Microdosing is the process of using small doses of psychedelic substances - particularly LSD or psilocybin, which is found in most hallucinogenic mushrooms. Microdosing is gaining popularity due to the increasing public tolerance associated with psychedelics, as well as positive feedback from people who have chosen to take such steps. Today's article will focus on everything there is to know about microdosing psilocybin and LSD.
Why is psilocybin microdosing performed?
The microdosing of psilocybin or LSD is aimed at obtaining the benefits of using psychedelics while avoiding the negative consequences of their use, which could prevent daily functioning. Essentially, it aims to:
- Improving cognitive abilities and creativity,
- Improving mood and memory,
- Increasing productivity while working,
- Eliminate the negative effects of stress and reduce the subjective level of stress.
Often, microdosing LSD or psilocybin is intended to get rid of troublesome symptoms associated with, for example, depression, anxiety or general mental discomfort.According to current research, microdosing LSD can indeed reduce anxiety and restlessness, but since the trials studied were small, further research is needed.
Microdosing of psilocybin
Psilocybin microdosing is becoming increasingly popular as a subtle method of supporting mental health and creativity, without the intense psychoactive effects. In practice, psilocybin microdosing involves taking very small doses on a regular basis, which do not result in full-blown hallucinatory experiences, but can have a positive effect on mood, concentration or energy. A growing number of people interested in alternative methods of well-being indicate that psilocybin microdosing helps manage stress, improves mood, and promotes openness to new perspectives and creative solutions to problems.
Microdosing or microdosing?
"Microdosing" is the more common term, while "microdosing" is the literal translation of the English word microdosing. Both terms mean the same thing - the practice of taking minimal doses of an active substance, such as psilocybin, to produce subtle effects to support mood, creativity or concentration, without intense psychoactive sensations.
Microdosing psilocybin and microdosing LSD
Microdosing psilocybin is much more popular than microdosing LSD, likely due to its less controversial nature and the greater amount of research available on clinical trials using it. Microdosing, by definition, is a process that is supposed to involve taking smaller doses of psychedelics than threshold doses, i.e. doses that trigger the full spectrum of symptoms associated with substance use.
Microdosing is supposed to allow the person who uses it to function completely normally, without feeling that he has used a psychoactive substance. In addition, it should not lead to negative feelings, increased anxiety, or drowsiness. When using microdosing, one starts with the smallest possible doses, and later adjusts them to one's needs and individual characteristics. There are different patterns of use of psychedelics, which are called protocols - they will be discussed later.
Microdosing - history and current publications
Nowadays, there is a trend in many countries towards widespread microdosing of cannabis products to achieve various benefits. The use of microdosing psilocybin or LSD is somewhat less common. Although microdosing has been used in psychedelic subcultures since the 20th century, the term only gained popularity in 2011 with James Fadiman's item "The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide: Safe, Therapeutic and Sacred Journeys." Another surge in the popularity of the microdosing procedure is seen after the appearance in 2016 of Ayelet Waldman's publication titled "A Really Good Day. How Microdosing Made a Mega Difference in my Mood, My Marriage, and My Life".
However, microdosing within everyday medical, scientific or industrial practice is not recognized due to the difficult-to-study effects of "supplementation" of psychedelics or their current legal status. From there, it has been increasingly reported recently that it is sometimes used by people who want to improve their performance and efficiency at work, for example. Currently, Fadiman is still collecting data related to microdosing and encourages people from all over the world to submit reports, share resources and take part in surveys related to microdosing via microdosingpsychedelics.com. Among the claims expressed by Fadiman are that:
- The majority of people from whom data was collected on taking microdoses of psychedelic substances praise their use,
- Microdosing has a bad effect on people who have problems with anxiety disorders,
- during therapy sessions where psychedelics are used, a "guide" is always needed to assist the substance user if necessary,
- psychedelics have been used successfully for thousands of years by a wide variety of cultures,
- it is necessary to continue research on microdosing and develop therapeutic currents that involve the use of microdosing of psychedelics.
