Definition Clarified: “1/10th-1/20th of a Recreational Dose”
There is no question that finding the “sweet spot” dose in microdosing—where you remain below the threshold of any kind of psychedelic experience—is crucial to microdosing correctly and effectively. The challenge is that, given each person’s bio-individuality and the number of substances considered in the book (along with variations within those substances), this was no small task. Still, we did our best to be clear, correct, consistent, and common-sensical in our language.
That said, this is not a perfect book. As if often the case with projects of this magnitude, some language and definitional problems come to light only after it’s too late to change them. We’ll be updating you here whenever we catch mistakes or ambiguities going forward.
Specifically, in Chapter 1, in three different places, we give a general definition about the recommended starting dosage range for microdosing that is missing something. Here’s what we say:
“which by definition are 1/10th to 1/20th or less of full doses of psychedelics”
“microdosing involves taking a tiny dose, 1/10th to 1/20th of a standard psychedelic dose”
“a microdose is usually 1/10th to 1/20th of a full psychedelic dose of a substance”
In each case we say “1/10th to 1/20th,” and then either “full doses of psychedelics,” “a standard psychedelic dose,” or “full dose of a psychedelic substance.”
While this is correct, it is only correct with reference to a full or standard recreational dose of psychedelics. That is, based on someone’s bio-individuality, the recommended starting microdose is 1/10th to 1/20th of a full or standard recreational dose of the same substance. (Note that when the book considers the basic dosage range for the most commonly microdosed substances, we give that range in tenths of a gram, milligrams (thousandths of a gram), or micrograms (millions of a gram) depending on the substance and how it’s being taken.)
The ambiguity or unclarity here arises from different assumptions: a full dose can also mean 250 or 300 micrograms, that is, a dose that can bring about true transcendent experiences or what is sometimes now called a “heroic dose.” Jim worked with these kinds of doses in his research days in the 1960’s. (If you followed the 1/10th part of the formula and applied that to 250 micrograms of LSD, you’d be taking 25 micrograms, and that is not a microdose for almost anyone.)
Again, the basic formula for microdosing is 1/10th to 1/20th of a typical recreational dose, not the much higher dosage used for transcendent, certain research, and heroic doses. Please see the book for full details. Thanks for reading this update; we trust your microdosing journey, if any, is going well for you.
–Jordan Gruber
