History of Microdosing

While the term microdosing is relatively new, the practice of working with very small amounts of plant and fungal medicines has existed across cultures for thousands of years. Many Indigenous and ancestral traditions have long understood that subtle, repeated exposure rather than overwhelming doses can support awareness, balance, and integration into daily life.

Early Human History & Psychedelic Theory

One of the most widely discussed theories connecting psychedelics and human evolution was proposed by ethnobotanist and philosopher Terence McKenna, often referred to as the “Stoned Ape” theory. While speculative and not accepted as established science, the theory offers a thought-provoking lens on humanity’s long-standing relationship with psilocybin mushrooms.

McKenna suggested that as early humans adapted to environmental changes moving from forested areas into open grasslands they may have encountered psilocybin-containing mushrooms growing naturally in their ecosystems. He theorized that regular, low-level exposure could have influenced perception, social bonding, and learning.

Some researchers have explored this idea further. In 1970, psychologist Roland Fischer conducted studies suggesting that low doses of psilocybin may temporarily enhance visual perception. In early human contexts, even slight improvements in visual acuity, awareness, or pattern recognition could have supported survival activities such as hunting, gathering, and predator detection.

While these ideas remain theoretical, they point to a possible long-standing symbiotic relationship between humans and psilocybin fungi one rooted not in escapism, but in adaptation, awareness, and connection to the natural environment.

A Living Relationship, Not a New Trend

At Mothers of the Mycelium, we honor this history with humility. We do not present microdosing as a miracle, nor do we claim definitive evolutionary outcomes. Instead, we recognize microdosing as part of a much older conversation between humans and the fungal world one that modern science is only beginning to explore.

For mothers today, this history invites a deeper reflection:

How might gentle, intentional practices rooted in education, respect, and sovereignty support awareness, resilience, and reconnection in modern life?

The First Wave: Indigenous Cultures

While theories like the “Stoned Ape” hypothesis remain unproven, what is widely recognized is that psychoactive plants and fungi naturally occur across nearly every region of the world. For many Indigenous cultures, these substances were not “discovered” as tools for experimentation, but understood as part of the living landscape teachers within the natural world.

Across generations, Indigenous communities developed ceremonial, medicinal, and spiritual relationships with plants and fungi, guided by lineage knowledge and cultural protocols. These practices were often stewarded by a healer, medicine person, or spiritual leader sometimes referred to as a shaman who served both the physical and spiritual well-being of the community.

In parts of South and Mesoamerica, healers known as curanderas/os or vegetalistas have traditionally worked with psychoactive plants and fungi as a way to access insight, healing, and guidance. Many Indigenous cosmologies understand these medicines as carrying spirit, intelligence, or ancestral memory and that connection can occur through both ceremonial doses and more subtle, low-dose engagements.

Psychedelics, Creativity & Human Performance

In the mid-20th century, researchers began exploring how psychedelic substances might influence creativity, cognition, and problem-solving. One of the most frequently referenced early studies was conducted in 1966 by a research team led by psychologist Dr. James Fadiman, examining how psychedelic experiences impacted creative professionals.

In this study, participants including engineers, architects, scientists, and designers were invited to work on real-world professional challenges after consuming a full psychedelic dose (not a microdose). Many participants reported enhanced perspective, creative insight, and novel approaches to complex problems, with several solutions later being accepted or implemented in their professional fields.

While this research did not involve microdosing as we define it today, it helped spark long-standing interest in how psychedelic substances may influence cognitive flexibility, imagination, and perception.

Reported Shifts in Creative & Cognitive Processing

Participants in early psychedelic research described a range of subjective experiences related to performance and creativity, including:

Reduced fear and self-imposed limitations
Greater ability to view challenges within a broader context
Increased idea generation and imaginative thinking
Improved concentration and sustained engagement
Enhanced ability to visualize solutions
Greater empathy for systems, processes, and people
Increased motivation to complete complex tasks

These reports suggested that psychedelic experiences might temporarily shift habitual patterns of thinking, allowing access to new perspectives.

A Pause in Research and Its Lasting Impact

Shortly after these early studies, widespread regulatory bans halted nearly all scientific research into psychedelic substances for decades. As a result, deeper investigation into creativity, cognition, and long-term effects was paused until renewed interest emerged in the early 2000s.

Today, modern research is cautiously revisiting these questions particularly around low-dose, non-intoxicating approaches with greater ethical oversight, scientific rigor, and harm-reduction frameworks.

Why This Matters for Mothers Today

At Mothers of the Mycelium, we share this history not to promote performance enhancement or productivity culture, but to illustrate a broader truth: the mind is capable of flexibility, adaptation, and renewal.

For mothers who often carry cognitive overload, emotional labor, and chronic stress modern microdosing education explores whether gentle, non-disruptive engagement with psilocybin may support clarity, presence, and emotional resilience when approached responsibly and within a supportive care ecosystem.

We emphasize that:

These early studies involved full doses, not microdoses
Research on microdosing is still emerging
Individual experiences vary widely
Education, intention, and integration are essential

Microdosing is not about maximizing output it is about supporting nervous system balance, emotional awareness, and sustainable well-being.