Intro
People may be wondering if psilocybin is the only (psychoactive) substance that you can microdose. Well, the simple answer to that is “absolutely not”. Psilocybin is considered one of the oldest documented substances for microdosing, however there are many more substances available: LSD, DMT, CBD, Caffeine, MDMA, etc. This article will help the reader understand what each substance is, the dosage, the effect, and its respective benefits or challenges.
LSD
LSD, also commonly referred to as acid, is a synthetic compound discovered by chemist Albert Hoffman and is considered to be quite a powerful hallucinogenic drug. It is one of the most popular psychoactive substances in the world, alongside magic mushrooms.
In comparison to magic mushrooms/truffles, the quantity one must take in order to microdose is substantially smaller. Dosages for LSD are measured in micrograms due to its incredible potency, so you must be careful when microdosing it. There are 2 methods you can use to prepare and measure microdose: cutting or volumetric. Cutting consists of cutting LSD tabs into smaller doses and volumetric consists of submerging a tab into distilled water and taking small quantities of this water to microdose. A typical microdose for LSD lies between 6 – 20 micrograms, which is roughly 1/15th to 1/5th of a single tab.
There are many protocols one can use for LSD, but we recommend you follow James Fadiman’s system (also used for psilocybin). This method requires you to microdose every three days for a total of 2-4 weeks. The time of day for dosing isn’t as important, but they do recommend taking it in the morning so that it emulates your day-to-day routine and does not interfere with sleep.
Benefits:
- Reduce the frequency and/or intensity of unwanted forms of illness such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc.
- Increases creativity, energy, productivity, etc
Risks:
- The law surrounding the chemical substance
- The potency of LSD is high so miscalculations in dosage can happen
DMT
DMT, also known as “the spirit molecule”, is a hallucinogenic tryptamine drug that occurs naturally in plants and animals. It dates back to 1000 years ago and was commonly used in South America as part of shamanic rituals. DMT produces intense and heavy visuals, as well as auditory hallucinogenic effects. Unlike LSD or mushrooms, this experience only lasts 10-20 minutes. However, when microdosing DMT, the quantities ingested are much smaller than for a regular dose.
There are two different ways in which you can consume DMT: smoking or drinking as a brew. The length of a regular trip when smoking is considered to be 5-10 minutes, whilst the length of a trip for drinking the brew is 120 minutes. However, when microdosing the dose is substantially reduced, so anything under 10 micrograms is considered to be a microdose and should not induce psychedelic effects. Nonetheless, it is best to start with the smallest dose possible and see how that goes.
The recommended protocol to follow for DMT microdosing is the James Fadiman Protocol, which consists of microdosing every 3 days. However, because DMT has little to no tolerance effect, it is also possible to microdose daily for 2 weeks and then evaluate the experience.
Benefits:
- Naturally occurring substance in our brain and body, making it easy to metabolize and fairly safe for individuals.
- Some studies claim it can decrease mood disorders such as anxiety, PTSD and/or depression
Risks:
- DMT hits you harder and quicker than most psychedelics so it can be quite physically disorienting
- Long-term lung damage or irritation if smoked frequently
- Psychosis in vulnerable users (elderly, heart conditions, high blood pressure, etc)
CBD
CBD, also known as cannabidiol, is the second most active ingredient in cannabis after THC. Unlike THC, CBD is not a psychoactive ingredient and is considered to have numerous medical benefits for those who take it. In contrast with the other substances mentioned above, CBD does not have a set dosage for individuals to microdose as it varies per person.
There is a variety of methods one can use in order to microdose CBD, but the best and easiest approach is using CBD oil. It is recommended to start off with a small 2-10mg dose per day and see if you feel any effects. It is possible to increase dosage frequency by splitting the dose into 2-4 even smaller doses. If no effects are experienced when taking such small quantities, then it is possible to raise the dose to figure out what is most suitable for your body.
Note: If you want to find out what your sweet spot dose is then you should follow this schedule: Hour 1 = 1 dose, Hour 2 = 2 doses, Hour 3 = 3 dose, and so forth until you find the right range for you. Once you have established your daily intake you can start microdosing that amount on a daily basis and see what the effects are on you.
Benefits:
- Potential to reduce chronic pain
- Reduction of anxiety, headaches, joint pain, etc
- Reduction of blood sugar
Risks/Side effects:
- Dry Mouth
- Lightheadedness and dizziness
- Drowsiness or tiredness
DISCLAIMER: All the substances above are considered to be illegal in most countries, therefore we do not encourage or condone the use of said substances. The purpose of this article and the role of the company is to inform those interested about the substances and their effects. This is done to ensure safety for those who do wish to use the substance.