Enhanced focus and cognitive performance are some of the most common reasons many people microdose. While microdosing has been shown to improve creativity in various studies, its effect on enhancing focus is less consistent and more elusive.
The large majority of the individuals I work with struggle with a cognitive performance characterized by an inability to focus and memory loss. In my work with these clients, I have found smaller doses (<120mg) to be more likely to support focus enhancement while the larger doses (120-300mg) seem to be more likely to enhance creative states.
While proper dosing and schedule are two fundamental components for controlled outcomes when it came to enhanced focus, the results seemed to be less predictable; the same individual on the same dose and schedule of microdosing could experience great focus on one day and inability to focus the next day. Since an enhanced focus was a key concern for my audience, I set out to experiment if there were ways to optimize a microdose practice to consistently deliver enhanced focus.
Following a 6-month assessment period, I found the following three boosters to be highly effective in predicting enhanced focus effects from microdosing:
Cordyceps
Cordyceps are a category of functional mushrooms known for their performance boosting and energizing qualities. Cordyceps have long been used in Chinese medicine for respiratory and cardiac health, they are also used to balance testosterone, libido, and blood sugar. Recent studies have also demonstrated the ability of cordyceps in improving learning and memory.
I have long used cordyceps in my work with clients with adrenal fatigue, ADHD, and depression. 1000mg of high-quality cordyceps taken with a 90 mg of psilocybin microdose seems to enhance focus for an extended period of 3-4 hours.
Matcha
Matcha has long been revered as a potent medicinal tea for its antioxidant and anti-cancer qualities, and its ability to support liver and heart health, and its effect on mood and cognitive enhancement.
Matcha contains a much high concentration of phytochemicals present in green tea that have been proven to improve memory and focus: caffeine, L-theanine, and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).
Matcha tea taken within 3 hours of a 90 mg of psilocybin microdose seems to not only enhance focus but also extend the microdose effects on average for 90-120 additional minutes.
When choosing a matcha product, look for ceremonial or food-grade organic matcha. Good quality matcha has a deep green color and a fresh green tea smell.
CBD
CBD (Cannabidiol) is a non-psychoactive molecule present in many plants but most notably in hemp and cannabis plants in high concentration. CBD has been studied extensively in the past decade for its incredible healing qualities for seizures, anxiety, and inflammation with promising results.
While there isn't enough evidence that supports the use of CBD for enhancing focus, the link between anxiety and focus is a well-studied and verified factor. Often cognitive challenges related to focusing stem from anxiety and stress, this is likely why CBD seems to be effective in enhancing focus for many individuals with cognitive impairment.
30 mg of full-spectrum to broad-spectrum hemp-derived CBD taken within 2 hours of a 90 mg psilocybin microdose seems to improve focus for some individuals.
Unfortunately, the CBD market is saturated with counterfeit and/or contaminated products. When choosing a quality CBD product it is critical to purchase from a trusted brand or an authorized retailer and ensure 3-rd party lab test results verify purity and safety.
These booster recommendations are based on anecdotal evidence and results will likely vary across individuals. With that said, these protocols have been a reliable framework for enhancing focus and memory retention for many microdosing clients. Give them a try and let us know about your experience.
