Over the couple of years, I've had the pleasure of getting to know Lana Pribic  friend and now business partner. Since we have collectively worked in the psychedelic space for over 11 years, people reach out to us a lot, expressing their hesitations around microdosing. So, we figured it was time to bust some myths about microdosing as well as the fears associated with the practice. For the full context, watch the video above. If you're tight for time, I list out what we spoke about in bullets below. 

But before we dive in...

Microdosing isn't for Everyone.

First thing's first: Microdosing is not for everyone and you should consult with a medical professional before choosing to microdose. In the podcast and in this article, we are talking about our own personal experiences. What works for us, may not work for you.

Got it? Sweet! Let's get into it.

Myth #1: Microdosing psychedelics is addictive. 

• Health Canada states on their website that psilocybin is not addictive.
• There is little evidence that people can become physically or psychologically dependent on magic mushrooms.
• However, it is possible to become tolerant to the drug's effects with regular use. This may occur over several days of continued use. In this state, even high amounts of the drug will no longer produce the desired effect.
• Tolerance, have tolerance breaks while microdosing. They are actually anti-addictive because they stop working if you take them too often.
• LSD is also not considered addictive.

Myth #2: You have to microdose LSD or psilocybin 

• There are a ton of other plant medicines that you can microdose with, and they don't have to be psychedelic.
• Cannabis is legal in Canada and could be a more accessible option. You just have to ensure you get your dose right. Ingesting vs. smoking.
• Huachuma, aka, San Pedro has been said to be some people's favourite medicine to microdose. It is psychedelic and still illegal for consumption.
• Kanna, kratom, cava, cacao, etc. are all other options. Just be aware of where you are sourcing as ethics and sustainability can be a huge issue. 
• If you have an addictive personality, kratom is not a great choice.

Myth #3: A microdose is a “drug” or a bandaid solution

• If anything, microdosing will shine a light on whats under the bandaid.
• It can help you foster a greater connection to yourself, to your life, and allows you to be a more active and conscious participant in your life.

Myth #4: Microdosing is scary and you'll lose control

• If you are dosing correctly, this is untrue. You will not have a "psychedelic" experience.
• Microdosing is sub-perceptual.

Myth #5: Microdosing is a psychedelic or visionary experience

• Again, this would only happen if you were taking more than a microdose. You won't have visuals if you are dosing correctly.

Myth #6: Microdosing makes you a bad parents, family, or partner

• Ayelet Waldman is the author of A Really Good Day: How Microdosing Made a Mega Difference in My Mood, My Marriage, and My Life. In her book, she shares her one year journey of microdosing LSD and how it positively impacted her.
• Lana's mom (63 years old, Eastern European) microdosed mushrooms last year and it really helped her with mood along with supporting her through a health crisis. She was able to still show up as a wife, mom and business owner through that time. 

Myth #7: Microdosing is a placebo

• How you do it matters, always go back to your WHY and intention.
• There was a study published in June, 2022 in Nature Journal with Dr. Zach Walsh, Pamela Kryskow, Paul Staments and others. They studied 98 microdosers over 6 weeks and found "acute transient improvements across broad domains of psychological functioning on microdosing days, and reductions in stress, depression and distractibility."

Fear #8: I will have a bad trip

• Again we go back to DOSING!
• Microdosing is not trippy at all.
• Utilizing a journal throughout your microdosing protocol can help you stay accountable, and notice any shadows that come to the surface. If anything "difficult" comes up, see it as an opportunity for growth.
• Working with microdosing under the guidance of a guide or coach greatly impacts the results you’ll get. 

Fear #9: People will judge me

• Other peoples judgements are not your responsibility. How they respond to your actions and words are a reflection of themselves. There is no way to know what someone else is thinking. So ask lots of questions. 
• Provide people with education or resources if they are open to learning.
• Living your life based on the perception of others holds you back. You gotta do what you feel is right for you.
• Tune into the MSM news: psychedelics are making headlines, it’s undeniable they they are changing peoples lives. So if you are being called, be a part of the change and revolution. Share truth, share information, and be confident in your path.
• It’s your decision if you want to tell people or not. In my case when I first started I didn’t tell anyone, but people noticed I was in a better mood and super motivated and when they asked, I told them. And then other people in the company began to microdose too.
• Also, you don't HAVE to tell people you are microdosing. Tech entrepreneurs in the silicon valley didn't tell people right away,
• More people are microdosing and working with psychedelics than we think. Tim Ferriss once said: “The billionaires I know, almost without exception, use hallucinogens on a regular basis.” 

Myth #10: Microdosing is a new thing and there aren’t enough people who have done it

• Actually indigenous people have been microdosing for thousands of years and some even say that psychedelics helped the human species evolve.(Stoned Ape Theory)
• Mckenna said: “We ate our way to higher consciousness” and that eating mushrooms helped homo sapiens get “out of the animal mind and into the world of articulated speech and imagination.”
• Iboga is microdosed and has been for eons – in small quantities it's a hunting medicine, stimulant.
• In the episode with James Fadiman and Adam Bramlage, Adam talks about the ancient microdosing practices in various indigenous cultures 

Flow Formula: Our New Program

• Flow Formula is a program we are beginning March 15th. It is a group coaching, lifestyle alignment program, supported by an intentional microdosing protocol.
• From our alignment calls so far, people are most worried about getting their dosage wrong. Most people who have tried microdosing before said that it was difficult to keep a cadence going and that they would fall out of the practice after a few weeks. 
• There’s been so much EASE even though we’re working HARD and putting our energy into details of this program. Working with Lana is soooo much fun. 
• The course is filled with so much juicy content with a focus on coaching and community. If people don't want to microdose, they wouldn't even need to to get value out of the program. This could even be a taster if they are microdose-curious, to see if it’s for them. 
• Who’s in the program:
• Wellness coaches, students, music producers, entrepreneurs, nurse practitioners, social media managers, artists!
• A few examples of people's intentions for the course:
• "To learn how to grow and flow through daily stressors"
• "To learn how to create flow in my life and do so along with some awesome people!"
• "I want to release any sense of control and learn to fully trust in myself, my life and the world we live in as well as a way to support myself"
• "My intention for this course is the create a container to help launch my new business, I which is in psychedelic medicine."
• "I want to use the container to step into a place of service for other men."

The Program begins on Wednesday March 15th. If you are thinking that the program may be a good fit for you, visit the Flow Formula website and book an alignment call with Lana and I. 

Here's to your next wakeful travels!