A microdose is a tiny dose of a substance that can lead to big changes.

Though the most popular choices are psilocybin mushrooms and LSD, there are many options when it comes to microdosing. This practice involves taking a small fraction of a “standard” dose with the intention of receiving sub-perceptual or barely perceptual effects.

Different substances and even different varieties of mushrooms can have different effects. Results can vary between individual circumstances, though many people report improvement in mood and a greater sense of well-being among a variety of other benefits.

“Indigenous cultures have known about and used sub-perceptual doses of different psychedelics for centuries.”

-James Fadiman, Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide

Researchers are now suggesting that microdosing has been more deeply ingrained in human history for much longer than has previously been acknowledged. It is safe to assume that if our ancestors were consuming large doses of plants, cacti and fungi over the course of tens of thousands of years that they were also experimenting with small to medium doses and exploring the negatives or positives benefits of those doses. 

THE STONED APE THEORY

The first to suggest that low doses of psilocybin played a part in human evolution was Terence McKenna. In his 1992 book, Food of the Gods, he put forth the theory that our early ancestors, Homo Erectus, were consuming psilocybe cubensis as part of their diet as they came out of the canopy and into the African plains to track wild game. According to his theory, the addition of psilocybe cubensis to the diet of Homo Erectus eventually doubled the size of our brains in 200,000 years turning us into Homo Sapiens. McKenna believed this transition happened around 100,000 BCE when Homo Erectus split and when tracking wild game, our ancestors would have been using animal scat to track their prey. Psilocybe cubensis grows from the dung. McKenna suggested that low doses of psilocybin enhance visual acuity, especially edge detection, hunting, the building of weapons, development of language and a more empathetic, sexually productive community that survived while other clans did not.

PSYCHEDELIC MUSHROOMS THROUGHOUT HUMAN HISTORY

The oldest known cave paintings depicting the use of psychedelic mushrooms are said to be between 9,000 BC and 7,000 BC and were found in Algiers, north Africa in 1910, and then again in the 1930’s, and the 1960’s. The US Forest service states that the cave paintings in Algiers are “the oldest known petroglyph depicting the use of psychoactive mushrooms,” and “the mushrooms depicted on the mushroom shaman are Psilocybe mushrooms.”

In a 2011 paper titled, “Pre-historic Cave Art in Spain Depicting Neurotropic Psilocybe Mushrooms?” authors Brian Akers, Juan Francisco Ruiz, Alan Piper and Carl P. Ruck hypothesized the origins of the Selva Pascuala mural, a work of post-Paleolithic rock art. 

According to the authors, ‘The Selva Pascuala mural contains fungoid figures herein hypothesized to depict neurotropic fungi, especially Psilocybe hispanica, a species that occurs in a neighboring region. This hypothesis is based on features of these figures related to fungal morphology, along with ethnographic analogy, and shamanistic explanations of rock art. If correct, this interpretation would support inference of prehistoric utilization of this fungus in the region. The mural represents the first direct evidence for possible ritual use of Psilocybe in prehistoric Europe.

The ancient Egyptians created a large number of hieroglyphic depictions of hallucinogenic mushrooms throughout their intricate temples.

Another interesting twist is that the Egyptian Book of the Dead refers to mushrooms as “the flesh of the gods” or “celestial food”. Half a world away and hundreds of years later the Aztec population throughout Central America also referred to psilocybe mushrooms as Teonatcl or “Flesh of the Gods.”

The use of psilocybin mushrooms in Mexico went underground from the time of the Spanish Conquest of the Aztec in 1521 til one brave curandera named Maria Sabina shared the sacred tradition with R. Gordon Wasson in Oaxaca Mexico in 1955. The Spanish who first reported ceremonial mushroom use in Mexico in the 1500‘s were able to use murder and genocide to drive mushroom use under ground and out of sight of white and foreign eyes until four hundred and fifty years later.

STIMULANT-LIKE EFFECTS

Evidence is emerging that demonstrates microdosing has been used throughout history for its stimulant-like effects. The Tarahumara Indians of Mexico remain unchanged in their tradition of ingesting small amounts of peyote to combat hunger, thirst and exhaustion especially when running and hunting.