Topics related to microdosing are also addressed in a book written by Torsten Passie, "The Science of Microdosing Psychedelics." In it, Passie refers to numerous studies on psychedelics conducted back in the last century, and joins the discussion related to microdosing psychedelics.
What is psilocybin? What is LSD?
Psylocybin is one of the organic chemical compounds with psychedelic effects. It is similar in action to LSD, or D-lysergic acid diethylamide. Both substances are considered illegal in most countries around the world. The effects from using both of them can be unpredictable and dependent:
- individual metabolism, amount and type of substance consumed,
- how to use LSD or psilocybin,
- The amount and type of food consumed before using the substance,
- medications and dietary supplements taken.
Among the effects of taking both drugs, improvements in mood, concentration, performance, seeing new things in something one is already familiar with or original visual effects are usually mentioned. However, a hallucinogen-induced perceptual disorder (HPPD) or so-called "bad trip" is also likely. The aforementioned disorder, which has the acronym HPPD, can manifest itself with impressions of depersonalization and derealization, among other things. Common symptoms of it include:
- palinopsia, or the continuous and repeated appearance of a particular image before the eyes, despite the cessation of the stimulus that triggered it,
- Visual metamorphopsia, associated with distortions in the distance of objects seen or the perception of their size, color changes or the shimmering characteristic of psychedelic substances,
- Tinnitus with short- or long-term effects.
The unremitting symptoms of hallucinogen-induced perceptual disturbances can lead to anxiety disorders or insomnia, as well as other mental disorders. The occurrence of the syndrome has been confirmed in healthy people with no undetected mental illnesses. If symptoms of HPPD occur, it is recommended to stop using any substances with psychedelic effects. The appearance of this disorder syndrome may require psychological and psychiatric treatment, including drug treatment. Sometimes the disorder resolves spontaneously after a few years or months. To reduce the risk or reduce the severity of both the negative and positive effects of intake, psilocybin microdosing and LSD microdosing have begun to become increasingly popular.
LSD is a substance up to a hundred times more active than psilocybin. However, it is not clear why some of those who try to introduce microdosing LSD do not feel any effects from its use. There are also cases in the other direction, where using psilocybin has no perceptible effects, while taking LSD in microdoses does the opposite. In the case of daily use of LSD, the phenomenon of tolerance can appear quite quickly, which usually disappears after about 3 days of the so-called reset. This may explain the much lower interest in microdosing LSD than psilocybin.
After taking LSD in a macrodose, most people describe a selection of the following symptoms in themselves: disturbances in their sense of time and perception, improved mood, accelerated pulse, reduced anxiety and restlessness, or an increase in them in the case of a phenomenon called "bad trip." Synesthetic sensations after LSD are also common, i.e. situations where a stimulus attributed to one of the senses, such as vision, causes sensations in the sensory organs as well. The effects of LSD can be counteracted with the administration of drugs from the benzodiazepine group, but due to the strong addictive potential and risks associated with their use, if such interference is needed, an addiction treatment facility or doctor should be contacted.
About psilocybin
Psylocybin is a potent serotonin receptor agonist, which could potentially have a positive effect on the treatment of certain psychiatric disorders, including those of a depressive nature. Its intake is usually associated with the emergence of tolerance to the doses used. Psylocybin is unlikely to ever be used as a drug, due to the fact that it is not responsible for a number of symptoms that occur after ingestion. The results from ingestion are due to the product of its metabolization, psilocin.
When taken in small doses, psilocybin is supposed to enable completely normal functioning and not cause disturbances in orientation in time and space. Most people who take it report that their relationships with other people have improved, as have their creative thinking, memory, energy levels and satisfaction with life. During its use, caffeine should not be taken, which can lead to unpredictability of the substance used. The most common microdoses used by psilocybin users range from 0.25 grams to 0.35 grams. The effects from its use often persist throughout the day, and also impinge on the days in which we take the mandatory rest from taking the substance. Details of microdosing will be addressed in later sections of this article.
