In recent years, conversations about psychedelic use and its effects on mental and cognitive health have become increasingly popular among academics and the general public. While evidence suggests psychedelics and hallucinogenics can help treat conditions like complex trauma and treatment-resistant depression, other research has begun to explore the potential benefits of micro-dosing with psychedelics.
Understanding Micro-dosing
Micro-dosing (or microdosing) is the practice of consuming a psychoactive substance like psilocybin or LSD in small, routine doses to support mental health. A microdose typically contains a fraction of the substance necessary to induce a full-blown psychedelic trip.
For example, an individual may microdose psychedelics with 1/10 or 1/20 of the amount they would typically take to induce a traditional trip. A microdose of LSD may range from 5 to 20 μg (micrograms), while psilocybin microdoses are usually between 0.1g and 0.3g.
Potential Benefits of Microdosing with Psychedelics
The primary goal of microdosing is to create an experience for the user that yields mental, cognitive, and sensory benefits without making them feel high. Many patients, doctors, and researchers alike theorize that microdosing psychedelics can help treat depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and even attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Some of the purported benefits of microdosing include the following the following:
- Increased creativity and cognition
- Improved mood and mindfulness
- Decreased feelings of stress and anxiety
- Sharpened focus and motivation
- Enhanced empathy, openness, and spirituality
- Reduced substance use
- Relief from cluster headaches or migraines
Risks and Side Effects
It bears mentioning that the benefits of microdosing are often variable and depend on the user’s current mental state and symptoms. For some people, microdosing psychedelics may induce unwanted or adverse psychological side effects, such as increased anxiety, feelings of paranoia, brain fog, or mood swings. An individual may also experience physical side effects, like nausea or headache.
People with certain psychiatric or mental conditions should avoid psychedelics and microdosing, however. Psychedelic use in patients with psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder may increase the risk of psychosis or hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder (HPPD)–also known as “the endless trip.”
On the other hand, the legal status of psychedelics also poses risks for individuals who microdose or use psychedelics for their mental health. Some states have decriminalized psychedelics and approved psychedelic-assisted therapies, yes. But in most states, these substances are illegal and carry harsh legal penalties for those found in possession of psychedelics.
Personal Experiences
Microdosing has become a popular topic of conversation online, especially on platforms like Reddit. In a December 2023 post about a study on the benefits of microdosing for adults with ADHD, the discussion contained mixed responses.
Many users critiqued the study’s validity based on its composition of self-reporting subjects with no control group. Others questioned the study’s unclear definition of mindfulness. At the same time, more than a handful of Redditors shared their experiences with psychedelics and microdosing.
“If [microdosing is] what I have to do because I can’t get my Adderall anymore, fine. I’m heavily suffering from the loss of my working prescription,” one user said, alluding to the shortage of ADHD medications across the country in the last several years.
“All I can say as a person with ADHD is that a dose of psilocybin gave me the best 18 months of my life,” another user said.
“[Microdosing] helps a lot in that it gives me the energy and focus to hone in on something,” one Redditor said. “My house in my depressed state was a disaster, and when I started microdosing, my house is a lot cleaner now,” they added.
Guidelines and Best Practices for Microdosing
The practice of microdosing includes taking a psychedelic substance in small doses routinely or on a schedule. An individual may microdose every other day, or they may follow a schedule of two dosed days and two non-dosed days at a time. Another microdosing schedule may include dosing Monday through Friday with two days of non-dosing during the weekend.
The type of schedule that works for one person may not work as well for another, and there is limited evidence to support one microdosing routine over another. Individuals who microdose should understand that, like many other substances, psychedelic consumption over time may cause a person to develop a tolerance to the substance–this is why few people microdose daily.
The Future of Microdosing Research
Consuming psychedelics in a non-medical setting can pose a myriad of risks, whether they be legal, physical, or psychological. If you are considering trying psychedelics or microdosing, educating yourself about psychedelic research and their legal status in your state are both crucial to ensure your safety.
Nevertheless, scientific knowledge is constantly in flux. Scientists have identified a kind of “placebo” effect based on users’ expectations of positive effects upon consuming psychedelic microdoses. They also recognize the need for placebo-controlled clinical studies and an understanding of how psychedelic substances affect the body on a biological and molecular level.
A considerable amount of anecdotal evidence from the last several years suggests that microdosing psychedelic substances like LSD and psilocybin may improve mental and cognitive health. However, many doctors and researchers are calling for continued research on the potential benefits of microdosing and therapeutic psychedelic use.
Reach out to The Summit Wellness Group
For your best chance at long-term relief from mental illness, substance abuse, or another psychiatric condition, consider reaching out to us at The Summit Wellness Group. If you or a loved one are struggling, don’t wait to start your path to recovery. Contact us at (770) 767-3593 or ContactUs@TheSummitWellnessGroup.com.
