Dear Microdose Explorer, You’re being sent this email because of your expressed interest in microdoses. Please read it through before you consider any further action. Background Albert Hoffman suggested that taking 10-20 micrograms of LSD could have a positive effect on mental health and physical functioning. Preliminary reports indicate that this is often so. This information sheet is primarily intended for people already familiar with LSD or other psychedelics It is not intended to encourage anyone to use any illegal substance. How people report using microdoses Very simply: Take a microdose every 4th day and make notes each day of what you notice for a few cycles for you to refer to. People report that keeping some kind of journal has been beneficial in itself and especially helpful in reviewing the effects of microdoses taken over the course of a few weeks. The time between doses allows people to see the differences between having an effect and previous levels of feeling and behavior. Taking it more often may be beneficial, but there is have enough data. Here is the every fourth day process, spelled out. Start Cycle one: Day 1. HOW MUCH IS A ‘DOSE?” About 10 micrograms of LSD, No more than 1-2 mg., maybe as low as 0.5-1 mg of actual psilocybin, .2 - .5 grams of mushrooms, 1-2 grams of psychedelic “truffle’, 25 micrograms of 1-p LSD, 4-6 mg of Iboga or an equivalent amount of other substances1 before 10:00 AM. Taking it later may make it harder to get to sleep. Keep to your daily schedule: work, leisure, meals, medications, exercise, family and social life. Some people take something to get to sleep at their regular time, especially on dose days. Write a few notes to yourself about how your day went. Consider, for example, the amount of work you did, how productive or creative it was, and the level of ease or discomfort you felt. Notice any 1
The Gemini- 20 scale measures accurately down to l mg. 1
changes in how you are relating to others. Notice any differences from normal in mood, food, physical strength, or symptoms of any condition. Don't feel that you need to write much. These are your notes. Finding the right dose: If you feel that your work or concentration is being disrupted by your dose, take a lower dose in the next cycle. This is not about “10 mics.” It is about the effects of superlow doses. IMPORTANT: IF, FOR ANY REASON, YOU FEEL THAT THE EFFECTS ARE UNCOMFORTABLE, UNPLEASANT, OR IN ANY WAY DISTURBING, STOP TAKING WHATEVER YOU WERE TAKING. REPEAT: STOP TAKING! NOTHING IS GOOD FOR EVERYBODY. Day 2. DO NOT TAKE ANY SUBSTANCE. Just as before. Normal work and life pattern. Take the same sort of notes. Many people have reported that the second day’s effects are as evident or more so than on the first day. Day 3. DO NOT TAKE ANY SUBSTANCE. Normal schedule, etc. Take notes. Most people report that they feel “normal” on the third day. However, some effects are cumulative. Taking only every 4th day to insure that you do not develop “tolerance.” A few people have taken it more often without ill effects, a few report that taking it more often led to less or no effect. Day 4: This is a microdose day and the start of a new cycle. Additional cycles: Exactly like cycle one. After ten cycles or less if you stop: Many people who have written a review of the whole time since their first cycle, (using their own notes to help recall) and conclusions report that microdosing was beneficial. This report is for you to reflect on your experiences. If you wish to send it or any part of it or any part of your notes to the research team, it will help others understand how best to use substances at these doses. And it is a thank you for being sent this information made from earlier reports. Any insights, advice, concerns, suggestions or warnings are appreciated. If possible, include any feedback you have received from significant others, children, people at work, etc. Additional information How does one measure out a microdose? 2
LSD: • Blotter acid is likely to be either 50, 100 or 200 micrograms on each square. Drop one square into distilled water, say- 5 ounces for 50, 10 for 100. Let it sit overnight. One ounce will contain 10 micrograms. • For blotter acid of a reasonable size, some people cut it into microdose slices. You will not mess up your day if you take 12-15 or 6-9 micrograms • If it is liquid: Usually there are 100 micrograms in a drop. Take one drop and put it in a bottle with a dropper as its cap. Dilute twentyfold with distilled water, using a dropper. When mixed, each drop will hold 5 micrograms, more or less. Less or more than a hundred, less or more dilution. Probably best to refrigerate the bottle, but reports of liquid holding LSD at room temperature lasting a long time have been reported. Mushrooms: For mushrooms, most people report they dry and power them and put the powder into capsules. For all other psychedelics: A microdose is 1/10 to 1/20 of a full dose. Some people report that they have microdosed with psychedelics other than LSD and mushrooms. A few took ibogaine, ayahausca or designer drugs. If you do use a different substance, recall that a microdose has minimal perceptual or sensory distortion or enhancement. MDMA is not a psychedelic. These instructions are not for taking MDMA. “What do people do after a while, or after a few or ten cycles?” Some people just stop microdosing. Others, and this is more common, continue to microdose now and then, doing it when they feel it would be beneficial.
Preliminary results Almost everyone who have carefully done a self-study and recorded daily notes on a variety of behavioral, emotional, and physical changes have reported overall enhanced well-being, particularly regarding anxiety and or depression. A number of people have reported improvements in eating patterns, exercise patterns, relationships, and in some cases increased libido. Some have reported lowering of chronic pain. It is not yet known to what extent these 3
improvements are retained after a person stops microdosing, but some continuing positive results have been reported Current research question A number of people used microdosing to help them lower the amount or stop taking a variety of pharmaceuticals, including antidepressants, antipsychotics, pain medications and cannabis.
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