Your Ultimate Guide to Microdosing Psychedelic Drugs

If you worry about your mental health or are dealing with a mental illness, you may have already tried out different ways to feel better and happier. Some of these methods are exercise, meditation, behavioral health therapy, prescription drugs, or a mix of these and other treatments.

You may also have heard recently that psychedelics or hallucinogens can be used to help improve mental health. Recently, some people have been using these drugs to get physical and mental stimulation through microdosing.

But is microdosing a psychedelic drug, such as magic mushrooms, really an excellent way to do things? And more importantly, is it safe? This article will tackle all the benefits, effects, and anecdotal evidence of microdosing psychedelics.

What Is Microdosing?

The most basic definition of microdosing is using very small doses that are lower than what is considered a therapeutic dose to get a good experience or response. Microdosing psychedelic substances and other drugs typically require about 10% of the amount that is regarded as a therapeutic dose.

Since the doses are lower, getting high or “tripping out” is not the goal. The goal is to get some of the desired effects without actually feeling high or noticing any other signs of intoxication.

History of Microdosing

Microdosing LSD and other hallucinogens first became popular when users wrote about their experiences on the Internet. Practitioners used online forums like Reddit and other message boards to share the “benefits” of microdosing.

LSD and magic mushrooms are both illegal at the federal level in the United States and most other countries. Despite that, more and more users reported that microdosing mushrooms and LSD help them improve mood disorders, as well as be more focused, creative, and productive. Check out how long? It takes magic mushrooms to take effect here.

People of almost every age and background have talked about their own experiences with microdosing. This includes young tech workers, middle-aged parents with kids, and even high-ranking business leaders from well-known companies. But these stories were not told by doctors or psychiatrists.

Research on Microdosing

A lot of the research is based only on many anecdotal reports and personal experiences. Randomized controlled studies, which are considered the gold standard of research, need to be done to compare the effects of microdosing with those of a placebo. But even though these kinds of studies take a lot of time, money, and effort, the results are not always conclusive.

Microdosing has value and a place in the pharmaceutical world, especially when hallucinogens are used in minimal amounts. Let’s talk more about that below.

Microdosing and Mental Illness

More and more studies are looking into the possible benefits of using psychedelic drugs to treat mental illnesses like anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and drug addiction. Two studies showed that psilocybin helped alleviate symptoms of treatment-resistant depression. These studies did not find any signs of the side effects that come with regular antidepressants, like mood swings or apathy.

Similar research on Ayahuasca, a mixture of Amazonian plants with psychedelic effects, found promising results. Outcomes of the studies show it could be a safe treatment for depression and alcoholism. In another study that looked at the effects of microdosing LSD, psilocybin, and mescaline, participants said they were more creative, focused, happy, and productive.

Even with the results of these researches, there is still not enough peer-reviewed and validated systematic study on the subject. This makes it risky for people to try microdosing without the supervision of a medical professional. Not only is it dangerous to take any drug without a doctor’s advice and supervision, but the possible side effects are also unknown.

Psychedelic Microdosing: Benefits, Scientific Studies, and Perceived Outcomes

Microdosing psychedelics is the practice of taking five to ten percent of a full dose of a psychedelic drug, most often Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) or psilocybin, to get the supposed benefits of the drug for mental health without getting high.

For instance, you might be given 20 milligrams of psilocybin to have a full psychedelic experience. All that you needed for a microdose was one to two milligrams. Users report that microdosing psychedelic substances several times a week provides cognitive and social benefits.

However, in reality, only about a third of people who microdose know precisely how much psychedelic drugs they take. Most people take just enough to start feeling the effects, which usually begin within an hour and can last anywhere from four to six hours.

Scientific Research in Microdosing Psychedelics

Many researchers are now studying microdosing in psychedelics. But there isn’t enough evidence to support microdosing, and experts have different ideas about whether or not it is suitable for people. Most of the early research on microdosing was based on anecdotal evidence, such as enthusiastic survey responses from users who said they had improved attention and cognition, feelings of well-being, and relief from anxiety and depression.

Lab tests of small doses of psilocybin and LSD tend to back up these claims, showing improvements in mood disorders, improved focus, creative problem-solving, and decreased anxiety. But these trials were small and did not compare a microdose to a placebo.

Even so, there are experts who say that microdosing has real benefits. They do this by pointing to studies that show it directly affects the brain. Using neuroimaging technology, researchers have seen changes in how the brain works and how it connects after taking LSD microdosing. These changes are similar to what happens when more of the drug is taken.

A Danish study found that a very small amount of magic mushrooms was enough to activate nearly half of the type of serotonin receptors that psychedelics work on to make people feel like they are hallucinating.

Perceived Outcomes of Microdosing LSD and Other Substances

Many users who say microdosing is bad might have accidentally taken too much LSD or other psychedelics. Even though some of the side effects are not that dangerous, they can be annoying and inconvenient if it happens while you are at work. Researchers think that taking psychedelics often and in large amounts could possibly put stress on the heart.

Some researchers in the field of microdosing still hope that one day it will be shown that taking very small amounts of hallucinogens is suitable for mental health and brain function. They think that the fact that they did not find anything important could be because of how the placebo-controlled trials were set up.

It is possible that the studies were not done long enough or that the tests and questionnaires used in the research did not accurately capture the benefits microdosing can have for some people.

Reported Benefits of Microdosing

Research into the benefits of full doses of psychedelics for mental health is interesting. Only one early-phase study showed that psilocybin, when given in large doses, may be as helpful for treating depression as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.

There is evidence that both full and small doses of psychedelics change the brain similarly. When taken in full doses, psychedelics help the brain make new connections between cells, which is a process called neuroplasticity. Find out more information about psychedelics, such as how long psychedelic mushrooms stay in the body.

