From fringe hippie cultures to Silicon Valley influencers, the concept of micro-dosing is now making its way into mainstream media
Predicted mental health issues, due to the pandemic and climate crisis, have sceptics rethinking the use of plant medicines and psychedelic treatments. Johns Hopkins Centre for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, known for innovations in medical research, is leading the way in exploring innovative treatments using psilocybin and psychedelic-assisted therapy.
Psilocybin, a psychoactive compound found in mushrooms, is one of the main players and sought out ingredients in this rising craze as it is said to reset behavioural patterns in the brain caused by stress and trauma, leading to anxiety and depression.
Nonetheless, within the EU, there's complicated legislation associated with the use of these ingredients in medicine and beauty. “A psychotropic treaty from 1970 states we can sell our wellness products to all treaty countries,” explains Natasha De Jong, co-founder of Earth Resonance, a supplement company that specialises on microdosing for therapeutic use.
Earth Resonance is currently bridging the gap between science, plant medicine and ancient technology. "It's important for the customer to know if their country is one of those who regulate these supplements. Here in the Netherlands, only the parts grown under the soil can be used legally. What we call truffles, they look like a potato,” adds De Jong of the production and sourcing of the base ingredient of the supplement.
Photo: Benjamin Tarp
Mycelium is the network of threads, called hyphae, from which mushrooms grow and catches all the nutrients. “Our mushrooms are a natural product and consist of alkaloids, which in the mushroom is psilocybin,” says De Jong, “we call it medicine from the earth, not the lab.”
Onur Yildirim, general manager of Field Trip, a centre in Amsterdam that offers individual programs and is guided by psychiatrists and therapists where you can check in for a psychedelic experience also weighs in on the matter. “We're acknowledged by the Netherlands government as an alternative healthcare.”
Yildirim, initially trained in clinical psychology, later went on to earn his PhD in neuroscience. “These substances [Psilocybin] have a similar chemical structure to the body's substance, serotonin, which activates specific receptors in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter with a stimulating effect that influences our mood and perception, through the experiences that psilocybin gives, you build resilience. It's not a quick-fix pill that makes you numb to the world and yourself."
"Diving deeper into the research to improve neuroplasticity, I started using psilocybin by micro-dosing," adds De Jong. "Understanding the mechanism of the brain's default mode network, and how it can help open the subconscious mind to uncover patterns that help to heal from trauma and self-sabotaging mechanisms."
What if you want to have a treatment?
"First, we have a pre-screening with the client before they get accepted to the program. They can find the form on our website. This part is essential,” Yildirim states, "we take great care as some individuals with a history of psychosis or schizophrenia can't do the treatments."
“After that, we book a call and schedule a therapy session with our team of psychiatrists and psychologists. Our therapeutic teams will support the unpacking and understanding thoughts and feelings during the treatment.”
Asger Nakskov Laursen, CEO and founder of The Dose, a Danish company that's set out to change the framework and current approach to mental health also comments, "The Dose is about reconnecting to yourself, community and nature. Our vision is to empower people and help them dispose of the information overload most of us face in today's society."
Combining education, breathwork, coaching, and self-exploration using medicinal plants and the five significant mushrooms of Chines Medicine. "We encourage people to set the right combination depending on where they are in life."
All three agree that the combination of treatments makes all the difference.
"The broad approach is that humans are complex, and just micro dosing will give you a great day, but we encourage other practices to make the sustainable changes necessary on mindset and maintain them after the treatment. We don't want to hand out life on crutches," Laursen says.
The science of plant medicine has its root in ancient cultures and serves as a mood board for developing synthetic drugs. Far more trusted than these natural medicines due to research. Until now.