The hallucinogenic compound psilocybin, found in microdosing mushrooms anxiety, is having a moment. People who microdose the drug claim it boosts their creativity and makes the world look brighter and shinier, like it’s in high-definition. Psilocybin is also used by many people with mental health disorders to treat anxiety and depression, although it’s illegal to take the drug without a doctor’s approval in most states.
A growing body of research suggests there’s a strong correlation between psychedelic microdosing and improved mental health, but the small sample sizes and lack of controlled experiments make it difficult to establish a cause-and-effect relationship. Plus, many studies rely on participants’ self-reporting to measure their own moods and experiences.
Using Microdosing Mushrooms for Anxiety: What Science Says
Researchers have used a variety of methods to study microdosing, but most involve participants who regularly self-administer small doses of psychoactive drugs. The most commonly reported drugs include LSD and psilocybin, or “magic mushrooms.” These tiny doses are a fraction of the typical hallucinogenic effect of larger amounts of these chemicals, which can cause visual and auditory hallucinations.
One study of psilocybin microdosing, published in 2022, compared the effects of two different dose levels of LSD with placebo. The results were mixed. Two-thirds of the participants correctly guessed their condition in half of the trial blocks, but the authors acknowledged that prior experience with psychedelics and lower levels of depression and anxiety may have attenuated these effects. Despite the mixed results, the study was a promising step forward for future work in this area.