What is microdosing? Using psychedelic drugs in tiny amounts regularly enhances your mood and creativity, its proponents argue. What does the science say?

One in four people taking LSD or magic mushrooms now microdose to feel uplifted without experiencing hallucinations, a global survey found

However, an expert says more research is needed to ensure the safety of microdosing, ‘and see whether there’s some validity to the benefits people claim’

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The practice of microdosing tiny amounts of psychedelics has recently grown quite trendy. We take a look at its history. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 5:45pm, 5 Jun 2022

Psychedelic drug treatment is the latest Hollywood trend, with A-listers Seth Rogen, Miley Cyrus, Susan Sarandon and Harry Styles all talking openly about their experiences with LSD and magic mushrooms.

Recent Netflix documentary series Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics and Hulu original series Nine Perfect Strangers have also helped to bring the world of psychedelics into mainstream culture for the first time in half a century.

A recent report from the UK-based independent research company Global Drug Survey found an increase in people taking psychedelics for medicinal – rather than recreational – purposes, while the demand for psychedelic-assisted therapy is rising.

Hong Kong psychologist WaiFung Tsang has been part of a team looking at the use of psychedelic plants from the Amazon in South America to reduce anxiety and treat mental health issues.

Miley Cyrus at 2022 NBCUniversal Upfront in New York in May. The singer has spoken about her use of psychedelic drugs. Photo: Getty Images

A growing sub-trend within this culture is microdosing, the ingestion of tiny amounts of psychedelics (around one-20th to one-10th of a recreational dose) on a regular basis.

American comedian Chelsea Handler, who travelled to Peru to experiment with ayahuasca as part of her 2016 docuseries Chelsea Does, has described microdosing as a “game changer”. Handler claims she takes small amounts of psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) every day because it puts her in a good mood and keeps her upbeat.

What is microdosing? Using psychedelic drugs in tiny amounts regularly enhances your mood and creativity, its proponents argue. What does the science say?

One in four people taking LSD or magic mushrooms now microdose to feel uplifted without experiencing hallucinations, a global survey found However, an expert says more research is needed to ensure the safety of microdosing, ‘and see whether there’s some validity to the benefits people claim’

One in four people taking LSD or magic mushrooms now microdose to feel uplifted without experiencing hallucinations, a global survey found

However, an expert says more research is needed to ensure the safety of microdosing, ‘and see whether there’s some validity to the benefits people claim’