Earlier this year, we sent out an invitation to take part in a survey on microdosing. We received over 50 responses from people detailing their experiences with microdosing. They were overwhelmingly positive—and we’d like to share some of the results with you.
OCCUPATIONS
Of the 48 people who disclosed their occupation to us, we had an amazing array of different professions. Five were students, eight were artists or writers, and 18 were either business people or entrepreneurs. The remaining respondents included yoga teachers, healthcare professionals, bartenders, gardeners and chefs.
WHY DO PEOPLE MICRODOSE?
Ten people reported starting microdosing to treat their depression or anxiety. One person wanted to treat their cluster headaches, one was a heroin addict, one suffered from a stutter and one person wanted to treat their psychosomatic seizures. Most other people were just curious about microdosing, having heard it could improve cognitive abilities. Seven people specifically wanted to microdose for spiritual reasons, while seven people specifically mentioned cognitive enhancement.
MICRODOSING REGIMENS
30 people were microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms, while 31 people were microdosing with LSD—nine people were microdosing with both. 11 people were microdosing with cannabis in conjunction with LSD or psilocybin. Two people were microdosing with mescaline.
The average dose used was just over 12ug for LSD, and just under 0.5g for psilocybin. Variation was quite low for LSD, with doses varying from 5-25ug. Psilocybin doses were more variable, from 0.1-1g. Doses were taken on average every 2.8 days, and maintained for several weeks, although very few respondents provided us with detailed dosing regimens.
BENEFITS AND PITFALLS
Of the 14 people who were microdosing to treat depression or other medical issues, every single one reported improvements in their illness. Of the seven who were microdosing for spiritual reasons, six reported specific spiritual benefits. Of the seven who wanted to see cognitive improvements, all reported a benefit from microdosing, most commonly increases in creative thinking.
Overall, every single one of our survey respondents reported some kind of positive effect from their microdosing regimens, most commonly mentioning increased energy, introspection, positivity and creativity.
40% of people spoke of some negative effects, but almost a third of those mentioned that it was specifically due to taking too high a dose. Several people mentioned that drinking caffeine or smoking cannabis together with the microdose brought on negative effects.
The most commonly mentioned downsides were difficulty sleeping, body temperature fluctuations, variable attention and focus, developing a tolerance to the substance, and intense emotions – but all of these could probably be addressed by altering the regimen (reducing dose and lengthening re-dose time) and improving diet and exercise.
CONCLUSIONS
The take-home message from this survey is that microdosing can have amazing benefits in many ways, from medical to spiritual. But what it also tells us is that people are microdosing with a wide range of dosages.
As we move forward in this new age of psychedelics, we need to make sure we’re maximizing the benefits of psychedelics while minimizing the risks. To do this, we need to understand as a community the ideal way to microdose. This is how Third Wave wants to contribute to the psychedelic movement: by providing a resource that microdosers can trust for reliable, curated guidance on technique and practice.
For step-by-step instructions on how to personalize your microdosing experience to your unique body, goals, and situation, check out our Microdosing Course. We’ll guide you through the basics—then dive much deeper to show you how to apply the transformational power of microdosing to your goals, dreams, and life.
