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Mastering Microdosing: How to Use Sub-Perceptual Psychedelics to Heal Trauma, Improve Performance, and Transform Your Life
Microdosing micro-dosing noun: the practice of taking small amounts of a psychedelic to invoke a positive physiological response with minimal undesirable side effects.
From bio-hackers and artists to suburban moms and entrepreneurs, everyone can benefit from microdosing, a practice quickly entering mainstream conversation. But what is microdosing and how is it part of today's health and wellness regimen?
In Mastering Microdosing , expert microdoser Paul F. Austin provides an all-inclusive guide to the practice of microdosing, including protocols, benefits, potential drawbacks, and sourcing. The most comprehensive book of its kind, Paul weaves together research and anecdotes to show the positive impact of psychedelics on general wellbeing, particularly in the daily lives of leaders, creatives, and healers. You'll learn why microdosing has gained popularity, how to safely and easily obtain psychedelics, and the steps to dialing in your weekly protocol. Whether you're interested in learning more about this nascent topic or simply refining and mastering your personal use, Mastering Microdosing is a must-have resource for profound and transformative change.
From bio-hackers and artists to suburban moms and entrepreneurs, everyone can benefit from microdosing, a practice quickly entering mainstream conversation. But what is microdosing and how is it part of today's health and wellness regimen?
In Mastering Microdosing , expert microdoser Paul F. Austin provides an all-inclusive guide to the practice of microdosing, including protocols, benefits, potential drawbacks, and sourcing. The most comprehensive book of its kind, Paul weaves together research and anecdotes to show the positive impact of psychedelics on general wellbeing, particularly in the daily lives of leaders, creatives, and healers. You'll learn why microdosing has gained popularity, how to safely and easily obtain psychedelics, and the steps to dialing in your weekly protocol. Whether you're interested in learning more about this nascent topic or simply refining and mastering your personal use, Mastering Microdosing is a must-have resource for profound and transformative change.
284 pages, Paperback
Published October 18, 2022
84 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 30, 2022
Outstanding book that is an introduction not just to microdosing, but to psychedelics for those who are new to overcoming misplaced stigmas and learning about their benefits. I appreciated it as a practical guide from author Paul Austin's personal experience as well, as numerous reports and studies conducted through Third Wave's engaged community. Despite Paul's obvious bias (which I share) and advocacy, I was also pleased that he wrote this in a balanced way that did not try to paint psychedelics as the panacea to cure all, as is so often touted by true believers in the space. This book is a responsible intro full of useful information.
The sentence that sums up the book best to me: "Any microdosing protocol must be rooted in intention and outcome. That means being proactive to make sure you are supporting yourself in four core areas: a healthy diet, adequate sleep, exericse, and practices for emotional well-being, such as meditation or therapy. When we experience relief, often we look to the tangible thing that's changed in our routines - in this case, the psilocybin - and we give it sole credit for our improvements. But it wasn't simply the substance that caused these changes. It was an exponential combination of all the habits that microdosing facilitated coming together to support us in all the right ways." [p52]
Other notes:
Paul's backstory - middle class stable but sheltered upbringing. Cultural sense of shame and guilt from when parents caught with marijuana, 1st LSD trip that brought deep insight vs. recreation, and when caught selling weed in college but not busted due to white privilege [p20]
Hypothesis from David Nichols that microdosing stimulates DA pathways and excites the central cortex, like Adderall and Ritalin without addictive properties nor side effects (including mental rigidity)… lack of NE modulation from serotonergic psychedelics may help this? I'm not as familiar with Adderall/Ritalin… how much of these side effects can be tailored by dosage? [p26]
Albert Hoffman microdosed 10-20micrograms of LSD twice per week during his last few decades - saw this even in 1938 as one of the most promising and least researched applications. [p31]
Criticism of LSD as a gentrified drug - white affluent mostly men in Silicon Valley use to boost productivity, but those from lower socioeconomic statuses cannot afford it. Paul "calls bullshit" - neither label is a guarantee to me, but I see this as more of a warning for us to heed, such that it does not become true. [p39]
Microdosing helped him with his own social anxiety and insecurities, developed empathy and compassion [p41]
- Noted that even with the level of transformation, he did not want to become psychologically dependent on an external substance for engendering change - took almost a year off, focused on his own intentions without microdosing. Considers best usage as a catalyst [p151]
Experience from a third Wave guest with mushroom dosing [p44]
- 0.15g of psilocybin mushrooms (0.75mg psilocybin) as a mild microdose, mild mood improvements but no productivity gain
- 0.2g of mushrooms (1mg psilocybin) was more productive but more anxious / lower mood
- 0.4g mushrooms (2mg psilocybin) was less anxious / higher mood, but less focused
- 0.5g mushrooms (2.5mg psilocybin) "minidose" was less anxious / higher mood with higher productivity
Third Wave survey (n=51) about benefits of microdosing [p49]
- 61% helped with depression
- 31% helped with general anxiety
- 26% helped with social anxiety
- Many anecdotal cases of people using to reduce side effects when coming off of antidepressants. Dosage followed by one was 0.5g of mushrooms (2.5mg) every 3 days [p164]
