Microdosing and Meditation

Practices like meditation and yoga have boomed in popularity in recent years. Both coming to the wider interest in the West in the 1930s (after of course, millennia of practice in India) they have been fully integrated into modern life. Nowadays gyms and spas offer meditation sessions. Apps such as Headspace and OMG. I Can Meditate! mean that nowadays anyone can reap the benefits of something that 100 years ago did not even feature in the Western imagination. 

Today microdosing looks like it could be following the footsteps of these established wellness practices. It is only very recently that microdosing has begun to be accepted by the mainstream, as opposed to a small group of those-in-the-know. Psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic truffles) once on the fringes, is now stepping into the role of wellness treatment de jour, with real science to back it up. From treating depression, to increasing creativity — it seems like microdosing psilocybin can give a bit of something to everyone. Experts say that in the near future it will be as common to see a microdosing strip in someones medicine cabinet as a vitamin C supplement. For early-birds its already the case!

Microdosing and Meditation Both Affect The DMN

Comparative studies have looked at the brain scans of those who have microdosed psilocybin, and contrasted them with those of people in a meditative state. Through this researchers noted similar changes in the Default Mode Network (DMN) of the brain. The DMN is the part of the brain in which we self-reflect and plan. It is essential, but for sufferers of depression and other mood disorders it is often found to be overactive. This means they can experience an imbalance of negative thoughts and feelings towards themselves.

Both microdosing magic truffles and meditation affect the DMN in ways that promote feelings of inner peace and insight, though in slightly different ways. But! We are not here to compare. Rather, we are interested in what happens when the two are combined. 

Study Shows Positive Effects

In a recent study on psilocybin by the University of Zurich researchers enlisted 40 meditation experts who were taking part in a 5 day wellness retreat (where of course, a lot of meditation took place). On the fourth day of the retreat, the participants were either administered a placebo or a dose of psilocybin. Using neurocognitive measurements the researchers were able to clearly show that mindful meditation increases the positive effects of psilocybin.

“Psilocybin markedly increased the incidence and intensity of self-transcendence virtually without inducing any anxiety compared to participants who received the placebo” 

Lukasz Smigielski (first author of study) 

Longer Lasting Results

Additionally, when surveyed 4 months later, those who had received the psilocybin instead of the placebo reported higher levels of empathy, self acceptance and social functioning. According to the researchers, this is likely due to the higher intensity of meditative experience due to the psilocybin. This demonstrates clearly that meditation and microdosing magic truffles can work together to optimise each other’s most positive effects. The perfect match? It could seem so!  

How to Integrate

So how can this be incorporated into everyday life? Well, if you are following the classic Fadiman microdosing method, you will be taking your microdose on a 3 day cycle. Some people find that meditating on the day of their microdose gives them the most insight. Some people find doing it the days inbetween gives them time to digest. Meditation and mindfulness are our top methods to integrate the positive changes you feel when you start your microdose regime. During meditation you can focus on the insights you gained and how they can be applied to your daily life. This can be as small as introducing a daily walk to your routine, to reassessing damaging behavioural cycles. 

Meditating While Microdosing

Meditating straight after taking your microdose can be a profound experience. However, if you have not done either before, it may be best to start with one at time, rather than both at once. If you are practised at one of these techniques already, you will take to the other more easily. With microdosing it takes a little time to work out your perfect routine and dosage amount. Meditation takes a level of practice and discipline. When trying to empty your mind, you might find more thoughts than you imagined your brain could fit come a-knocking. If you become frustrated, this could derail your positive morning microdose vibe.

Ultimately however, it’s up to you to work out the best path for yourself. For those who’ve found meditation a harrowing thought, microdosing could be just the thing to open and focus your mind to it. And really, vice versa!

The Perfect Match!

So there you have it, psychedelics and meditation— the perfect match. Get started on your microdosing journey today with our microdosing guide and full product range!