LSD and psilocybin vs. the list of narcotics in Poland
LSD in Poland is on the list of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, the distribution, distribution, use, processing or trafficking of which is strictly controlled. If a person who possesses, uses or processes LSD does not have the appropriate authorization, he must expect to face legal sanctions. The list includes various groups of substances. Among them are:
- Group I-N - which includes substances with high addictive potential, but those that can be used for medical, industrial and scientific purposes with proper authorization.
- Group II-N - substances with medium addictive potential, possible to use in the same cases as group I-N agents.
- Group III-N - that is, relaxed controlled preparations that can be dispensed in pharmacies.
- Group IV-N - are all substances that are subject to tightened control. They can be used to treat animals and used for scientific purposes.
- Group I-P - which included preparations that cannot be used for medical purposes, but have a high risk of abuse. This group included LSD and psilocybin.
- Group II-P - agents with high abuse potential but negligible medical uses.
- Group III-P - that is, substances that may have positive effects from medical use. They can also be considered for industrial and scientific applications.
- Group IV-P - agents with a significant indication for medical use and a low potential for abuse.
Studies on psilocybin
Probably the first studies on psilocybin appeared in 1970. Unfortunately, at that time, no control groups were used and the subjects were not adequately defined, raising doubts about the methodological correctness of those studies. In parallel or not much later after the studies conducted on psilocybin, the effects of LSD on the treatment of mania, alcoholism and schizophrenia were studied. However, the results of the studies were inconclusive, although subjective improvements in patients' well-being were observed in attempts to alleviate pathological nervous states with LSD.
A study conducted by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies in 2006 showed that psilocybin can cause short-term improvement of up to a few days in obsessive-compulsive disorder. In 2014, studies were conducted using psilocybin related to the treatment of nicotine addiction. At the time, it was shown to have a positive effect in helping people quit smoking. Other studies have observed a positive effect of psilocybin in the treatment of drug-resistant depression and its similar effect to electroconvulsive therapy, which is currently still one of the "last resort" methods used for treating depression that is resistant to commonly used pharmacology. Studies have shown that administration of small doses of psilocybin can produce beneficial effects in 67% patients undergoing concurrent cognitive-behavioral therapy. Experiments on the use of psilocybin in psychiatry seemed to give promising results, so it is necessary to extend them and repeat them on larger groups of patients.
Research on LSD
In addition to psilocybin research, there have also been extensive experiments with LSD. However, it was more common to test the effects of psilocybin in practice due to its weaker effects. With regard to LSD, among other things, its effects on alcoholism have been studied. The use of LSD in the treatment of alcohol addiction was found to be positive, but all effects from its use disappeared after 6 months of administration. LSD has not been shown to produce more effective effects than drugs currently used to treat alcoholism. There have also been studies related to the administration of LSD during treatment for heroin addiction. The experiment showed partially beneficial effects of LSD during the first year of treatment, but the study was not continued.
One Swiss private center for the treatment of anxiety disorders uses LSD. It is a form of assisted therapy. LSD was used briefly as a drug in the states in the 20th century, but in 1966 the substance was removed from the drug inventory and placed on the list of banned substances due to the widespread recreational use of LSD by hippie circles.
History of psilocybin
Psylocybin has been used for thousands of years for mystical experiences, as well as during folk rituals or as part of recreation. Ancient tribes and shamans used psilocybin to maintain contact with the gods. The first references in graphic forms to human use of hallucinogenic mushrooms were found in Australia, Spain, Guatemala and Mexico. Evidence of their consumption up to 2,000 years ago has also been discovered in China and America. In general, hallucinogenic mushrooms containing psilocybin are associated with the Aztecs and Indians. Many works of art from more than a few thousand years ago can be found depicting psychedelic paintings, mushrooms and people experiencing uncanny visions.
