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Microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms: a double-blind placebo-controlled study

nature.com

221–230 of 303 posts

Re: Microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms: a double-blind placebo-controlled study

#221

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's an uncharitable reading. OP is just sharing what works with her/him. Which is ok. From what I understood from your comment, for you it doesn't. Which is ok too, as now you know yourself a bit better. Two personal experiments with very different outcomes. There's no need for moral judgments either way.

I'm not saying her experience is invalid. If it works for her, great. But there is this tendency of microdosing proponents to oversell what is effectively a high(nothing wrong with that, I love getting high) as some sort of profound self-help tool. It's a high. That's fine. Getting high can have positive effects too. Call it that, though.

Bit of a tangent here but I noticed you used "her" instead of the default assumption of "him". Is this a new practice?

Re: Microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms: a double-blind placebo-controlled study

#222
post #62

sounds like a temporary anti-depressant, but a bad lifestyle choice

> but a bad lifestyle choice Care to elaborate why?

Did you read the paper?

"However, we observed a trend towards impaired performance in some cognitive tasks (i.e., attentional blink and Stroop)... future research should also explore the potential impact of microdosing on aspects of human physiology that could compromise its long-term safety."

How hard is it to come off it?

Re: Microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms: a double-blind placebo-controlled study

#224

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The phrase is “set and setting” meaning that it is strongly advised to only take psychedelics when you have a good mindset and a good setting. The thing about psychedelics is that you will have powerful mental imagery during the trip, that’s just how they work. So what is on your mind that day will affect what you think about, and with the power of psychedelics I’m told it could get scary or bad if you’re in a partic…

Thanks for taking the time to explain, but if I understand correctly in the instances you relate, you were taking mushrooms specifically in order to get high, correct? Whereas the OP (root of the thread) is talking about microdosing, which is, if I understand it correctly, taking drugs in an attempt to not get high, but get other benefits? As to the "powerful feeling of connectedness with the universe", well, I've be…

the importance of "set and setting" is almost universally known and easily verifiable. I've had terrible trips when stressed out and beautiful revelational ones when in the right frame of mind. shrooms are not as benign as alcohol. you're usually even less in control of your mental state, which can be both amazing and scary

Re: Microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms: a double-blind placebo-controlled study

#225
post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I haven't tried psychedelics yet for the same reason. The people I know who offer them to me don't show any level of care or responsibility when it comes to dosing themselves. For example, they'll buy drugs from people they've never met before, random people they run into in bars and clubs. I haven't yet personally met anybody who takes drugs who is as careful as I would like to be.

As an aside, I like to quote this passage from Terry Pratchett's The Carpet People: Other shamen ate the yellow-spotted mushrooms that were found deep in the hair thickets and said things like: ‘Hiiiiyahyahheya! Heyaheyayahyah! Hngh! Hngh!’ which certainly sounded magical. Pismire said things like, ‘Correct observation followed by meticulous deduction and the precise visualization of goals is vital to the success of…

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Re: Microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms: a double-blind placebo-controlled study

#227

I wish these academic articles also had TLDR section

That's the purpose of the Abstract.

> According to our findings, low doses of psilocybin mushrooms can result in noticeable subjective effects and altered EEG rhythms, but without evidence to support enhanced well-being, creativity and cognitive function. We conclude that expectation underlies at least some of the anecdotal benefits attributed to microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms.

Re: Microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms: a double-blind placebo-controlled study

#228

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is so disingenuous. Psilocybin directly affects levels of different neurotransmitters in the brain. Aspirin is an anti inflammatory.

It's not about disingenuousness, it's about the proper terminology. Caffeine is "psychoactive" yet very few people would say that you need to clear your mental baggage before you start drinking coffee.

It's a difference in the degree of effect. it seems there is some intentional focus on being pedantic and perfunctory.

Re: Microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms: a double-blind placebo-controlled study

#229

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Trust me I tried all kinds of drugs and psychedelics are not the kind that get you hooked. Stimulants are especially addictive in my opinion. Psychs are the kind of drugs you say I have enough for a while if you overdo. On top of it they build tolerance immediately.

That's hardly a counterargument. GP said you were high all the time, that's different from being addicted. There is some overlap, depending on the substance, but also significant difference. Think of nicotine, caffeine (addictive, but no high) vs psilocybin (high but arguably not addictive).

you literally can't be high all the time on psychedelics (at least tryptamine-derived psychedelics) because of how quickly a complete tolerance to their effect forms at the 5ht2a receptors

Re: Microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms: a double-blind placebo-controlled study

#230
post #168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> and constantly being the center of attention. Microdosing that one alone would bring enormous benefits... "Ego death" is basically an axiom on all doctrines promising more fulfilling, meaningful lives. Yes, psilocybin helps a lot on microdosing it... One-point anecdata.

i find the notion of ego-death to often be quite misdirective. folks are getting taught that the source of their problems is their “ego”, ignoring that we need a functioning ego to survive. it’s not something to be demonized or eliminated. rather, an opportunity to integrate that part of ourselves and our relationship to it, including any stories that we may be telling ourselves about the inherent pathology of ego. p…

I think 'death' is a misnomer here. It doesn't kill it so much as force you to acknowledge and face it.

I'd say it 'dies' during the trip as it is ripped from you. In my experiences however it took quite a dose to achieve that.

To me the folks warning to be careful about stress and things you avoid facing when tripping hard are dead-on.

Mushrooms have a way of cleansing the mind and soul, but that's if you are lucky,and you'd best be ready for it.

Usually it's just some cool visuals and good feelings.

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