Your energy levels, mood, concentration and need for rest may change throughout your menstrual cycle. Hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone fluctuate throughout the month — and influence processes that go far beyond reproduction alone.
When you microdose, this adds an interesting extra layer: How do you find microdosing at different stages of your cycle?
You may find that certain days lend themselves more naturally to energy, creativity and action, whilst at other times you feel a greater need for reflection, rest or some space to yourself.
By taking your cycle into account as part of your microdosing process, you can gradually learn to recognise more clearly what your body and mind are telling you.
Not by trying to fit every phase of the cycle into a fixed schedule, but by to observe, experience and identify patterns.
Your period is just one part of a much larger cyclical process.
The menstrual cycle is usually divided into:
During these phases, the concentrations of, amongst other things, oestrogen and progesterone.
And it is precisely these hormonal changes that make the female cycle so interesting.
Furthermore, not everyone’s cycle lasts exactly 28 days, and ovulation does not necessarily take place on day 14. Even for the same woman, the cycle can vary slightly from month to month.
Your cycle is therefore not a fixed schedule that dictates how you should feel.
Think of him more as a your own rhythm, which you can learn to recognise.
Oestrogen and progesterone are best known as sex hormones, but their influence extends beyond that.
They also interact with various processes in the brain.
Scientific research is looking, for example, at the relationship between female sex hormones and neurotransmitter systems such as serotonin, dopamine, GABA and glutamate.
These systems play a role in, amongst other things, mood, motivation, reward, emotional processing and cognitive processes.
From this perspective, oestrogen is particularly interesting. Research suggests that oestrogen can influence the serotonergic system in various ways, including serotonin synthesis, breakdown, transport and receptor activity.
Progesterone and its metabolites are also of interest, partly because of their interaction with the GABA system.
The hormonal environment in which your brain functions therefore changes throughout your cycle.
And that is precisely where an interesting link with microdosing arises.
Microdosing and the menstrual cycle constitute an interesting but still relatively new area of research. What we do know is that hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone fluctuate throughout the cycle and influence various neurotransmitter systems in the brain.
Psilocin, the active metabolite of psilocybin, acts via serotonin receptors, amongst other mechanisms. It is therefore biologically plausible that hormonal changes could influence how a psychedelic substance is experienced.
Scientific research into the specific combination of microdosing and phase of the cycle is still in its infancy. That is precisely why personal observation is interesting: the same amount can be experienced differently at different times of the month.
After ingestion, psilocybin is converted in the body into psilocin.
Psilocin has an affinity for various serotonin receptors and the 5-HT2A receptor plays an important role in the way traditional psychedelics work.
This brings together two interesting areas of research.
On the one hand, we know that female sex hormones fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle and interact with various neurotransmitter systems.
On the other hand, psilocin acts via one of those same key systems: serotonin.
This makes the question of how the menstrual cycle and psychedelic substances influence one another particularly interesting from a scientific point of view.
Consequently, an increasing number of researchers are pointing out that biological sex, hormonal status and phase of the cycle These are relevant variables to take into account in psychedelic research.
For women who microdose, this gives them yet another reason to pay attention to their own cycle.
That’s possible.
The hormonal environment in which your body and brain function changes throughout the month. This makes it interesting to observe how you experience the same microdose at different times.
You may notice differences in:
It is precisely these personal observations that can prove valuable if you keep track of them over several cycles.
You don’t need to decide in advance what you should experience.
The most interesting question is much simpler:
What do I notice about myself?
The follicular phase begins on the first day of your period and continues until ovulation.
In the first part of this phase, oestrogen and progesterone levels are relatively low. Oestrogen then rises gradually as ovulation approaches.
Some women recognise more in the later part of this phase energy, motivation, curiosity or a need for activity.
As part of your microdosing process, this can be an interesting time to observe how you feel whilst working, exercising, working on creative projects or engaging in other activities.
Take a look at this, for example:
It is precisely when energy and curiosity come naturally that you can begin to recognise how a microdosing day feels within that natural rhythm.
As ovulation approaches, oestrogen levels usually peak. Around this time, other hormonal changes also take place, which ultimately lead to ovulation.
Some women notice more around this time social energy, self-confidence, motivation or the need for connection.
That makes this phase an interesting one to observe as part of your microdosing process.
What are conversations like?
Do you feel the need for more social activities?
Is creative collaboration becoming easier?
Do you feel more outward-looking?
You may well recognise a clear personal pattern in this after a few cycles.
After ovulation, the luteal phase begins.
Progesterone levels rise and oestrogen levels also change again. If pregnancy does not occur, both hormone levels fall in the run-up to menstruation.
For many women, this is a phase in which their needs may gradually shift over the course of the day.
Whilst the start of the luteal phase may still feel active, as menstruation approaches there is sometimes a greater need for peace, reflection and space.
As part of your microdosing process, this can actually be an interesting time to focus on what is happening internally.
Take the following example:
Not every microdosing day needs to be focused on productivity or creativity.
A day when you’re more inward-looking can actually lead to different insights.
Are you particularly interested in microdosing to manage premenstrual symptoms? If so, be sure to read our separate blog post on microdosing and PMS.
When menstruation begins, oestrogen and progesterone levels are relatively low.
For many women, this is a moment in their cycle that they can clearly recognise.
Perhaps you feel the need to slow down a bit – to go for a walk, do some journaling or enjoy a mindful moment with some hot chocolate. Or perhaps you actually feel a sense of relief as your premenstrual symptoms subside and you feel your energy starting to return.
