The Promise and Potential of Microdosing Psychedelics

Microdosing psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin has gained increasing attention in recent years as a potential way to boost mood, creativity, and cognitive performance. But what exactly is microdosing, how does it work, and what are the potential benefits and risks? To explore these questions, we spoke with two leading experts on microdosing - James Fadiman and Jordan Gruber, authors of the new book "Microdosing for Health, Healing and Enhanced Performance."

What is Microdosing?

Microdosing involves taking very small, sub-perceptual doses of psychedelic substances like LSD or psilocybin (magic mushrooms) on a regular schedule. As Fadiman explains:

"Microdosing is taking more than once a very small amount of a classic psychedelic and some other substances to have an appropriate response in terms of healing and making the system improve. It is not a small version of a high dose psychedelic."

Typically, a microdose is about 1/10th to 1/20th of a standard recreational dose. For LSD, this translates to about 5-20 micrograms, compared to a typical recreational dose of 100 micrograms or more.

Importantly, a proper microdose should not produce any overt psychedelic effects or impairment. As Fadiman notes:

"We're not talking about anything that's disruptive of any personal life or anyone else noticing. It has filtered into the culture kind of fairly easily."

The goal is to get subtle benefits without the intense psychedelic experience of a full dose.

How Microdosing Works

While the exact mechanisms are still being studied, research suggests microdosing works by stimulating neuroplasticity and promoting anti-inflammatory effects in the brain. As Gruber explains:

"We do know that microdosing produces neuroplasticity in a way that's a similar signal although at a lower amplitude than large doses. We do know that at least the classic psychedelics are strong anti-inflammatories so people tend to feel better."

This appears to help reset the brain and nervous system in beneficial ways, even at very low doses. Fadiman notes that microdosing seems to have a two-day effect, where benefits persist even after the substance has left the body:

"People said you know this is now the second day I feel maybe as good as before. First discovery - two-day effect, meaning the psychedelic microdose has already left the body and the body does not return to normal, it keeps the benefits."

Potential Benefits of Microdosing

Based on thousands of anecdotal reports and emerging research, microdosing appears to offer a range of potential benefits:

Improved Mood and Mental Health

One of the most common reported benefits is an improvement in mood and alleviation of depression symptoms. As Fadiman notes:

"When people microdose and we really literally got hundreds of long reports because people get very happy, they say after one or two or several weeks we know different people they have the same basic response which is 'I'm back'. And when they clarify that what they're doing is they're saying I feel the way I felt before I became depressed."

This effect seems particularly pronounced for those with treatment-resistant depression who haven't responded well to conventional antidepressants.

Enhanced Focus and Cognitive Performance

Many users report improvements in focus, concentration, and overall cognitive function. Gruber describes his own experience:

"I found that that I liked it and that it was it was valuable and not I there wasn't anything particularly wrong with me physically or mentally medically wise but in terms of the enhanced performance part that was obvious right away - long periods of focus, workout at the gym, all that stuff was happening."

Increased Creativity

Microdosing appears to boost creative thinking and problem-solving abilities for many users. The subtle shift in perception and cognition seems to allow for new insights and perspectives.

Reduced Anxiety

In addition to antidepressant effects, many report decreases in anxiety and an increased sense of calm and wellbeing with regular microdosing.

Physical Benefits

Some users report improvements in chronic pain, headaches, and other physical ailments. The anti-inflammatory effects may play a role here.

Improved Relationships

Many describe being more present, patient, and empathetic in their relationships as a result of microdosing. As Fadiman notes:

"Our our my personal kind of ideology says if people are suffering less, less painful, less depressed, less tired, their sex is better, they're eating better, they are less likely to be easily triggered into hostile and dangerous behaviors."

Microdosing vs. Full Doses

The authors emphasize that microdosing is quite different from taking full psychedelic doses. As Fadiman explains:

"High dose psychedelics disrupt your belief system, they disrupt who you think you are, how you think you're going to be when you're not living, what your religion taught you, how does the nature of physical reality work. These are kind of big messy topics."

In contrast, microdosing aims for more subtle shifts:

"Microdosing has a different optimism...if people are suffering less, less painful, less depressed, less tired, their sex is better, they're eating better, they are less likely to be easily triggered into hostile and dangerous behaviors."

The goal is gradual, sustainable improvements rather than dramatic breakthroughs or mystical experiences.

Safety and Side Effects

Overall, microdosing appears to have a very favorable risk profile when done responsibly. As Fadiman notes:

"Microdosing is remarkable in how little it does to the system that can be measured that raises concern."

Side effects tend to be minimal, especially compared to many psychiatric medications. However, the authors emphasize the importance of sourcing substances carefully, as adulterants can pose risks.

They also note that microdosing is not habit-forming or addictive. Many users take breaks or stop altogether once they've achieved their desired benefits.

Legal and Cultural Landscape

While classic psychedelics remain illegal at the federal level in the US, cultural attitudes are shifting rapidly. As Fadiman observes:

"We now have people in Congress who stand up and say my life was transformed by [psychedelics]. I think we as the government need to at least spend money on this and look at it."

Several cities and states have decriminalized or legalized certain psychedelics, and clinical research is advancing quickly. The authors expect this trend to continue regardless of which political party is in power.

They also note that other countries are moving faster than the US in some cases:

"We're one country, there are a lot of other countries who no longer feel any obligation to follow the United States in its restrictive drug laws."

The Future of Microdosing

As research advances and cultural acceptance grows, microdosing may become increasingly mainstream as a tool for mental health and human optimization. The authors see it as part of a larger shift in how we approach wellbeing:

"Our point of view is of course that's the correct way to behave, therefore what you need to look at is not the theory but the results. And we're most interested in scientific results but also what's called real world evidence."

While more rigorous clinical studies are still needed, the thousands of positive anecdotal reports suggest microdosing has significant potential. As our understanding grows, it may emerge as a powerful option for those seeking to enhance their mental health and cognitive performance in safe, sustainable ways.

Key Takeaways on Microdosing

• Microdosing involves taking very small amounts of psychedelics like LSD or psilocybin on a regular schedule
• Typical doses are about 1/10th of a recreational dose and don't produce overt psychedelic effects
• Potential benefits include improved mood, focus, creativity, and reduced anxiety and depression
• Microdosing appears to work by promoting neuroplasticity and anti-inflammatory effects in the brain
• Side effects tend to be minimal when done responsibly, but sourcing substances carefully is crucial
• Cultural attitudes are shifting rapidly, with increasing research and policy reform around psychedelics
• More clinical studies are still needed, but anecdotal evidence suggests significant potential

As research advances and legal barriers fall, microdosing may emerge as a powerful tool for optimizing mental health and human performance. While not a panacea, it represents an intriguing frontier in our evolving understanding of psychedelics and consciousness. As with any emerging treatment, those interested should carefully weigh the potential benefits and risks in consultation with knowledgeable professionals.

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