What is Microdosing?
What is Microdosing?
Microdosing is the act of consuming sub-perceptual amounts of psychedelics – most commonly LSD, but also substitutes like Psilacetin (4-ACO-DMT) or 1P-LSD. Sub-perceptual means the effects are subtle but can have a noticeable influence on your life.
Typically, individuals integrate sub-perceptual doses into their weekly routine. Microdosers often report higher levels of creativity, more energy, increased focus, and improved relational skills. Many people microdose in order to treat depression or anxiety, with often remarkable results. Some enthusiasts also report that microdosing helps to heighten spiritual awareness and enhance all five senses.
The History of Microdosing
The deeper history of microdosing in ancient cultures is contested, with disagreement among researchers on just how prevalent it was. One theory, known as the stoned ape theory, attributes the growth of the modern human brain to the consumption of mushrooms almost two million years ago. And, it is believed that ancient cultures such as the Aztecs used low doses for various purposes.
In more recent times, the story of microdosing as we know it begins with James Fadiman, Ph.D., and his 2011 book, The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide: Safe, Therapeutic, and Sacred Journeys, which explores microdosing as a subculture of psychedelic use. In 2015, Fadiman gave a podcast interview with the entrepreneur and author of The 4-Hour Work Week, Tim Ferriss, which introduced microdosing to thousands of his fans and attracted mainstream journalists’ attention.
Currently microdosing has hundreds of thousands of proponents worldwide—the r/microdosing subreddit alone has almost 150,000 users. No longer limited to Silicon Valley biohackers, people from all walks of life use microdosing to improve their mental health, creativity, and well-being.
