The next Oneironauticum is Sunday, January 24
The next Oneironauticum is Sunday, January 24. For this session, we’ll be working with 5-HTP (short for 5-Hydroxytryptophan), a supplement derived from West African Griffonia plant seeds, available in most health food stores or vitamin sections of supermarkets.
5-HTP has oneiric properties because it is involved in the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of sleep. Serotonin is also involved in the regulation of mood. Many anti-depression drugs (e.g. Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft) function by increasing serotonin levels in the body.
Commercially available 5-HTP usually comes in dosages of either 50 or 100 mg per capsule. Interestingly, given its relationship to serotonin, some people report that the vivid dreams produced by 5-HTP can slip into nightmare at high dosage. Others report intestinal or stomach upset, particularly if taken on an empty stomach. Unless you are already familiar with your preferred dosage of 5-HTP, offset these possibilities by ingesting a single 50 or 100 mg capsule with food in your stomach.
As always, anyone is invited to participate remotely, joining our world-wide network of dreamers who go to sleep with the common intention of incubating vivid dreams by using the same oneirogen. To participate remotely, take a capsule of 5-HTP on the night of January 24 before bed, or simply go to sleep with the intention to join us in our group dreaming experience. Anyone who participates, either in person or remotely, is welcome to post their dream experiences to this blog.