What is microdosing?

Microdosing is the practice of taking 1/10th or less, of a normal, standard dose of a certain medicine over a period of time—usually 1-3 months. When it comes to psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD, the whole idea and purpose of microdosing is that the effects are sub-perceptual, which means you oftentimes do not perceive how they work. This means you are still able to work, drive, and function normally in your everyday life, without anyone even knowing you are taking them.

Microdosing LSD and psilocybin have become very popular recently and have gained significant traction in tech and entrepreneurial circles due to their ability to stimulate creativity, personal growth and professional transformation. The widespread acceptance and use among these individuals has recently spilled over into the general public, leading to significant research from citizen scientists all around the world—documenting their abilities to assist with mental and physical health conditions, while also boosting creativity and functioning in one’s day-to-day lives.

What is the purpose of microdosing LSD or psilocybin if you do not feel the effects of it?

Some people describe microdosing psychedelics this way: “It is not what you feel but, rather, what you do NOT feel when microdosing LSD and psilocybin.” So, in other words, many people report NOT feeling stressed out, anxious, overwhelmed, depressed, etc. Imagine how much better you would be able to function and live your day-to-day life without being consumed by negative, stressful thoughts and constant rumination?! Microdosing LSD and psilocybin help to quiet the ego part of our brain—what is known as the default-mode network—in a completely safe, natural, non-toxic way. As this part of our brain is quieted, we are able to more easily access and tune into the creative parts of ourselves–getting out of our own way in a sense. We are able to connect more fully and deeply with our authentic self and allow our manifestation process to unfold more naturally and quickly.

Psychedelics and increased mental/physical performance:

An experiment performed by psychologist Roland Fischer in 1970 demonstrated that low doses of psilocybin improved our vision. Furthermore, there are countless cave paintings, images and mushroom/human-like statues dating back to 10,000 B.C., indicating our ancient ancestors’ reverence for this medicine. This information, and much more, led to theories that magic mushrooms helped our ancient ancestors hunt, gather food, and protect themselves from predators more effectively. It is also likely that consuming these mushrooms helped them cultivate more conscious awareness of themselves, their environment, and the interconnection between them—allowing them to live more consciously and increase their learning dramatically—while also helping them move up the food chain. There are still tribes in Africa today who microdose psychedelic plants to help them with incredible feats of physical endurance and strength, such as running 100km per day for multiple days.

Psychedelics and enhanced creativity:

One of my favorite research studies highlighting the efficacy of psychedelics in boosting creativity was performed by Dr. James Fadiman at Stamford University back in 1966. In this study, he brought together academics and professionals from different backgrounds and fields of study, such as architects, engineers, scientists and designers, and told all of them to bring a problem they had been struggling to figure out for the past couple of months. He gave all of them (27 participants) 100 micrograms of LSD and had them work on these problems. The results were that all 27 of the participants came up with a solution to the problem they had been struggling with—many of them even went on to create new patents and new inventions as a result of their creative insights from the LSD experience. These findings mirror similar research studies, as well as well-known stories of luminaries like Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, and Francis Crick, the co-discoverer of DNA and its double helix structure, who both attributed much of their creative genius to their experiences with LSD.

What can microdosing psilocybin and LSD be beneficial for?

Microdosing with psilocybin and LSD has been found to create a “whole body effect” similar to a vitamin—i.e. it helps increase the body’s ability to heal itself. As a result, we are finding that micro-dosing can be beneficial for a number of things, including:

• Depression – Helps to lessen symptoms of depression and improve one’s mood.
• Anxiety – Helps to lessen symptoms of anxiety and stress.
• Addiction – most people don’t know Bill Willson, the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) was only able to get sober after years of trying to stop, through the help of LSD.
• Chronic pain and pain disorders – Helps to create some distance from the pain and the pain experience, thereby reducing its subjective impact on an individual, making it more bearable and, in some cases, helping to make the pain disappear completely.
• Obsessive thinking and compulsive behaviors – helps to quiet the “ego” part of the brain, which is often involved in rumination and obsessive thinking.
• Traumatic brain injury – Both macro and micro doses combined have been found helpful for individuals suffering from traumatic brain injuries.
• Improves cognitive functioning.
• Improves physical endurance and performance.
• Helps boost creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.
• Helps individuals come off of other prescription drugs which are no longer working for them, or are causing too many toxic/unpleasant side effects.

How does microdosing psilocybin and LSD work in the brain and body?

