I’m far from someone who has an ear for music, still, I’ve always gotten so excited about music! It’s the way that music has the ability to carry you back to a moment in time. I always, always listen to lyrics, as I like to be able to relate to my music more often than not. (The exception here is the thug anthems.) Whether it be that summer jam that serves as the soundtrack throughout the season or a sexy, down on your knees, begging tune that makes you think of the time you were about to risk it all on love (hello, ‘80s and ‘90s).
Music evokes emotion regardless of how hard we may try to repress it. It’s one of the most powerful art mediums we have to date. And though I’m aware of how I feel when I listen to certain songs, I often wonder how music impacts us day to day plus how it has the ability to improve the sex we’re having. Those sexy playlists actually set the mood in more ways than one. If you have a sex playlist, here’s what type of vibe you’re creating, and if not, here’s why you should get on top of it.
Of course, I’m no expert, so we chatted with Dr. Shay Thomas, a licensed marriage and family therapist based in Atlanta, to further understand the four benefits of music, from daily life to the bedroom (or wherever you like to take your hot sex).
1. Therapeutic
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Long workday? A new partner who you haven’t completely become familiar with yet? You probably need to get out of your head. Good news! According to Dr. Thomas, music has the ability to transmit us into a mindful, meditative state. She adds, “It is not only shown to reduce anxiety and improve mood as a general therapeutic technique but it is also used in the medical field to help patients with chronic pain.”
2. Release
I’ve said this before and it’s now been confirmed by an expert, that music can be a powerful catalyst for emotional release. “Music evokes strong emotion, as we reflect on powerful memories," Dr. Thomas says. "Music prompts movement, which helps release negative energy and relieve stress. Music makes us dance, cry, and literally release endorphins, which according to research is the brain's natural pain reliever.”
3. Intimacy
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If you are looking to really create a powerful bond, music might help signal just that. On a basic level music evokes pleasure from its listener due to the dopamine listening to music releases. Thus, science has found that music can improve your sex life, as well as your physical and emotional satisfaction during intimate experiences. “It enhances the experience, emotionally and physically. It intensifies our connection. That's why we feel a natural high at concerts," Dr. Thomas explains.
4. Arousal
According to Dr. Thomas, “Music during sex sparks passion and creativity. As we vibe with the beat, it guides our rhythm/pace. We can also get lost in the lyrics, which helps us escape our inhibitions. Music during sex (and in general) amplifies our arousal and intensifies our connection to the person and to the experience.” This makes a lot of sense, especially because music can often serve as the initiator of sex, setting the stage and the mood.
Next time you’re looking to have a romantic evening, turn the tunes on immediately and see how the whole vibe improves. Start with low music over dinner instead of turning the TV on immediately (something we’ve become far too accustomed to). I’d say this is especially ideal for new partners because it reduces some of that getting-to-know-you tension. Still, it’s equally beneficial to all pairs.
And if you are unsure about the music to add to your playlist, all platforms allow you to search for keywords and I have no doubt that you’ll be able to find something under “Soulful sex playlist.”
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One alternative medicine option known as microdosing, offers small doses of psychedelics to spark changes in the brain to alter the way they think and create tangible, psychological improvements.
What is Microdosing?
Microdosing refers to the practice of taking a very small, sub-perceptual dose of a psychedelic substance, such as LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) or psilocybin mushrooms, typically on a regular schedule. The aim is to experience subtle cognitive and emotional benefits without the full-blown psychedelic effects associated with a standard or recreational dose.
Taking this subthreshold dose of psychedelics (typically within the 10 to 20 mcg range) allows one to operate within their daily lives without being restricted or slowed down by the normal effects of psychedelics or hallucinogens.
In some traditional indigenous healing communities, microdosing is often the preferred approach for individuals seeking healing, rather than macrodosing.
Microdosing vs. Macrodosing
“There is a long-standing history of different kinds of dosing of ‘master plants,’ as I call them, in traditional communities, where shamanic doses (or very high doses), were only taken by the maestro,” Maya Shetreat, MD, author of The Master Plant Experience tells xoNecole. “In fact, they would only offer a microdose to the people participating in the ceremony or to the person they're doing the healing on.”
While macrodosing might be more common among visitors of what Shetreat calls, “the global north,” the traditional method can vary among different communities, and in some cases, macrodosing may not be a part of their healing practices at all.
Due to the legality of psychedelics in most places, Dr. Shetreat shares that The Institutional Review Board (IRB) mandates that individuals taking psychedelics, even in microdoses, must be closely monitored in clinical or hospital settings, which can be “impractical” and often inconvenient as early research develops.
Unlike full-dose experiences, which are planned with preparation and integration sessions, microdosing doesn't make sense for such intensive monitoring. This is because microdosing involves taking sub-psychedelic doses that don't significantly alter one's state, and individuals usually take these doses every few days, making constant clinical supervision impractical for most people's daily lives.
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The Benefits of Microdosing for Mental Health and Well-Being:
While research is still limited on the full range of benefits from microdosing, Dr. Shetreat shares that while subtle, there are “benefits with neuroplasticity,” meaning that neurons in the brain make new connections, even with microdoses over a period of time.
Additionally, microdosing has been shown to be beneficial for individuals who are not able, for any number of reasons, to experience large doses of psychedelics as they can be disorienting. “Some people are medically contraindicated due to their mental health or medications that they're taking, and are very sensitive to having really large psychedelic experiences,” she explains.
However, individuals with anxiety, depression, OCD, and also medical conditions, like chronic pain, autoimmunity, asthma, ADHD, and autism, have been shown to benefit from microdosing.
Is Microdosing the Best Option for You?
In terms of whether microdosing is a suitable option for you, clinical papers based on self-reported experiences suggest its potential benefits as being a safer and less intense approach to mental health issues.
“People tend to feel happier, lighter, more social, and more inclined to take good care of themselves like exercise and eat better,” Dr. Shetreat explains.
“They tend to avoid other altering substances like alcohol and feel less depressed; many people have gotten off of antidepressants using microdosing.” However, some may have concerns about microdosing due to its legality.
What To Expect From Your Microdosing Experience
Although the initial day of ingestion may not be the most potent day in terms of physical or mental experience, Dr. Shetreat shares that some individuals report having a particularly euphoric day following ingestion. “Many people experience benefits on the day that they take the microdose, but there are also people who describe the next day as being what we would call ‘The Best Day' where they feel a sense of euphoria,” she says.
In order to make the most of your microdosing experience, she suggests keeping an open mind, self-reflection, and clear intentions, which in turn, holds significant value in maximizing its benefits.
“Treat this experience with a master plant or psychedelic as being just as meaningful and sacred as a large experience can be,” she says, “Engaging in the meaning-making and thinking of it in a ceremonial way makes a difference. Coming in with a sense of preparation for the experience itself — during and afterward — has really great value.”
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