How the Social Stigma of Hallucinogen Use is Changing

Even though most online claims of the effects of microdosing do not have scientific backing, the practice quickly went from being a niche interest to a widespread craze. Although there are supposed benefits, shrooms or LSD microdosing can still lead to illicit substance abuse.

When most people think of people who use drugs that make them feel different, they picture hippies with long hair who wear colorful clothes. However, few people would ever guess that top business leaders and software gurus have been using these drugs for years.

Moreover, many people who don’t think of themselves as typical drug users might be interested in microdosing LSD because of its effects, which are thought to help people do better at work or school.

For instance, several users have said they tried microdosing as an alternative to Adderall, a stimulant prescribed to treat ADHD. Many college students and young adults who abuse Adderall by taking it without a prescription or in high doses call it a “study drug” or a “smart drug.”

Is Microdosing Dangerous?

The War on Drugs, which started in the late 1960s, stopped a lot of research into psychedelics. But in the last five to ten years, there has been a resurgence in this type of research. Many medical institutions are now studying psychedelics again. Indigenous people have been using psilocybin for a very long time and in a significant way.

Most people agree that taking small amounts of psilocybin is safe. On the other hand, taking too much can be risky and dangerous. For instance, psilocybin is a chemical made by about 200 different kinds of fungi or magic mushrooms. There are many kinds of mushrooms in nature, and some of them look alike. This makes it easy to poison yourself by eating the wrong kind, making you very sick or even killing you.

A microdose might make you feel good and focused. However, it is worth noting that some people may be more likely to develop psychological addiction because of the chemical changes in the functional connectivity among various brain regions. Addiction is destructive at its core because it is a long-term disease that, if not treated, will get worse and start to take over other parts of a person’s life.

Would It Be Safe to Use Psychedelics Once They Are Legal to Buy?

Experts think that some psychedelics, like psilocybin and MDMA (Ecstasy), will be fully legalized for medical use under the supervision of a doctor within the next few years. Some policymakers and public health experts think that these psychedelic drugs would be safer if they were not illegal and if their cultivation and manufacturing processes were closely watched and regulated.

Some people who support decriminalization hope that the product will be safer and that more people will be able to get it. But skeptics worry that unrestricted access to these treatments would hurt people who already have a mental illness or could even cause mental illnesses like psychotic disorders in people who are already at high risk of getting them.

Concerns about microdosing are made worse by the fact that most of the harmful effects and damages that could happen are still mostly unknown. Many of the above studies are done by tracking the experiences of people who already microdose in a methodical way while they remain anonymous. This makes it harder to keep track of how people use drugs and get accurate information.

To Microdose or Not to Microdose?

Everyone has the right to make their own decisions about their health and lifestyle as long as they are not hurting anyone else. But before you try microdosing, we strongly suggest that you talk to your primary care physician about your plans to take psychedelics. This will help you determine if any signs related to your health suggest you should be careful or avoid using these substances.

If you want to try psychedelics, you should only buy from trusted psychedelic stores such as Astral Agency. Moreover, use the substances in moderation and according to the recommended usage. Here are some of the shrooms you can buy online:

• Penis Envy Shrooms: They are  known as one of the strongest shrooms that provide an other-worldly psychedelic trip. This shroom got its name from its unique physical attributes. Since it has a high potency, it is not a recommended shroom for newbies.
• Dried Shrooms: Shrooms are dried to preserve the potency and aesthetics of freshly picked magic mushrooms. This time-sensitive endeavor requires swift actions and effective equipment. Astral Agency ensures that users are provided only with the highest quality dried shrooms to experience the ineffable power of the substance.
• Shroom Gummies: Shrooms are one of the most potent psychedelics. Now that they are in gummy form, users are now able to access the benefits of mushrooms conveniently. Astral Agency has a line of delicious shroom treats available online.

In the end, it is essential to know that there is not yet solid proof that microdosing is helpful or safe over a long time. With all these things considered, it is safe to say that the knowledge of psychedelic drugs is growing. The number of people willing to try them and the number of studies done on them have increased in recent years.

Microdosing Is Not Risk-Free

People often think that hallucinogenic drugs are not too dangerous because they do not cause as much physical addiction as drugs like benzodiazepines and opioids. However, becoming mentally dependent on excessive psychedelic substance use can be an issue.

Also, some hallucinogens have other properties that many traditional drugs, like MDMA (also known as Ecstasy or Molly), do not have. MDMA, sold illegally on the street, is often put in the same category as hallucinogens because it can cause hallucinations when taken in large enough doses.

Ecstasy is almost always called a stimulant because it makes people feel like they are on amphetamines. Stimulants like Ecstasy make it more likely that a person will die from a heart condition due to the stimulation of the serotonin receptor called 5-HT2B. This receptor is also activated by LSD and psilocybin mushrooms. This makes it possible that microdosing some hallucinogen-containing compounds could be dangerous.

Conclusion

Even though microdosing has gotten a lot of attention, it is still too early to know the full effects of using small amounts of hallucinogens. For now, the best thing you can do to improve your mental health and overall well-being is to focus on tried-and-true methods.

Using any kind of illegal drug could be bad for your health. Since LSD and other hallucinogens are illegal, there is a good chance that sellers will mix them with other drugs like fentanyl, ketamine, or meth. These are addictive and could kill you if you take too much of them.

Microdosing involves giving a powerful drug to a person in small, steady doses. This repeatedly stimulates a specific part of the brain. Microdosing is different from “tripping,” which is usually associated with using the drug less often.

On top of the mentioned risks throughout the article, microdosing exposes you to steady doses of a potent drug. This only makes it more likely that you will become dependent on or addicted to something. If you or someone you care about is struggling with addiction, talk to a treatment provider about the different ways to treat it as soon as possible.

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