• Psilocybin and LSD affect serotonin and glutamate receptors in the brain.
• Glutamate is the opposite of Gaba, which is what alcohol impacts.
• Just as alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, which slows your brain and body down, glutamate (the “go system”) helps to stimulate or turn on your brain and body, telling it to go!
• Microdosing with psilocybin and LSD creates a “whole body effect” similar to a vitamin—it helps increase the body’s ability to heal itself.
• Helps stimulate brain, body and mind awareness.
• Helps stimulate neurogenesis (the creation of new brain cells) as well as repair and improve older brain cells and their dendrites.
• Helps to create a more inter-connected brain by increasing communication between parts of the brain which do not normally “speak” or interact with one another—thereby leading to enhanced efficiency, problem-solving, healing and overall healthy functioning.
• Helps temporarily shut down the “ego” part of the brain (the Default Mode Network), thereby reducing feelings of self-consciousness, while increasing awareness and perceptions of reality which are normally clouded by our “ego brain”.
• Improves top-down control of emotions by cognitions.
• EEG’s performed on people with psilocybin shows that it flattens all brain waves (amplitude), similar to what we see in adolescents entering adulthood neurodevelopmentally. This means that is helps create conditions in the brain which are more open and receptive to learning and growing.
• Evidence suggests that both psilocybin and LSD have long-lasting effects (similar to the ones listed above) even after only one dose.

How dose microdose coaching work?

I provide microdose coaching services to anyone looking to live their best lives. People who are already high functioning, but would like to take their career, relationship, or experience of life to the next level—cultivating more consciousness, creativity, connection, abundance, and inter-connectedness with the world around them—would find microdosing extremely beneficial.

I also specialize in microdose coaching services for those currently feeling stuck in their lives–struggling with anxiety, stress, depression, rumination, etc., who are looking for relief, but are worried about taking powerful pharmaceutical drugs with serious side effects, which they may need to take for the rest of their lives. In addition, I work with those already on pharmaceutical drugs who are looking to come off of them and discover more healthy, natural ways to heal mind/body.

How to determine if microdosing psychedelics is right for you, and how to start microdosing psychedelics in a safe way:

With all new clients I first perform a 15 minute complimentary consultation call to gather preliminary information, as well as answer any questions you might have. If we seem to be a good fit to work with one another, I will accept you into my coaching practice as a client, and then conduct a very thorough 60-75 min intake assessment (what we call a biopsychsocial history) with you. This means gathering a wealth of information from your past history, as well as your current functioning. I also assess if there are any medical or mental health conditions which would prevent us from being able to do this work together.

After determining whether a client is a good fit for microdosing –and whether a client is currently in therapy/coaching, or has any professional support in their lives–we will meet for 1-2 preparation sessions to discuss your intentions, desires, and needs. I will also educate you about the various types of medicine, what to expect, and how to get the most out of your experience.

After selecting the specific type of medicine and dose you will be working with, you will be connected with a very reputable source to obtain the medicine, and will receive it privately by mail. Once you have received the medicine, we will continue the coaching work and plan we came up with during the preparation phase. We will continue to meet/check in weekly for the rest of the month, or however long we are working together, in order to ensure everything is going smoothly as planned. I will also work with your psychiatrist to create a plan to help you safely and comfortably come off whatever pharmaceutical medications you are needing/wanting to stop taking.

Disclaimer: Please note that since these medicines are still technically illegal (Schedule 1 substances by the DEA), I am NOT able to provide them to you directly. However, similar to the way in which a psychiatrist works with a pharmacy to provide medications to their clients, I work with very safe and trusted producers/distributors, who will help provide you access to the correct medicine and dosage, once we determine it is appropriate fit for you.

Sources

• Fadiman, J. (2011) The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide: Safe, Therapeutic, and Sacred Journeys. Park Street Press.
• Fischer, R., Hill, R., Thatcher, K., et al. Psilocybin-induced contraction of nearby visual space. Agents and Actions
• Everything You Wanted To Know About Microdosing (But Were Afraid To Ask). Huffingtonpost.com
• Harman, W. W.; McKim, R. H.; Mogar, R. E.; Fadiman, J.; Stolaroff, M. J. (1966). “Psychedelic agents in creative problem-solving: A pilot study”. Psychological Reports.
• McKenna, T (1992). Food of the Gods: The Search for the Original Tree of Knowledge. Bantam Books (N.Y. et al.).