3 Benefits of Microdosing Psychedelics
While research is limited, here are three of the main potential health benefits of psychedelic microdoses.
1. May Lead to a Short-Term Mood Boost
LSD acts on the same serotonin neurotransmitter system as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which are common antidepressant medications. This is why the scientific community, theoretically, believe that LSD taken as a hallucinogenic dose or microdose may be beneficial in mood disorders, De Wit explains.
Results were admittedly a little disappointing to the researchers. “We were hoping to see a decrease in depression or anxiety scores, or more feelings of well-being. But the benefits were mixed and minimal,” says De Wit. “Each direct dose produces some feelings of well-being and energy, but over time that declines a bit, and you feel those effects less and less with each dose.” In the end, De Wit and her research colleagues could not find real improvements in feelings of well-being or behavior different from a placebo.
2. May Enhance Mental Performance and Creativity
Most commonly, people used LSD and psilocybin. The researchers point out that people who have more dysfunctional attitudes tend to be more vulnerable to stress and depression. The sample used included mostly white, heterosexual, middle-class men, so a more diverse sample group is needed, as well as a more randomized and controlled population. Additionally, more controlled clinical trials would be needed to support claims of enhanced mental and creative performance
3. Low Doses May Still Allow You to Function Normally
Microdosing is more along the lines of taking a typical pharmaceutical drug, when compared with psychedelic therapy, says Nese Devenot, PhD, a postdoctoral associate at the Institute for Research in Sensing at the University of Cincinnati. “While treatment with large doses requires 6 to 10 hours of your day and results in [potentially] profound alterations in one’s perception, a microdose can be iterated into your life because it’s a subhallucinogenic dose,” they say.
That said, one of the most common issues surrounding microdosing is accidental overdose. “If you’re trying to go to work, and objects and shapes are warping around you, that can be distracting and distressing if you were not prepared for an intense experience,” says Devenot. Plus, there are inherent risks if you’re driving, operating machinery, parenting, and doing other activities that require alert attentiveness.
Source link
