Interest in the therapeutic potential of micro dosing psychedelics like psilocybin is growing exponentially. Under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the production, possession, and sale of psilocybin are illegal in Canada.
But, through the Special Access Program, medical professionals are eligible to obtain psychedelic drugs, including psilocybin. This means they can request access to treat patients with mental health conditions using this plant-based psychedelic. Nowadays, you can find many psilocybin capsules sold in Canada, and a growing number are turning to micro dosing.
This is the right place to start if you’re interested in taking tiny amounts of psilocybin to reduce stress or anxiety. Before consuming anything, find out how psilocybin micro dosing helps your mental health by reading below.
Boosts Serotonin Production
Like other psychedelics, psilocybin enters the brain through the same receptors as serotonin, a neurotransmitter that aids nerve cells in communicating with other cells in the body. Also known as the feel-good hormone, serotonin has long been associated with mood and overall mental health.
Notably, low serotonin levels are thought to be one of the indicators and causes of depression. This is why treating the condition typically includes prescribing selective serotonin inhibitors (SSRIs), medications that help make more serotonin available in the brain.
Unfortunately, SSRIs can take a long time to improve the symptoms of depression, while some people may not respond and get better with these medications. With psychedelics like psilocybin, study shows that one or two treatments can relieve depressive symptoms. Thus, this makes psilocybin an excellent alternative for people with treatment-resistant depression.
Develops New Neural Connections
The research found that smokers exhibited decreased functional connectivity between brain regions, particularly in the lateral orbitofrontal cortex and inferior frontal gyrus. They are the two regions of the brain that help people change or stop a behavior.
But, due to their weaker connections, people tend to engage more in impulsive behavior. They are also inclined to use the stimulating effect of nicotine to overcome the underlying communication deficits between different parts of the brain. This is why longtime smokers find it hard to resist or quit smoking.
Meanwhile, the use of psilocybin has the potential to break negative habits like smoking. Like other medications, it’s not a magic pill that stops addictive behavior instantaneously. Instead, it develops new neural connections in the brain that overrules old tendencies, such as addiction. As psilocybin rewires mental pathways, the person is driven to change and stop compulsive or addictive behavior.
Makes Therapy More Effective
Psilocybin has excellent potential to treat several mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and tobacco use disorder. However, the pharmacological effects of psilocybin are combined with psychological support.
This means that a patient ingests the chemical psilocybin in a comfortable, supervised, and supportive setting. While on psilocybin, the patient goes into a temporary-altered state of consciousness, and the therapist facilitates their experience. Instead of spending months or years in talk therapy, they can uncover and change unhelpful cognitive and emotional patterns during their psychedelic journey.
The Bottom Line
Self-administered psilocybin micro dosing is possible. However, you can put yourself and your health at more risk. No matter your goal or condition, it’s best to ingest psilocybin with the presence and guidance of a licensed therapist or healthcare professional to ensure safer and more effective outcomes.