Albert Hofmann, the creator of LSD, allegedly microdosed LSD a few times a month during his final years. Hofmann also reportedly said that microdosing was the most under-researched area in psychedelics, and that if Nixon had not made psychedelics illegal, that LSD and psilocybin in small doses could have replaced Ritalin and Adderall.

Join us in class to explore our ancestral roots and how this practice evolved into microdosing for our modern lives today. We will discuss how ancient practices caught the attention of modern researchers and began to gain traction in the public consciousness leading us to the psychedelic renaissance we are experiencing today. We will dive into the rebirth of modern microdosing, understanding the evolution of this sacred practice. We will unveil the history from the 1940’s with Albert Hoffman discovering sub-perceptual doses as a non-addictive stimulant, to the movement being reborn and ushered back into the world in 2010 with Dr. James Fadiman.

DIVE INTO A RABBIT HOLE OF MICRODOSING HISTORY WITH OUR

ADVANCED MICRODOSING CLASS

There were many seismic events and characters that led to the rediscovery of psychedelics in the early twentieth century. From Richard Evans Schultes days exploring plant medicines and fungi in the Amazon, to the synthesis of LSD-25 by Albert Hoffman, we will discuss the early involvement of the CIA in spreading LSD around the world, as well as the dark side of their experiments with LSD to find a truth serum. We will highlight characters that are rarely discussed in the history of LSD research like Captain Al Hubbard nicknamed the “Johnny Appleseed of LSD”, Sidney Gottlieb, Oscar Janiger, Humphrey Osmond, Aldous Huxley, Owsley Stanley, Ken Kesey and many more.

We will learn the untold history of microdosing and how the past can teach us practical applications to improve our present and future.

Microdosing is not one-method-fits-all.

When in doubt, start low and go slow!

Many factors can be used to determine a person’s ideal dose or “sweet spot,” including consideration of the substance, individual’s composition, reasons for microdosing, and desired protocol (schedule for microdosing).

Deciding where to start can be overwhelming. You don’t have to go it alone!

Join us to learn from trusted researchers in the field and get support from our community along the way.

We are committed to empowering you with everything you need to know about microdosing, from where to start to customizing your protocol.

Many times the question has been asked, are some psilocybin mushrooms better than others for microdosing?

We finally have answers!

Join us for the first-ever public discussion of ground-breaking findings covering which strains are most suitable for microdosing, its stimulant-like effects and differences between caps and stems.

You will learn from leading experts from the creators of the Psilocybin Cup and the first mushroom potency testing company. We will take a deep dive into the results of their studies and explain how different varieties of mushrooms have different effects.

BENEFITS OF MICRODOSING

There are many ways that microdosing can make a positive impact, though it is not a magic pill or instant cure.

We will walk you through the wide range of benefits of microdosing, while cultivating realistic expectations.

Reported benefits of microdosing include:

• Improved mental health

• Recovery from conditions such as depression and PTSD

• Relief from chronic pain

• Increased energy, creativity, and productivity

• Freedom from addictions and addictive behaviors

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES WITH MICRODOSING

In the Microdosing Movement Masterclass we address overcoming challenges, possible contraindications, and how to address any concerns that might arise during the microdosing experience.

We focus on not creating a culture of dependence, but rather a culture of independence.

Potential challenges when microdosing include:

• Finding the right dose and schedule

• Anxiety (often an indicator to lower the dose)

• Navigating unpleasant thoughts or feelings if they arise

We are here to resource you with the information you need to avoid the most common challenges with microdosing, setting you up for success with your experience and providing ongoing support through our active online community.

DISADVANTAGES OF MICRODOSING

Microdosing psychedelics is not always right for everyone or every situation.

We are committed to your safety and will present you with a thorough understanding of contraindications, concerns, and reasons why you might decide microdosing may not be the best choice for certain circumstances.

If you are looking for a documented list of known pharmaceutical interactions, visit microdosingpsychedelics.com.

By now you may have seen the headlines praising microdosing for relieving conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD, bringing incredible hope to those suffering from addiction and wishing to break free from dependency to pharmaceutical drugs.

You might be wondering if this practice could help you or a loved one heal.

From a compassionate and non-judgmental standpoint, we will present to you the latest information on microdosing to overcome these challenges.

In order to fully release any addictive pattern that no longer serves an individual, we will guide you through a process of understanding the root cause.

With an intention to help individuals break a life sentence of drug dependence, we are paving a path forward to self love.