Microdosing Psilocybin

Introduction to Microdosing

While the experiences of consuming high doses of psilocybin-containing mushrooms have been extensively studied, recent research has focused on a specific therapeutic approach called microdosing. Microdosing involves the regular use of low doses (5 to 10% of the usual dose) of psychoactive (mind-altering) drugs.

Microdosing Psilocybin

Microdosing Psilocybin  involves the use of low doses (100-300 milligrams of dried mushrooms, equivalent to 0.1 to 0.3 milligrams of pure psilocybin) at regular intervals (every 48 to 72 hours). The effects of psilocybin on the body are dose-dependent, and as the dosage increases, individuals may experience various effects. These effects range from a mild sedating sensation at lower doses to a profound mental jouey at higher doses, including sensory blending such as seeing sounds, hearing colors, feeling unity with nature, and even the sensation of the soul leaving the body. After the substance is cleared from the body, these states retu to normal. The amount of psilocybin used in the microdosing method does not cause alterations in the individual’s perceptual aspects and is devoid of hallucinogenic effects.

This article discusses the scientific aspects of microdosing psilocybin, its effects, research findings, and potential applications.

The benefits of full-dose psychedelics

While more than a thousand early studies linked psychedelic use with beneficial effects , there was a 40-year pause on psychedelic research following the prohibition of these substances. Despite continued prohibition, mode research has revealed the promising potential of LSD and psilocybin for treating alcohol and tobacco dependence , depression, and end-of-life anxiety, while related research on 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) has shown great promise for treating post-traumatic stress disorder. Psychedelics can also increase openness and occasion mystical-type experiences in healthy controls. As full-dose psychedelics appear to aide in the relief of severe, chronic psychiatric conditions (e.g. depression, anxiety, PTSD), milder mental health conces may plausibly be treated by lower, recurring doses. This is especially worth considering if certain full-dose outcomes are found to rely on purely pharmacologic mechanisms rather than primarily on phenomenological experiences.

Limiting microdosing research to topics that have been investigated in full-dose research could prematurely overlook unpredicted and potentially distinct microdosing outcomes. Full-dose research has employed various focal assessments of symptomatology, mood, and personality that are likely applicable to microdosing research, but due to the low doses and lack of perceptual alteration intended in microdosing, other full-dose phenomena, such as ego dissolution and mystical-type experiences, are less relevant to microdosing research. Instead, as a means of preparing for a broad range of outcomes, the present work solicited open-ended reports of benefits and challenges. Additionally, as psychedelic substances act on distinct yet overlapping neural receptor sites, it seems plausible that distinct pattes could emerge for different substances. The present study thus included microdosers who used LSD, psilocybin, or both.