Also in ancient Greece, during ceremonies worshipping the goddess Demeter, drinks containing admixtures of hallucinogenic mushrooms were consumed. Nowadays we even have a detailed report from 1957 by Gordon Wassonow, who presented in it an Indian ritual using these mushrooms. There is a theory formulated by Terence McKenny, who in his book "Stoned Ape theory" makes the controversial claim that the consumption of psilocybin mushrooms by early humans accelerated the development of their brains, their ability to communicate, think symbolically and sharpen their senses, useful for hunting.
In the 20th century, synthetic psilocybin was briefly available on the American market in the form of a drug. In the 1960s and 1970s, its use became widespread among those belonging to the hippie movement, which was considered the reason for the substance's outlawing. Research on psilocybin has been conducted successively since the 20th century in greater or lesser intensity depending on the specific period. Among the names of some of the many people working on psilocybin can be mentioned Fischer, Fadiman or McKenna. Nowadays, the research in question is experiencing a kind of renaissance, and a lot of up-to-date data on psilocybin can be found in the scientific literature. However, it is still necessary to develop this issue for a better understanding of its properties and potential effectiveness in the treatment of various diseases.
Side effects of psilocybin use
There are many side effects of using psilocybin in macrodoses. Although these effects may be lessened when opting for microdosing psilocybin, the risk of them occurring while taking psychoactive substances cannot be completely ruled out. Among the side effects that may occur are:
- negative sensations related to the body's physiology - visual disturbances, numbness in the limbs, tingling, stomach problems or headaches,
- Insomnia and difficulty falling asleep or excessive daytime sleepiness,
- Mood swings or significant deterioration of mood,
- Nausea, excessive sweating, body tremors, anxiety and restlessness, a sense of unreality,
- difficulty maintaining concentration, cognitive deterioration, memory impairment.
Risks associated with the use of psilocybin
The dangers associated with the use of psilocybin are quite numerous. It is important to keep in mind that it is a substance with a certain addictive potential, and even on microdoses it is easy to develop a tolerance over time - that is why the most popular use protocols are every few days. The line between subtle supplementation and so-called trip is quite faint, and a person using microdosing nevertheless sometimes feels that he or she is under the influence of intoxicating substances - although it is impossible to determine to what extent this is a placebo effect. A phenomenon observable in people who use psilocybin microdosing in their daily functioning is a decrease in activity, concentration and worsening of mood on days when they do not take doses of the substance.
The biggest risk associated with the use of psilocybin and other psychoactive substances, however, is that they still have not been studied thoroughly enough. Often the effects of use can be unpredictable, and the difficulties associated with proper dosage of the substance can be problematic. This is due not only to differences in substance content between different mushrooms, but also to the inaccuracy of measuring LSD.
The cartons that users buy in black markets and which are soaked in the substance do not have the exact information related to the dose contained in them. Laboratory versions of the substance can only be administered during controlled experiments and research - there is no chance for microdosing proponents to purchase them. In addition to health risks, therefore, there are problems related to the legality of the use of the substances in question - in most cases, one can expose oneself to unpleasant legal consequences. The medical community also raises legitimate concerns about recreational drug use.
The future of psilocybin
Several new studies on the effects of psilocybin were presented at one of the Interdisciplinary Conference on Psychedelic Research (ICPR2020). Two of the three showed that its consumption (or LSD) in microdoses did not give test subjects more than placebo. Regardless of whether respondents took a placebo or a microdose, they reported positive aspects of use to the researchers. Unfortunately, while one study reported an increase in visual attention, another contradicted this. The same was true of sustained attention. To date, all studies related to the use of the substances in question have involved relatively small samples of subjects and were conducted over short periods of time. Neither psilocybin's nor LSD's effectiveness in the areas studied has been confirmed, nor have their long-term effects on the human body been investigated. The future of psilocybin can therefore not yet be clearly defined, as further research is needed.
