What is microdosing?

Microdosing is the regular intake of tiny, sub-perceptual doses of magic mushrooms.

Yes, some people do it with other psychedelic substances – but this article is about legal, natural microdosing that you can control and, if you like, even produce yourself.

The amounts you take are so small that they do not alter your perception in any way. You remain fully sober and functional – for some people, even more functional than without it. 

Microdosing has become popular as a natural alternative for combating depression and ADHD, lifting one’s mood and improving focus.

When taken correctly, it makes many people feel happier, healthier, more alert and relaxed 

 

How much is a microdose?

1/10 of an active dose – whatever that means for you. Not everyone is the same, but let’s look at a standard dose.

A standard microdose of magic truffles is about 1g of fresh weight.

Alternatively, you can think of it as 0.1g of dried magic mushrooms.

So much for standard dosing.

BUT. Many factors can influence how strongly your body reacts to magic mushrooms and, as a result, one person’s microdose might cause another to see colours and patterns, whilst a third person might soon complain that they don’t notice ANY difference.

For most people, the standard dose will work.

Still, it’s a good idea to take your first microdose at the weekend, when you don’t have to drive or operate heavy machinery, and see how it affects you.

Why Microdose Magic Truffles?

 

What does microdosing feel like?

The immediate, perceived impact of microdosing can manifest in a wide range of effects.

In general, think of microdoses of psilocybin-containing fungi as a small window opening in your mind that lets in light and air.

Most people agree on certain sensations, such as the feeling that it makes you feel less ‘stuck inside your own head’. Microdosing can gently and naturally lift your spirits and shift your focus from abstract worrying to the present moment.

(More on why and how this works further down)

There are, however, some people who find that as soon as they open a little window in their mind, all sorts of things try to creep in: suppressed emotions, thoughts and memories can sometimes detract from the sense of immediate wellbeing and make the experience feel unpleasant.

This highlights the important distinction between a microdose and, say, a shot of morphine. Mushrooms or truffles in tiny doses will not make you feel happy ‘no matter what’; rather, they allow signals from your unconscious and your surroundings to indicate to you how you’re living.

As your alertness increases, so does your ability to notice which aspects of your life need attention.

Microdosing for Health Benefits

Physical Conditions:

• Migraines
• Cluster headaches
• Inflammation-related pain, such as arthritis
• Chronic muscle pain

Psychological and mental conditions

• Depression
• Anxiety**
• ADHD symptoms
• Addictions to both substances and entertainment

The wide range of applications makes sense when considering the underlying mechanisms of microdosing: reducing stress levels by loosening our grip on our sense of self.

Microdosing for Performance

"Microdosing can help people who are already doing well."

This highlights the significance of microdosing in the evolution of psychedelics. Self-improvement is for everyone. There is nothing strange about striving for better feelings, better learning and better performance.

Microdosing can improve you on two levels.

Physical level

• Reduced inflammation (and therefore less pain)
• Deep tissue relaxation
• Increased energy from higher serotonin levels
• Improved body awareness

Psychological level

• Improved moods
• Enhanced learning (BDNF increases neuroplasticity)
• Greater empathy
• A creative boost from new perspectives

How does microdosing work?

Microdosing works much like a key-and-lock system: it provides the brain and body with nutrients that ‘unlock’ functions that are already built into our system.

So it is not really microdosing that produces such a stunningly wide range of positive effects – but the body itself. To understand the effects of microdosing, it is useful to remember how closely the mind and body are linked. As one feels and functions better, so does the other in many cases.

Feeling physically well makes us feel emotionally well, and vice versa.

But what about the risk of addiction – can you become hooked on feeling good through microdosing?

Is microdosing addictive?

For those already familiar with the effects of magic mushrooms, the answer is quite obviously no. The day after a mushroom experience, you tend to feel that the last thing you’d want right now is more mushrooms.

This is because they are inherently anti-addictive.

They can even be used, with the right intention and preparation, to break addictions to substances as powerful as nicotine (cigarettes). 

On the other hand, it is rather difficult to maintain a regular microdosing routine. Taking your tiny dose every morning or every other morning over an extended period of time requires a fair bit of discipline, because there is always going to be that little bit of resistance that says ‘not today’.

 

The brain chemistry of microdosing

 

Both magic mushrooms and truffles contain substances that are chemically extremely similar to serotonin. This is a substance that our brain produces naturally and that regulates many bodily functions, including

• mood
• concentration
• digestion
• libido
• sleep

Typically, higher levels of serotonin are found in happy, successful people, whilst lower-than-normal levels are a hallmark of depression. The receptors for serotonin can be tricked by chemically similar molecules that bind to them and stimulate them into action.

Magic mushrooms contain psilocybin, a substance that is metabolised into psilocin when ingested.

 

Can you combine microdosing with alcohol?

Usually, yes! Tiny doses of magic mushrooms do not pose a problem when it comes to drinking.

This is particularly true for people who are content and comfortable with their attitude towards alcohol (e.g. ‘social drinking’).

Although microdoses are normally so small that their effects can easily be ignored whilst drinking, this is no guarantee. Firstly, you should be VERY certain that the amount taken will actually act as a microdose for you, so it is best not to drink on the first day you try it.

Secondly, if alcohol acts as a coping mechanism for you, rather than simply a social lubricant, this points to a deeper underlying issue. Microdosing tends to open people up to their deepest emotions, so if you are aware that you are suffering from mental health issues, it is advisable to first become very familiar with how it affects you before combining the two.

Can you combine microdosing with antidepressants?

The official advice is that you should consult your psychiatrist before even attempting such a move.

In reality, it is often difficult to find a doctor who is familiar with microdosing, whilst there are also countless anecdotal accounts of people who have found their way out of depression through microdosing.

Please note that the author is not a psychiatrist and that the aim of this article is not to provide medical advice, but to help you make a more informed decision by sharing insights gained from years of personal experience. If you have a specialist you can consult, you should certainly do so.

What you need to realise is that microdosing and antidepressants, particularly SSRIs, can interfere with one another in several ways. Both involve the level of stimulation reaching the serotonin receptors, but whilst microdosing supplements the brain with serotonin-like substances, SSRI medication prevents the brain from breaking down the serotonin that is already present.

So, in theory, antidepressants should make microdosing stronger and more noticeable, right?

In theory, yes. However, over the years we have had plenty of correspondence with people using microdosing to combat their depression and even to taper off medication that they felt was no longer helping them.

In many cases, it was actually the other way round; years of antidepressants had made people more tolerant and less sensitive, so that they needed higher doses in order to achieve the desired feeling of openness and clarity.

 

 Can you drink coffee and microdose at the same time?

If you’re a die-hard coffee drinker, go for it!

If coffee is more of an occasional treat for you, or makes you jittery, sweaty or gives you a noticeably faster heart rate, you may find the combination with microdosing unpleasant.

 

 A note on the current state of research into microdosing

Science provides valuable insights, but its exploration of psilocybin is limited due to persistent stigma and legal barriers. One thing that is certain is that microdosing is most effective when the individual has positive expectations. Studies suggest that high expectations lead to better outcomes.***

Although the effects of microdosing are partly rooted in its chemical impact on the brain, there is also a significant psychological component.

In short: attitude matters. Who would have thought?

 

Sources:

Effects of microdosing on creativity 

** Health-related motivations and lower levels of anxiety and depression 

 *** A systematic study on microdosing