(ETX Studio) – First used in Silicon Valley, microdosing today appeals to creative profiles in France in search of inspiration and productivity. What is microdosing and does it work? We asked tech artist Aurélien Fache to explain the effects of his consumption of psilocybin, the active substance in hallucinogenic mushrooms.
“I even advised my mother!” Aurélien Fache is a 42-year-old Parisian dad. He is both an artist and a developer. He was particularly illustrated by his performance “in bed with Thomas Pesquet” in 2017. The artist had succeeded in synchronizing sextoys with the passages of the ISS above the earth, making them vibrate in rhythm. What this artist recommended to his mother has nothing to do with a scent of ice or a brand of jam, but with the consumption of drugs in small quantities, the microdosing of psychoactive substances.
Whoever describes himself as a “tech creative” has been interested in microdosing for over a year. This method involves taking psychedelics – psilocybin via hallucinogenic mushrooms or LSD – in mini doses to activate parts of the brain that are normally at rest. The goal ? Act on our state of consciousness and modify it. In short, to be more efficient and more creative, without completely getting high.
Shrooms and protocol
“I did a lot of documentation before starting microdosing”, explains Aurélien Fache. No way for him to take the experience lightly. So that the effects are both optimum and controlled, the artist scrupulously respects James Fadiman’s protocol. This psychologist published in 2012 “The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide: A Safe, Therapeutic and Sacred Journey” (“The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide : Safe, Therapeutic, and Sacred JourneyThe author states that the use of low doses of LSD “improves cognitive functioning, emotional balance and physical endurance.” He recommends a dose ten times lower than a normal intake, and over a period of time. not exceeding the month and a half.
Rules followed to the letter by Aurélien. “I take one gram for each dose. Be careful, this is the weight of the plant, not the substance contained in the fungus. This is the dose that suits me, but it’s different for everyone.” This small amount of psychotropic drug is enough for Aurélien to alter his consciousness, while continuing his daily activities, and in particular work.
For a month, Aurélien took a micro dose every three days. “You have the effect on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday you do not take it, otherwise your body is saturated and it no longer has an effect,” he explains. And this rather special treatment does not exceed the duration recommended by Fadiman either: six weeks.
The artist is delivered at home via a site which has “storefront”. “Some people decide to grow their mushrooms themselves, I don’t.” For 14 euros, Aurélien receives 6 doses of one gram. A completely illegal practice in France, but which does not prevent Aurélien from receiving his packaged package in a week.
Psychological and physical boost
The reasons that prompted the artist to test microdosing were primarily about work. “I am passionate about augmented reality and new realities. I saw in microdosing a bridge between immersive tech and psychedelic drugs. For me, it is one reality among others.” The dad of a three-year-old boy didn’t want to try too “hard” experiences like a normal dose of LSD, ayahuasca or mescaline that would require more preparation, and isolate himself for several days.
Positive effects were quickly felt. “At first, I didn’t really know what to expect. And very quickly, I saw that it calmed me down. I who smoked firecrackers almost every day, I stopped after a week, in same time as the alcohol I had mundane. “
The Parisian felt a “psychological and physical boost” and a markedly improved concentration. “I tended to have dark clouds and a lot of anxiety. In a few days my mind cleared and the clouds cleared. I was much better about myself. My thoughts were much smoother. speak more, and more quickly. I am more present “.
It is, according to him, the dissipation of anxiety that has improved the quality of his work. On the other hand, Aurélien subscribes to the belief that psilocybin makes you more creative. “It didn’t make me more creative, but more focused. And I found the motivation to come up with my ideas.”
A micro consumption to be taken with a grain of salt
While some are already seeing the advent of “corporate shamans”, a kind of spiritual guides in companies, who improve the well-being of employees, microdosing remains risky. On the one hand, the scientific study and monitoring of the phenomenon remains timid for the moment. And the results are mixed. For example, a 2019 study (“Psychedelic microdosing benefits and challenges: an empirical codebook“) reveals that 26.6% of respondents saw their mood improve with microdosing and 14% improved their concentration. However, these results should be taken with a grain of salt. Indeed, 18% also felt the physiological discomfort and 6.7% saw their anxiety skyrocket.On the other hand, drug consumption, regardless of the degree of the dose, is a prohibited practice in France.
In short, the microdose dispenser next to the coffee machine is not for now.
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