hormesis

noun

hor·​me·​sis hȯr-ˈmē-səs 

: a theoretical phenomenon of dose-response relationships in which something (as a heavy metal or ionizing radiation) that produces harmful biological effects at moderate to high doses may produce beneficial effects at low doses

Others argue that tiny doses of radiation are not harmful. Some scientists even claim that low doses, by stimulating DNA repair, make you healthier—an effect known as hormesis.

—Dennis Normile, Science

hormetic

-ˈmet-ik 

adjective