Did you know that more than forty percent of people report that their mental health significantly improves after microdosing?
By microdosing substances such as psilocybin mushrooms, it’s possible to heal from conditions that are often deemed to be untreatable by Western medicine. Despite the many benefits, many people are hesitant to try microdosing because they don’t know how to do it.
To help you understand what’s involved in this process, we’ve written a guide. Read on and we’ll tell you how to start microdosing.
The Basics of Microdosing
Microdosing is the practice of consuming tiny doses of psychoactive plants and has only recently become popular around the world. The idea is to take extremely small doses of psychoactive compounds so that you don’t hallucinate or lose control of yourself.
According to many researchers, all you need to do is take about one percent or less of what would be considered a full dose. Since most people consider a full dose of psilocybin mushrooms to weigh between one and three grams, you would only need to consume one-hundredth of a gram or less of the substance if you were to microdose it.
But there is no consensus about how much of a substance you need to consume for it to be defined as a microdose. This is why most people use a more general guideline to define what a microdose is. According to this way of thinking, a microdose is any dose of a psychedelic substance that does not cause you to hallucinate or become intoxicated.
Most people who microdose will take regular doses of a substance for at least several weeks.
Why Do People Choose to Microdose?
It’s easy to confuse microdosing a psychoactive substance with what it means to “trip” on one. The truth is that these are two very different things.
It’s common for people to take full doses of psychoactive substances to expand self-awareness or to seek spiritual wellness. Those who microdose also do so to change their mindset or to become healthier and happier. It’s common for people to combine microdosing and meditation.
By consuming the smallest possible amount of a psychedelic, most people will have very different experiences than those who take full doses of the same substance. In fact, most people who microdose say that there is no relationship between these two ways of using psychedelics.
Many people say that microdosing has helped them to become happier. They also report that they’re able to think more clearly.
What Can You Microdose?
The most common hallucinogens that people microdose are lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin mushrooms (magic mushrooms). There are many people who also use substances like N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), the San Pedro cactus, peyote, and ketamine.
Even though there are many psychedelics that people choose to microdose, most researchers have focused their attention on LSD and magic mushrooms.
The Benefits of Microdosing
There are only a small number of studies that have looked directly at the effects of microdosing. This is why experts still don’t know very much about the long-term benefits.
Fortunately, there are many studies currently being carried out which explore how microdosing influences peoples’ long-term wellbeing. For example, John Hopkins Medicine was recently awarded the first federal grant for psychedelic research within the last fifty years. The program currently has several studies underway.
There are some people who criticize the legitimacy of these studies. They say that they rely too much on self-reporting.
According to these critics, most people who participate are biased because they have already had an interest in microdosing. They say that participants of these studies are therefore biased.
Most people who microdose say that the practice has many health benefits. The most common thing people say is that their mental health improves.
Those who previously had low energy say they feel more stimulated after microdosing. People often say they feel more creative and more optimistic. Microdosing has also helped people to overcome conditions such as anxiety and depression.
There are also many athletes who report that their performance improves after microdosing.
How to Know the Right Dose
There is no firm rule about what constitutes a “right dose.” It depends on what substance you’re working with.
The typical dose that researchers use in scientific studies is around one percent of a normal dose. Most people who microdose on their own will take between five and ten percent of a normal dose.
If you were to microdose magic mushrooms, this means that you’d consume between forty and one hundred and fifty milligrams.
You also need to consider whether you’ve recently eaten or not. If you microdose on an empty stomach, your body will be more sensitive to the psychedelic.
How Often to Microdose
Before knowing how often to microdose, it’s important to know what your intentions are. If you are doing it for the first time, it’s a good idea to take fewer doses for a shorter time.
If you’ve microdosed in the past, you should consider taking more doses for a longer time. Experts recommend taking no more than one dose per day.
They also say that it’s important to take periodic breaks from microdosing if you choose to do it for an extended period. This is because it’s possible to build up a tolerance to a substance if you use it too often. Once you build up a tolerance, you’ll need to start taking high quantities of a substance for it to be effective.
It’s a good idea to take your dose early in the morning. Some people only microdose for several days. Others choose to microdose every day for up to a month.
If you have not worked before, it’s important to be guided by somebody who is experienced and who you can trust. This is why it’s common for people to work with therapists and psychologists who are trained in the area of psychedelic-assisted therapy.
The Microdosing Process: Know the Right Steps
One challenging thing about microdosing is that there is no official process. Different people recommend different protocols. Since this can get confusing, it’s important to microdose for the first time by following a protocol that is given by experts.
The most popular microdosing protocol was outlined by Dr. James Fadiman, who is one of the world’s most respected psychedelics researchers. Here is the microdosing process that he suggests.
Find the Substance that You’ll Microdose
The easiest way to find microdosing supplements is to visit local shops or buy them online. Keep in mind that it’s only legal to microdose psychedelics such as magic mushrooms in certain states.
Take Your First Dose
Choose a day when you don’t have a busy schedule to take your first dose. Your first dose would be between one-tenth and one-twentieth of a normal dose.
Tune into Your Experience
Turn off all digital devices and find a place where you feel comfortable.
Consider keeping a journal to track what you’re feeling and thinking. It’s also a good idea to take notice of whether your experience matches your expectations.
Make Adjustments if You Need To
After you’ve taken your first microdose, ask yourself whether the experience worked out as you intended it to. If you didn’t feel like you lost control or were going on a “trip,” you didn’t take too much. If you felt subtle changes to your mood and emotions, you didn’t too little.
Continue Microdosing on a Regular Basis
The best way to microdose on a regular basis is to create a schedule. Dr. Fadiman recommends that people take two days off from microdosing for every one day that they microdose. For example, if you were to microdose on a Monday, you would wait until Wednesday to take your next dose.
Know About the Risks of Microdosing
If psychedelics are used in the wrong way, they can be dangerous. If you’ve never used them before, it’s a good idea to search for somebody with experience who can support you.
You should never mix psychedelics with alcoholic beverages or other drugs, even while you’re microdosing. It’s also a good idea to avoid stimulants such as tobacco and caffeine. You should also wait several hours to microdose after taking prescription medications.
Start Microdosing Today
If you’ve been wondering how to start microdosing, it’s important to understand that it’s not necessary to take more than one-tenth of a substance’s regular dose. Once you take your first microdose, make sure to find a quiet place where you won’t be distracted. Take notice of your experience and repeat the process on a regular basis.
Do you want to find out more about how to microdose? If so, we’re here to help you. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions that you might have.