You don’t therefore have to automatically see your period as a time of inactivity.
It’s all about discovering what what your body is telling you at that moment.
Microdosing can provide an additional opportunity for focus and observation within that process.
Your menstrual cycle can be a valuable additional factor in your microdosing process.
Not because you need a different dose for each stage, but because you are gathering more and more information about how you react at different times of the month.
At Wise Rootz, we recommend the following for beginners: Fadiman Protocol:
Day 1 — microdosing day
Day 2 — observation day
Day 3 — rest day
Day 4 — another microdosing day
After that, the rhythm repeats itself.
The advantage of this protocol is that microdosing days alternate with rest days. This allows you to focus not only on the day you microdose, but also on how you feel in the days that follow.
Your menstrual cycle runs through it, as it were.
Over time, you may find, for example, that a microdosing day during your follicular phase feels different from a microdosing day just before your period.
The Fadiman Protocol provides structure. Your cycle provides additional context.
As well as the stage of your cycle, the dose naturally also plays a part in how you experience a microdosing day.
At Wise Rootz, we advise beginners to start with 0.5 grams of fresh truffle, half a portion of Wise Rootz.
Use that amount during your first microdosing sessions and take your time to see how it makes you feel.
If 0.5 grams is very subtle, you can gradually increase the dose during your next microdosing session, for example towards 0.75 grams and ultimately up to 1 gram as part of our microdosing protocol.
The aim is not to experience the strongest possible effect.
You’re looking for your own personal sweet spot: the amount at which microdosing remains subtle and fits in with your normal daily activities.
It is precisely when you track your cycle at the same time that you gain a much richer understanding of your own experience.
See also: How do you find your microdosing sweet spot?
Energy and creativity are interesting topics when you consider microdosing and your cycle side by side.
You may find that ideas come more easily during certain weeks. At other times, you may feel a greater need to flesh out existing ideas or to turn your thoughts inwards.
Try not to turn that into a set pattern.
Use your own observations.
For example, ask yourself the following questions over the course of a few cycles:
Use your own observations to see what patterns emerge throughout your cycle. At what times, for example, do ideas come to you easily? When do you feel like actually putting them into practice? You may also notice that your need for social interaction changes over the course of the month. In addition, you can observe when your focus is at its strongest and at what times you actually feel a greater need for deeper reflection.
If you keep this up for a long time, a personal pattern may emerge that is far more interesting than a general pattern.
Would you like to read more specifically about creative thinking? Then take a look at our in-depth feature on Microdosing and creativity.
You don’t need to track your cycle hacking.
You can watch him.
That is a fundamental difference.
During your microdosing process, you could, for example, keep track of:
A single day is a snapshot.
When you collect the same information over several weeks and cycles, it becomes much more interesting. You can then look back and see whether certain experiences tend to recur at the same time.
Measure. Observe. Reflect.
At Wise Rootz, microdosing is therefore not just about the truffle itself.
The Wise Rootz Microdosing Box has been developed as a a guided process combining microdosing, cocoa, information and reflection.
Using the Wise Rootz app, you can keep track of your dosage, check-ins and experiences, amongst other things.
For women, the menstrual cycle can add an extra personal dimension to this.
You might notice a link between your menstrual cycle and your energy levels. You might recognise recurring moments of creativity or a need for rest. Or you might find that your sleep, mood and microdosing experience fluctuate in tandem throughout the month.
By registering, you won’t have to rely solely on your memory.
Step by step, you build up a personal picture of your cycle and your microdosing process.
Can microdosing feel different during different phases of your cycle?
That is possible. The hormonal environment changes throughout the menstrual cycle and can influence processes in the brain. Research into the specific effects on microdosing is still limited, but it may be interesting to observe personal patterns over several cycles.
Should you adjust your microdosing dose to suit your cycle?
Not automatically. At Wise Rootz, we recommend first finding your own personal ‘sweet spot’ and then observing how the same amount is experienced at different times in your cycle.
Can you microdose whilst on your period?
There is no general guideline stating whether or not microdosing is appropriate during your period. Take into account how you feel physically and mentally, and always follow the recommended usage guidelines and your personal limits.
Why is your cycle relevant to microdosing?
This is because hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone fluctuate throughout the month and are involved in processes relating to serotonin, dopamine, GABA and glutamate. This makes the phase of the menstrual cycle an interesting factor in research into psychedelics and personal experience.
Your menstrual cycle isn’t an obstacle you need to try to manage when it comes to microdosing.
On the contrary.
It is a fascinating biological rhythm that can provide further insight into changes in energy levels, mood, focus, creativity and the need for rest.
By combining the Fadiman Protocol with mindful observation of your cycle, you create space to discover patterns that are unique to you.
There is no set pattern for how a woman is supposed to feel on each day of her cycle.
Do pay attention to the signs that are already there.
Your cycle provides context.
Your microdosing protocol provides structure.
Your observations make it personal.
The Wise Rootz Microdosing Box combines carefully measured fresh truffles, cocoa and digital guidance to take you step by step through your microdosing process.
Discover the Wise Rootz Microdosing Box
This blog is intended to provide general and educational information about microdosing and the menstrual cycle and does not constitute medical advice. Scientific research into the specific influence of the menstrual cycle phase and female sex hormones on the experience of psilocybin and microdosing is still ongoing.
Microdosing is not suitable for everyone. Do not use microdosing products if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have a serious psychiatric condition or a history of psychosis. If you are taking medication or have a medical condition, please consult a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional beforehand.
