Microdosing: An Overview

Microdosing psilocybin mushrooms is growing in popularity. It is the practice of consuming very low, non-hallucinogenic doses of psychedelic mushrooms. In many cases, microdosing is used as an alternative treatment for mood (anxiety, depression, etc) and addiction disorders.

Working with Psilocybin Mushrooms

Based on research from Imperial College London, the use of Psilocybin mushrooms offer a range of benefits other pharmacological interventions can not. 

Psychedelics, including psilocybin, alter the function of the default mode network in the brain. The consumption of a macrodose, one that significantly alters perception, enables a person to break out of emotional patterns, behaviors, and thinking. 

Influence on Neuroplasticity & Nervous System Function

The chemical makeup of psychedelics light up the brain’s cortex, which may mediate neuroplasticity changes. 

Meaning: adaptive behaviors/active coping mechanisms shift after the consumption of a macrodose of psychedelics.  In a single sitting, the brain’s plasticity can change, enabling the creation of new patterns, the unlearning of old patterns, and an increase in emotional sensitivity. 

Preparing a client for an experience that is not just physical, but also an exploration of non-ordinary states of consciousness. The subjective experience of consuming psychedelics leaves many questions to be explored about consciousness, spirituality and the nature of the universe. Scientists call this a ‘pivotal mental state’ with the potential for  “exceptional potential for mediating psychological transformation.” 

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Yet, data simply can’t support mental health and well-being. This is a very personal, very profound experience that requires hands-on support. Reshaping one’s brain function and nervous system is best done with a trusted guide.  

My personal preference is to reshape the brain’s default mode network via a macrodose. For some nervous systems, however, this poses a significant threat. Not every body is prepared to flip flop their worldview. To honor the fact that each nervous system is at its own place in its own process, I support all individuals - regardless of chosen protocol - for the purposes of harm reduction. 

Microdosing Overview

Microdosing, like the whole field of psychedelic research, is in its earliest phases. 

For the time being, the vast majority of people choosing to microdose do so in a self-managed fashion. According to one study on attitudes and behaviors, individuals chose to microdose as an alternative to conventional courses of treatment. 

The very limited clinical data, which is often self-reported under the supervision of researchers, indicates that individuals report behavioral improvements and substance-use reductions. Individuals reported:

• Improved mood (92.9%)
• Decreased anxiety (59.2%)
• Increased meditative practice (49.1%)
• Increased exercise (49.1%)
• Change in eating habits (36.0%)
• Improved sleep (28.8%)

With this initial data in hand, we must acknowledge that more experimental, lab-based research is required to fully quantify the efficacy and safety of microdosing. 

Microdosing Cautions

There are downsides to microdosing, as in macrodosing. These include, according to self-reported data:

• Physiological discomfort: 18.0%
• Impaired focus: 8.8%
• Impaired energy : 7.2%
• Impaired mood: 6.9%
• Increased anxiety: 6.7%
• Increased symptoms: 6.2%
• Insomnia: 4.2%

Physical discomfort includes: disrupted visual sense, temperature dysregulation, numbing/tingling, insomnia, gastrointestinal distress, reduced appetite, and migraines and/or headaches.

Impaired energy includes: excessive energy (restlessness, jitters) and inadequate energy (fatigue, drowsiness, brain fog).

Impaired mood includes: mood deterioration (sadness, discontent, irritability), emotional difficulties (over-emotionality, mood swings), and impaired outlook (fear, feeling unusual).

Increased anxiety includes: awkwardness, oversharing, language usage, confusion, disorientation, racing thoughts, and poor memory.

Precautions

Legal Issues

In Canada and much of the United States, psychedelics are illegal when used privately. There are some limited settings in which licensed professionals may offer psychedelic assisted psychotherapy legally. 

Toxicity

Clinical trials indicating the long-term effects of microdosing do not currently exist. Some pharmacists believe that, like other pharmaceutical interventions, long-term microding could present issues for the filtration organs (eg. kidney, liver, gall bladder) and other organs. 

Perceptual Changes

Should an individual choose to pursue use of psychedelics, regardless of dosage size, perceptual changes can happen at the subconscious level. Access to or working with an experienced guide is advised. Even when the changes are not perceptible, experiences can be unusual and unwieldy to balance with an everyday experience.

Microdosing and Behavioral Changes

In addition to mood changes, individuals who have chosen microdosing have also reported behavioral changes:

• Increased meditative practice: 49.1%
• Increased exercise: 49.1% 
• Changed eating habits: 36.0%)
• Improved sleep: 28.8%
• Reduced use of caffeine: 44.2%
• Reduced use of alcohol: 42.3%
• Reduced use of cannabis: 30.3%
• Reduced use of tobacco: 21.0% 
• Reduced use of illicit substances: 16.1%

This self-reported data certainly gives a lot of hope about the future of psychedelics as an alternative pathway to desired outcomes. 

Proposed Microdosing Protocol 

Renowned mushroom advocate, Paul Stamets, created a psilocybin microdosing protocol after years of experimental work with mushrooms. 

Known as the Stamets Stack, this microdosing protocol includes the use of Psilocybin mushrooms, Lion’s Mane mushrooms, and Niacin. This particular protocol focuses on the neurotropic nature of mushrooms. While psilocybin remaps new neural networks, Lion’s Mane promotes nerve/neuro regeneration, while niacin helps the body absorb psilocybin.

Stamets recommends a four days on/three days off model. The days per week off is thought to reduce psilocybin tolerance. Tolerance reset may also be required, as the body may grow accustomed to the impacts of long-term, ongoing psilocybin consumption. Using the protocol for months on end may reduce its effectiveness. Some individuals report the need to take a break in order to continue to benefit from the effects of microdosing. 

Double Blind magazine published a detailed overview of the stack, with updates in 2022.  

‍The Stamets Stack is not a medically approved protocol for brain health or any disease. Its potential risks are unknown. This information is intended for educational purposes and should not be used in place of medical advice or treatment. Consume at your own risk.

Microdosing Protocol Checklist

• Benchmark where you started: Consider using the Meaning of Life Scale and Body Perception Questionnaire before you being to microdose
• Prepare the body:  Consider consuming Lion’s Mane and Niacin before you begin microdosing (10 days in advance)
• Follow the Statements Stack: See Double Blind Article
• Frequently check-in with a trained guide: An informed third party can identify subtle perceptual changes that the individual is not aware of.
• Re-check Benchmarks monthly: Check-in with  Meaning of Life Scale and Body Perception Questionnaire

For Your Review: Microdosing Research

The therapeutic potential of microdosing psychedelics in depression‍

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32922736/

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Adults who microdose psychedelics report health related motivations and lower levels of anxiety and depression compared to non-microdosers‍

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34795334/

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Psychedelic microdosing benefits and challenges: an empirical codebook

https://harmreductionjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12954-019-0308-4

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Self-blinding citizen science to explore psychedelic microdosing

https://elifesciences.org/articles/62878

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The fallibility of placebo control and how to address it: a case study in psychedelic microdosing

https://psyarxiv.com/cjfb6/

Natural language signatures of psilocybin microdosing

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35676541/

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