Microdosing protocols
Microdosing psilocybin is always associated with a certain frequency of consumption of the substance, as well as the selection of a volumetrically appropriate dose - a regimen of use based on these factors is called a microdosing protocol. The most popular are two well-known protocols, developed by James Fadiman or Paul Stamets. According to the first Author, microdosing should be carried out once every three days. He recommends observing the body and recording any significant changes in mood or behavior not only on the day of microdosing, but also in between.
The latter author recommends microdosing psilocybin for five days in a row, followed by a two-day break. He also makes recommendations to introduce into the regimen of use also coneflower, which is a natural supplement known for hundreds of years. Among other things, it exhibits neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, the supplement often used is also niacin - of course, with regard to the protocol in question. However, there is sometimes a flush effect after its inclusion, i.e. periodic reddening of the skin an hour after ingestion.
Microdosing of psychedelic substances, and alternative protocols
However, there are also less popular microdosing protocols, among them:
- Microdosing Institute Protocol - assuming dosing every two days for one to two months. The goal during the construction of this protocol was to treat migraines, social phobias or to assist people struggling with depression.
- 2/7 - that is, the use of microdosing on two selected days of the week. These days always fall at the same time of the week. The cycle lasts the same amount of time as the previous protocol, while at a later time you need to take a minimum two-week break from taking it.
- 3/7 - the protocol works on the same principle as its predecessor, but instead of two selected days, psilocybin preparations are taken three days a week.
- Nocturnal - dedicated especially to people who feel tired and sleepy after using the substance. Then consider microdosing, instead of in the morning - in the evening, about an hour before bedtime. Psylocybin in the night protocol is used every two days. According to the protocol, you take the substance for 4 weeks, after which you should do a mandatory reset. It is important to keep in mind that if our goal is to microdose LSD then this regimen will probably not work.
Notes on psilocybin dosing protocols
Both fresh and dried or otherwise treated mushrooms contain different doses of psilocybin. Variations in the concentration of the substance occur not only at the level of individual species or specific mushrooms, but even parts within a single mushroom. To make sense of microdosing psilocybin, the most common advice you'll find is to dry the mushrooms completely, grind them into a powder, and then measure 0.1 grams of the substance as a single dose. Often, however, the ideal dose for users turns out to be up to four times less of the substance. LSD, on the other hand, is taken in doses ranging from 4 to 20 µg, with the second value being the maximum dose.
Sources:
- Fadiman, The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide: Safe, Therapeutic and Sacred Journeys, 2011
- Gasser, D. Holstein, Y. Michel et al, Safety and Efficacy of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide-Assisted Psychotherapy for Anxiety Associated With Life-threatening Diseases, 2014.
- Passie The Science of Microdosing Psychedelics, 2010.
- Fischer, R. Hill, K. Thatcher, J. Scheib, Psilocybin-induced contraction of nearby visual space, 1970
- M. Unger, Mescaline, LSD, psilocybin, and personality change a review, 1963.
- Lyvers, M. Meester, Illicit use of LSD or psilocybin, but not MDMA or nonpsychedelic drugs, is associated with mystical experiences in a dose-dependent manner, 2012
Infographic:
- Psylocybin and LSD are popular psychedelics that are on the list of controlled substances.
- Microdosing is the process of taking up to 10 times less of a psychedelic than what is needed to cause the immediate symptoms of taking them.
- To date, numerous studies have been conducted on the therapeutic uses of psychedelics, including psilocybin and LSD.
- Among other things, the effects of psychedelics on the treatment of depression, anxiety disorders, nicotine and alcohol addiction have been studied.
- Daily microdosing of psychedelics is not recommended. When using them, it is worthwhile to familiarize yourself with microdosing protocols.
- The most common microdosing rule of thumb specifies 0.1g of psilocybin as a starting dose. Most users use doses of 0.25g-0.35g.
- For LSD, the starting microdose is 4 µg, while the maximum is 20 µg.