A Functional Medicine Perspective On Microdosing

Microdosing hallucinogens (typically psilocybin, sometimes MDMA) is controversial but may confer evidence-backed health benefits. Even at low doses, the effects of microdosing have huge therapeutic potential.

Reading the words “psilocybin,” “mushrooms,” and “microdosing” might put you outside your comfort zone. I can relate to this. I’ve never been a recreational drug user, and I barely drink alcohol. The idea of hallucinating seems scary more than liberating — at least to me personally.

That said, in recent years, new research has emerged about these topics, forcing even skeptics like myself to listen up. Microdosing therapies have the potential to help a lot of people, and it’s time we all paid attention to emerging science with an open mind. Keep reading for a functional medicine doctor’s view on psilocybin, mushrooms, MDMA, and microdosing.

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What Is A “Microdose”?

Microdosing is taking small, sub-hallucinogenic amounts of psychoactive substances to get health benefits without getting high. A microdose is usually 5%-20% of a normal recreational dose, and proponents say this practice can increase creativity, productivity, focus, and calm.

Stacking is when you have different substances in your microdose, perhaps other psychedelics or other ingredients to improve taste (such as chocolate) or further confer health benefits (such as B vitamins).

Of course, microdosing psilocybin is not legal in the U.S. except in very specific research or therapeutic settings. As of right now, the FDA does not approve microdosing psychedelics outside of clinical trials.

That said, the research that has been done on therapeutic psilocybin has revealed some pretty exciting benefits that are worth paying attention to, which is what we’ll be tackling next.

Psychedelics You Might Hear About In Microdosing

The most common psychedelics to microdose are psilocybin, found in magic mushrooms, and MDMA, also known as ecstasy. There is a little evidence behind microdosing LSD and peyote, but not as much as the other two.

Mushrooms (Psilocybin)

Magic mushrooms, and their primary psychoactive ingredient psilocybin, cause hallucinogenic effects, as well as changes in mood, perception, and the way the brain works. Like all psychedelic drugs, mushrooms do not lead to addiction or dependence. (1)

Much like THC is the ingredient in cannabis that gets you high, psilocybin is what hallucinogenic mushrooms can thank for their mind-altering effects. It has a similar structure to lysergic acid diethylamide, which is also known as LSD.

Psychedelics work by targeting the brain chemical serotonin. More specifically, they are partial or full agonists of the 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptors, which is why psychedelics are often called serotonergic hallucinogens. (2)

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Psychedelic mushrooms grow naturally in Mexico, South America, and parts of the United States. The most common hallucinogenic mushroom is the gold cap mushroom.

MDMA

Also known as ecstasy or molly, MDMA is a synthetic stimulant and hallucinogen. It can change your mental state and does not lead to addiction.

Probably the most documented health benefit of microdosing molly is as a therapy for severe post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. (3) MDMA proponents may engage in psychedelic use to focus their minds and promote a sense of calm. Because it is synthetic, microdosers may prefer mushrooms to MDMA because mushrooms are natural.

LSD

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a powerful synthetic hallucinogen that is also known as acid or lucy. It, like other psychedelics, does not result in addiction.

Although studies have shown microdosing LSD to be generally safe, these controlled studies have found no observable health benefit. (4) However, you’ll still find plenty of anecdotal reports that LSD microdoses can increase creativity, energy, and calmness.

Full doses of LSD, which falls outside the practice of microdosing, may offer gut microbiome benefits. (5)

Peyote

Peyote is a small cactus which some consume for its hallucinogenic properties. The psychoactive ingredient in peyote is mescaline. No addiction potential here, either. Anthropological studies estimate peyote may have been the first used psychedelic, although magic mushrooms are about as likely. (9)

Not much research has been done on microdosing peyote as of yet, but some users swear by its benefits of increased energy and clearer mind.

Early Scientific Evidence Suggests It May Offer Health Benefits

More than any other psychedelic, psilocybin has been studied in a wide range of contexts, with some of the most interesting having to do with mental health and well-being enhancement.

Microdosing research has a long way to go, but there’s some interesting placebo-controlled research out there. Future research should weed out the placebo effect benefits while destigmatizing microdosing with high-quality clinical trials.

Below are just a few positive effects of microdosing that, as a functional healthcare expert with a love for natural remedies, I’m keeping my eye on.

1. Mood Improvement

Research indicates that microdosing psilocybin can improve your mood and help with mental illness. (6, 7) Anecdotal evidence backs this up since most proponents report more subjective effects such as happiness, spiritual insight, and a sense of calm.

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2. Depression And Anxiety Reduction

A recent study published in Nature shows that magic mushroom microdosing reduces depression and anxiety symptoms. (8, 6) This significant difference in mental health is one of the most promising directions in psychedelic research.

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3. Focused Mind

Mental focus is a commonly reported benefit of microdosing. Self-reported benefits often include a more focused mind, better cognitive function, higher creativity, more mindfulness, and better problem-solving skills. (9, 10, 6)

4. Confidence Boost

A lot of people have confidence issues. Fortunately, people who microdose tend to report higher self-confidence, ambition, and sense of agency. (6)

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5. Energy Boost

Although not every microdoser experiences energy enhancement, many microdosing studies confirm an energy boost is a common benefit in a significant minority of patients. (6)

But…Is It Safe?

I get asked this most often: “Is microdosing safe?” Well, yes, it’s typically safe to microdose psychedelics. Of course, this practice is not right for some people, and there are side effects.

A 2011 study ranked psilocybin as the safest common recreational drug, followed closely by cannabis. That said, it still has some risks, including anxiety, paranoia, and physical discomfort, as well as visual perception changes, which are extremely rare.

All in all, compared to even legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco, microdosing hallucinogenic mushrooms and LSD have surprisingly good safety profiles. (6)

Legal Status And What To Expect

The substances people are microdosing are typically illegal, which (depending on the state in which you live) may complicate employment, not to mention the potential for being charged with a crime. The illegality also increases the cost of microdosing, potentially causing financial stress.

Oregon and California are exploring legalization for psychedelics. (11) Since 2022, psilocybin has been decriminalized in Colorado.

While microdosing may be out of our comfort zones at first, once we learn more, we see that in just a few short years, microdosing these psychedelic substances could be standard therapy for a wide range of systemic health issues. Remember, your mind and body are connected.

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