Taking Psychedelics Whilst Menstruating: Is it a Good Idea?

Written by Martha Allitt

When researching this article, I asked several people about their experiences using psychedelics while menstruating

Several of which expressed they avoided psychedelics at the time of their bleed. Their main reasons for avoiding it were concerns that cramps, tiredness, and other period symptoms could negatively impact their experience and challenges related to "unwanted faff," such as changing tampons and washing moon cups when intoxicated.  True to these concerns, in a Reddit thread called "Acid on period?" one user quoted:

"I've started mine [my period] mid-trip before, it wasn't toooo bad but the cramps were a total downer. My body felt really heavy and it definitely impacted my high… The trip itself was alright, but I would avoid it if at all possible because it's just kind of a mood killer and cramps feel really weird and uncomfortable with altered senses."

As well as practical issues, "competing energies" also appeared as a reason to avoid psychedelics when bleeding

The premise behind such competition being that, whereas menstruation is a time for conserving energy and remaining rooted in one's physical needs, psychedelics are energetically demanding and provide opportunities to go beyond the physical body. "Your period is for grounding yourself in your body. Medicine is to go higher," one person I interviewed explained. Competing energies, among various traditional beliefs about the women's cycle, mean some psychedelic guides, healers and retreat centres may advise their participants to avoid ceremonies when menstruating. I actually remember myself, being on a plant-medicine pilgrimage, and, despite her paying almost four figures for the healings, the shaman refused to let a woman participate in the ceremonies because she was bleeding.

Despite these concerns and traditional customs, however, it remains largely unclear whether or not "it's a good idea to take psychedelics on your period," since there are several instances of people having hugely positive experiences on psychedelics whilst menstruating. For example, in my interviews, one woman shared:

"I have had some really positive experiences taking mushrooms while on my bleed. It enables me to go deeper with my bleed and release on a deeper level, as well as help with being able to embody a restful somatic exploration and ritual space.” Another user on Reddit wrote: "For me, when I go to the bathroom on a trip to change my pad/tampon/cup, I usually feel hyper-connected with my biology and femininity, and it seems even more normal than usual." 

Psychedelics as Non-Specific Amplifiers

Rationalising these differences in experiences, it's worth noting how psychedelics are often described as "non-specific amplifiers," - meaning they enhance someone's physical and emotional state. As such, their effects can be incredibly variable depending on someone's mood, ongoing life events, and intentions. 

In the cases described, for one instance, psychedelics amplified someone's menstrual cramps, making the experience negative. However, in another, psychedelics intensified their connection to femininity, having an extremely positive and healing impact on the user. 

So with this huge variation, whether it's a good idea to take psychedelics on a bleed or not remains unclear

Because of the amplification potential, when considering clinical psychedelic therapies, it could be good practice for researchers, clinicians and therapists to consider how a patient's mood may change throughout a month, and plan when to dose with psychedelics accordingly. For instance, if a therapy patient has times in the month they feel particularly anxious and stressed, it may be wise to avoid dosing them with psychedelics during these times, since amplification of anxiety and stress could increase the risk of negative psychedelic experiences, and poorer long-term outcomes from the therapy.

This practice also could be particularly important for those with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), in which distressing premenstrual symptoms are already severe. Highlighting this concern, a recently published case report described a woman with PMDD whose cramps and mood swings were "worse than usual" after using 1.5 grams of dried mushrooms. 

On the converse, however, we do know that psychedelics can induce positive mood effects, such as increased euphoria, that could counterbalance or overcome any premenstrual symptoms. In addition, studies have shown that, when taken in both naturalistic and guided settings, psychedelics can have sustained mental health benefits which include decreased depression and anxiety. Therefore, if used carefully, psychedelics could potentially have long-term benefits for people with PMS and PMDD. Reducing, rather than exacerbating their symptoms.