A microdose is defined as the frequent use of a very small dose of psychedelic substances in a certain period of time to achieve certain benefits.
Typically, a microdose consists of consuming 1/10 or 1/20 of a "normal" dose that would cause hallucinogenic effects. That is, it is a subperceptual dose that does not cause hallucinations, but can still have large effects over time.
The most used and studied psychedelics for microdose protocols are LSD or lysergic acid and hallucinogenic mushrooms or truffles that contain the psychoactive compound psilocybin. There are also DMT or mescaline, however, in microdoses they have not yet been so studied.
How does it work?
The protocol that we recommend at Prajna Dose is the one developed by the researcher and pioneer of microdosing, Dr. James Fadiman who has been working with psychedelic-assisted therapies for more than 60 years and extraordinary results have been reported, many of which are the basis for the study of these compounds and their possible benefits.
The Fadiman protocol consists of taking a microdose every third or fourth day for a couple of weeks to appreciate the changes and with the aim of cycling the doses to avoid generating tolerance to the dose. This protocol has been studied since the 1960s by Dr. Fadiman along with many other scientists and they have collected data from thousands of people around the world in order to establish the risks, benefits and best practices.
Why microdose?
Psychedelics have been part of our culture for thousands of years, either directly or indirectly, and in recent decades, they have been more rigorously studied in the scientific world, showing that they are safe to use under the right circumstances.
Microdosing has the power of neurogenesis and neuroplasticity, that is, to create new neurons and to make pre-existing neurons create new synaptic connections with more neurons. This implies, contrary to what was thought for a long time, that the brain regenerates, grows, and adapts to new conditions, being able to organize and rearrange neural connections to improve our ability to process information, improve memory, and cope. better way new physical and cognitive challenges.
It's like fitness training for the brain, which with microdosing happens imperceptibly, but over time you can see great progress.
With these changes, they have the potential to help manage anxiety and depression, stabilize moods, improve creativity, and enhance different mental abilities such as memory and focus.
More and more people and entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley are using microdosing to enhance their productivity and creativity, including the legendary Steve Jobs.
References:
- Johnstad, P. (2018). “Powerful substances in tiny amounts: An interview study of psychedelic microdosing.” https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1455072517753339
- Polito, V. & Stevenson, R. (2019). “A systematic study of microdosing psychedelics.” https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0211023
- Rootman, JM Staments, P. (2021). "Adults who microdose psychedelics report health related motivations and lower levels of anxiety and depression compared to non-microdosers" https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-01811-4