine.
By taking smaller doses of a substance, you can still experience the positive effects. Without any negative side effects.
When it comes to mental health, microdosing can be used to ease symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
Depressed people have low serotonin.
By microdosing psychedelics like LSD or psilocybin mushrooms, you can increase serotonin levels and therefore improve mood.
The benefits of microdosing psychedelics for mental health concerns
Psychedelics are known to have powerful effects on mental health.
Microdoses are too small to trigger any hallucinations or spiritual experiences.
But, they can still have a lot of mental health benefits.
Microdoses of LSD have shown an increase in creativity, reduce anxiety, and improved focus.
Psychedelics work by binding to serotonin receptors in the brain. Which helps to improve communication between different areas of the brain.
This can lead to better mental clarity and improved mood.
A small but growing number of clinical trials are being conducted.
To examine the safety and full effects of psychedelic substances in humans.
The results of these studies are premature.
But, they suggest that psychedelics are helpful in treating some mental health disorders.
For example, a 2016 study found that a single dose of psilocybin helped reduce anxiety and depression in cancer patients. Another study published in 2019 found that two doses of psilocybin given 3 weeks apart led to improvements in mood and decreases in obsessive-compulsive behaviors among people with OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder).
It’s important to note that psychedelics are not sandwiches.
That means you can’t just eat them without consequences.
Psychedelics are powerful drugs and need to be treated with care.
You should always prepare yourself before you take them.
Clinicians who give psychedelics also need to provide proper counseling and support.
Before and after drug administration.
They do this to help ensure that patients have a positive experience.
And don’t suffer any adverse effects.
How to get started with microdosing psychedelic drugs
There are a few things you need to know before you start.
First, you need to make sure that you’re getting your drugs from a reliable source.
There’s a lot of bad stuff out there.
And you don’t want to end up taking something that’s going to make you sick. Or worse.
Second, start with a really small dose. Like, really small.
We’re talking 1/10th of a regular dose.
You can always take more later if you need to. But it’s better to err on the side of caution when you’re first starting out.
Age, weight, and other factors may may moderate optimal microdosing doses, substance choice, and dosing schedule.
Third, pay attention to how you feel after taking the drug.
Are you feeling more creative?
More focused?
More energetic?
Or are you feeling anxious?
If you’re extremely anxious, then it’s probably best to stop taking the drug.
And try something else.
Lastly, make sure that you’re microdosing in a safe environment.
Somewhere you feel comfortable and relaxed.
This is not the time to be trying new things or pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone.
What Drugs Can I Microdose with?
There are all sorts of different drugs that you can microdose with, but some of the most popular ones include LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, MDMA, and Ketamine. Each one of these drugs will have different effects on your body and mind, so it’s important that you do your research before taking anything. Remember: start with a really small dose! You can always take more later if you need to.
The risks associated with microdosing psychedelics
Microdosing is considered safe if you are healthy. And take the proper precautions. However, there are some risks associated with microdosing.
Commonly reported microdosing substances are:
- Psilocybin mushrooms
- LSD
- Ayahuasca
- DMT
The doses are so small, it’s difficult to know how your body will react.
It’s also important to make sure that the drug you’re taking is pure.
And free of impurities.
Taking impure drugs can be dangerous and lead to negative side effects.
There are many potential benefits to microdosing psychedelics. But there are also some risks associated with this practice.
The biggest risk is that if you take too much of a psychedelic drug, you could experience some negative side effects.
These side effects can include anxiety, paranoia, and delusions.
It is also important to be aware that psychedelic medications. so it is important to speak with your doctor before you start microdosing.
Another risk to consider is that psychedelic drugs are illegal in many countries.
It can be difficult to find a reliable source for them.
This means that you could end up taking a fake version of the drug which could be dangerous.
It is always important to know what you are taking. And to only take psychedelics under the guidance of a trusted professional.
Microdosing might seem harmless, and it is most of the time.
But, there are actually some risks linked with it as well.
First, it’s difficult to measure the exact amount of the substance you’re taking.
And that’s why there’s always a risk of taking too much.
This can lead to serious medical problems. Including overdose.
Second, substances like psilocybin are illegal in many parts of the world. So, buying them can be difficult.
Finally, psychedelics can cause changes in our worldview and reality. Which can be dangerous if you’re not in a safe environment. Or if you’re not prepared for them.
Common Side Effects
There are also some less serious side effects that can occur from microdosing. These include nausea, headaches, dizziness, anxiety, and increased heart rate. If you experience any of these side effects, it’s important to stop taking the substance and seek medical help if necessary.
Benefits of Micrdosing Psychedelic Drugs for Treatment-Resistant Depression
A 2017 study says that psychedelic therapy reduced depression symptoms. Especially in people who didn’t respond to traditional medicine and therapy.
In this study, 29 people with treatment-resistant depression were given two doses of psilocybin (10 mg and 25 mg). Along with psychological support. Over the course of two weeks.
The patients were assessed for changes in their depressive symptoms one week and three months after treatment.
66% of participants had a noticeable decrease in their depression symptoms immediately after treatment.
And those effects lasted up to three months later.
Only 17% of participants in the placebo-controlled trials experienced any improvement in their symptoms.
These findings suggest that psychedelic therapy may be a promising new treatment option for people with treatment-resistant depression.
What are some prospects for future research funding
As experimental microdosing research begins, we need to remember that there is still a long road ahead for proper conclusions.
The complete potential of microdosing has not been fully understood yet.
But the benefits suggest potential novel research avenues for psychedelic substance-based treatment of several mental illnesses.
Like depression, anxiety, ADHD, smoking cessation, and substance use disorders. Exploring the potential of microdosing for creativity is also warranted.
But a lot of underlying agendas have effects such as limiting microdosing research.
Whether it’s early psychedelic research or future psychedelic research, we still have a long way to go.
A whole lot of scientific studies need to be conducted. Initial scientific investigations on psychedelic drugs tell us that these substances aren’t going anywhere for a long time.
And modern clinical research has its own results. Such as:
Improved health behaviors and reduced consumption Microdosing respondents experienced improvements in each of the following domains:
- Mood
- Anxiety
- Meditative practice
- Exercise
- Eating habits
- And sleep.
Microdosing respondents reported that they had reduced their use of any of the following substances: caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco dependence.