Microdosing lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) involves taking a very small dose of the substance. Advocates of LSD microdosing claim the practice has numerous health benefits, such as improving cognition and mood and reducing pain.
Microdosing LSD involves taking small doses of LSD that are not strong enough to induce psychedelic effects or significantly impact consciousness.
Typically, a person takes these small doses of psychedelics routinely, such as every set number of hours or days for an extended period. There is no set amount of LSD that someone should take when microdosing. However, the dosage is often around one-tenth to one-twentieth of a recreational dose.
In a 2019 study involving an online survey of people’s experiences with microdosing, the most common dose was 10 micrograms (mcg).
According to a 2019 review, most people who microdose psychedelics, such as LSD, tend to follow one of three microdosing rules:
- taking microdoses for two consecutive days following two consecutive days of nondosing
- taking microdoses Monday through Friday and not any on the weekends
- taking microdoses every other day
Anecdotal evidence and some preliminary research suggest microdosing LSD have numerous benefits. These include the ability to:
- enhance cognitive processes and abilities
- increase energy levels
- improve emotional balance and mood
- reduced anxiety
- treat depression
- treat addiction and reduce substance misuse
- reduce pain
- improve migraine and cluster headaches
- help reduce symptoms of attention deficit disorder
- enhance self-care
- enhance senses
- improve cardiovascular endurance
- increase sleep quality
- reduce sensitivity to trauma
Between the 1950s and 1970s, researchers also explored the use of LSD to treat various psychological disorders, such as:
- depression
- anxiety
- addiction
- psychosomatic conditions
How Do You Microdose With LSD?
Microdosing with LSD is a fairly straightforward process. Essentially, you need to prepare your microdoses with volumetric dosing, consume the microdose at the appropriate time, and follow a month-long protocol to ensure you experience certain benefits.
