Achieve Optimal Health microdosing with Psilly Rabbit

When it comes to exploring anything new, finding the right guidance and resources the first step in making an informed decision. Below is a great article on dosage from the Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide written by  Dr. James Fadiman.

Finding the Right Dose

Different Approaches to Dosing

When it comes to dosing, Dr. James Fadiman in the Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide recommends a cautious approach: start low, then gradually increase to higher doses. However, as those new to psychedelics have informed me, it can be hard to notice the effects of a microdose as a newbie without experience of a full dose.

For practical purposes, I suggest an alternative. Take a slightly higher dose than a microdose, perhaps on the weekend or a day with lower stakes, so as to guarantee a noticeable effect. Then, slowly work your way to the lowest dose you can take while still feeling an effect. That is your minimum ‘threshold’ dose. Then experiment with different doses from your threshold, week by week.

Dosage Ranges

For reference, typical dosage ranges are included for mushrooms below.

Mushrooms (dried stems)
Microdose: 0.15–0.3g
Creative dose: 0.5–1g (test out these doses before taking at work!)
Typical party dose: 2–3g (a full trip dose)

For measurements, use a mini kitchen scale that can detect increments as little as 0.001g. 

To contain each dose and prevent a bitter taste, try gelatin capsules 

Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Microdosing Experiments

Dr. Fadiman’s Approach (1 microdose every 3 days)

Dr. Fadiman recommends taking one microdose every 3 days so as to prevent changes in tolerance over time. He says,“the first day you feel great. The second day you would feel half of that. And the third day you won’t feel anything.”

Week 1: Mon/Thu/Sun
Week 2: Wed/Sat
Week 3: Tue/Fri
Week 4: Mon/Thu/Sun

Dosage: Start with lowest dose in the first 2 weeks (0.2g mushrooms), then progress to a higher dose in the following weeks.

Note: I didn’t notice increases in tolerance during my one-year experiment when I took microdoses almost every day (3–6 times per week). In fact, I noticed the opposite effect — a buildup of effects if I took too many doses in a row, such that my third day in a row of taking 0.2g felt like I was taking 0.4g. However, your mileage may vary, and I don’t doubt there are other reasons Dr. Fadiman recommends this protocol.

Workaholic’s Approach (weekdays on, weekends off)

This plan is geared towards individuals looking to test microdosing for potential improvements at work. The weekends are left open for recovery to baseline, in case of changes in effect over time.

Week 1: Mon/Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri
Week 2: Mon/Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri
Week 3: Mon/Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri
Week 4: Mon/Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri

Dosage: Start with either a higher or lower dose, depending on your risk tolerance, balanced by urgency to see effects, and slowly alternate dosages week by week.

Balanced Microdose Approach (every other day)

This dosing schedule is most similar to the dosing schedule in my own microdosing experiment. Microdoses are taken 3–4 times per week (I microdosed 3–6 times per week, depending on how I felt at the time).

Week 1: Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun
Week 2: Tue/Thu/Sat
Week 3: Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun
Week 4: Tue/Thu/Sat

Dosage: As with the previous experiments, start with either a higher or lower dose, and then progress to the next dose after 1–2 weeks.

Track Effects with the ‘Check Yourself’ Checklist

The following is a checklist of areas to scan when microdosing. Most likely, you won’t be affected in all areas, but it’s important to take a comprehensive review of the effects. There are 7 areas to track:

1) Mental: Notice the thoughts running through your mind. Are they the same as usual, or different in nature? Are you having more or fewer thoughts than usual? In general, is your mind more clear or more cluttered?

2) Creative: Are you finding new qualities in things, like stories in objects? Do you find your mind wandering in directions it doesn’t usually? Are you getting more ideas than usual? Do solutions to problems come more easily?

3) Emotional: Do your feelings take on any different qualities than before? Are there more or fewer feelings experienced than usual? How quickly do you process them before reaching a resolution and moving on? Is sex better, or a different quality?

4) Social: How are you expressing your thoughts and feelings? Are there any changes in the pacing, tone, or nature of your speech? What about your facial expressions? Do you smile more or less? What frequency do you agree or disagree with someone in conversation? Do you talk differently with your coworkers, spouse, friends and family? The barista at the local coffee shop?

5) Body: Take a look at how aware (or not aware) you are of your body. Now zoom in on the body by closing your eyes and taking a few deep breaths. Slow your mind and place your full attention on any sensations in your body. Do you notice anything?

6) Capabilities: Notice if you’re more able to complete certain tasks than usual. This might manifest as changes in attention span, physical/visual acuity, verbal fluidity, problem solving ability, empathy, different areas of awareness, and so on.

7) Outlook: Are you more positive or negative? More optimistic or pessimistic? More or less skeptical? More fearful and guarded, or open to possibilities Feelings of oneness, universality, truth, connectedness, love, or peace are also in this area.

FAQs

Should I microdose or take regular doses?
Microdosing is best for gradual improvements over time. It will have immediate benefits, but you may not notice all of the effects until much later, in retrospect. This is best done when you’re looking to keep a stable daily routine.

Regular doses of psychedelics are best taken during vacation, sabbatical, or other transitional periods, because the insights gained will help sort out your highest priorities and values, and will often cause major shifts in perspective. This is better when you don’t have a routine holding you back, or are ready for a major personal transformation that will impact all parts of your life. I will cover regular doses of psychedelics in future posts.

Will I be ‘tripping’?
No. Because the effects of microdosing are very different in nature than those experienced during a full dose, you will not be ‘tripping’. Some individuals don’t even notice it at first if the dose is very low, which is why I usually recommend a slightly higher dose for beginners.

Will people notice? Will I be able to go to work?
Yes, you can go to work. Most people won’t notice anything different unless you tell them. You will have control over your behaviors and may even become even more aware than before, so the chances of causing something detrimental at work are unlikely.

How long do the effects last?
With moderate to large doses the effects range from 6–8 hours with mushrooms, however, microdoses seem to last a shorter period of time. Based on n=1 data, microdoses of mushrooms last around 4 hours.