Because Cardiotox has not been established, suggests to limit microdosing cycles to 90 days, with at least 2 days rest between each dose, and at least a month between cycles. [p84]
- Grounding practice like meditation is necessary - microdosing can be more harmful than helpful without it [p87]
Caution about mixing with drugs that lower the seizure thresthhold [p86]
- Antiasthmatics, antibiotics, anesthetics, antidepressants, immunosuppressants, stimulants
- SSRI's, MAOI's, SNRI's, Iboga
- People with color blindedness experience more visual distrotions
But a long list of medications that participants in microdosing studies have reported as having NOAE
The sentence that sums up the book best to me: "Any microdosing protocol must be rooted in intention and outcome. That means being proactive to make sure you are supporting yourself in four core areas: a healthy diet, adequate sleep, exericse, and practices for emotional well-being, such as meditation or therapy. When we experience relief, often we look to the tangible thing that's changed in our routines - in this case, the psilocybin - and we give it sole credit for our improvements. But it wasn't simply the substance that caused these changes. It was an exponential combination of all the habits that microdosing facilitated coming together to support us in all the right ways." [p52]
Other notes:
Paul's backstory - middle class stable but sheltered upbringing. Cultural sense of shame and guilt from when parents caught with marijuana, 1st LSD trip that brought deep insight vs. recreation, and when caught selling weed in college but not busted due to white privilege [p20]
Hypothesis from David Nichols that microdosing stimulates DA pathways and excites the central cortex, like Adderall and Ritalin without addictive properties nor side effects (including mental rigidity)… lack of NE modulation from serotonergic psychedelics may help this? I'm not as familiar with Adderall/Ritalin… how much of these side effects can be tailored by dosage? [p26]
Albert Hoffman microdosed 10-20micrograms of LSD twice per week during his last few decades - saw this even in 1938 as one of the most promising and least researched applications. [p31]
Criticism of LSD as a gentrified drug - white affluent mostly men in Silicon Valley use to boost productivity, but those from lower socioeconomic statuses cannot afford it. Paul "calls bullshit" - neither label is a guarantee to me, but I see this as more of a warning for us to heed, such that it does not become true. [p39]
Microdosing helped him with his own social anxiety and insecurities, developed empathy and compassion [p41]
- Noted that even with the level of transformation, he did not want to become psychologically dependent on an external substance for engendering change - took almost a year off, focused on his own intentions without microdosing. Considers best usage as a catalyst [p151]
Experience from a third Wave guest with mushroom dosing [p44]
- 0.15g of psilocybin mushrooms (0.75mg psilocybin) as a mild microdose, mild mood improvements but no productivity gain
- 0.2g of mushrooms (1mg psilocybin) was more productive but more anxious / lower mood
- 0.4g mushrooms (2mg psilocybin) was less anxious / higher mood, but less focused
- 0.5g mushrooms (2.5mg psilocybin) "minidose" was less anxious / higher mood with higher productivity
Third Wave survey (n=51) about benefits of microdosing [p49]
- 61% helped with depression
- 31% helped with general anxiety
- 26% helped with social anxiety
- Many anecdotal cases of people using to reduce side effects when coming off of antidepressants. Dosage followed by one was 0.5g of mushrooms (2.5mg) every 3 days [p164]
Because Cardiotox has not been established, suggests to limit microdosing cycles to 90 days, with at least 2 days rest between each dose, and at least a month between cycles. [p84]
- Grounding practice like meditation is necessary - microdosing can be more harmful than helpful without it [p87]
Caution about mixing with drugs that lower the seizure thresthhold [p86]
- Antiasthmatics, antibiotics, anesthetics, antidepressants, immunosuppressants, stimulants
- SSRI's, MAOI's, SNRI's, Iboga
- People with color blindedness experience more visual distrotions
But a long list of medications that participants in microdosing studies have reported as having NOAE
December 10, 2022
Paul has been doing a great job on his website, which makes all important information available in one place and this book is a great addition to it. I hope that this will be another great step towards decriminalising psychedelics and more widespread use within our society.
If you are interesting in microdosing or work with people who might benefit from it (therapist, counsellor, mental health practitioner, priestess, healer etc.) this is a great book for you.
If you are interesting in microdosing or work with people who might benefit from it (therapist, counsellor, mental health practitioner, priestess, healer etc.) this is a great book for you.
December 30, 2022
Mindblowing
I would recommend that everyone at least give this book a try. Its truly mind blowing. Extremely informative. Well researched and well written. I almost never read a book twice, but this one deserves a second read.
I would recommend that everyone at least give this book a try. Its truly mind blowing. Extremely informative. Well researched and well written. I almost never read a book twice, but this one deserves a second read.
August 2, 2024
Not sure. Left more questions than answers. Felt like the details on actually doing it where light. But it will cure whatever ails you. Still interested in dosing. Also spent the day in an emergency waiting room reading it. So maybe I am not in the best headspace.
March 29, 2023
worth the time x
If you’re new to microdosing. I prefer more study driven books, but there aren’t as many out there about microdosing as I’d like. This is an ok place to start.
If you’re new to microdosing. I prefer more study driven books, but there aren’t as many out there about microdosing as I’d like. This is an ok place to start.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews