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DMT

Category: Medicines

Type

Involuntary and voluntary

Introduction and description

N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a naturally occurring chemical of the tryptamine family. It is found not only in several plants, but also in trace amounts in humans and other mammals, where it is originally derived from the essential amino acid tryptophan, and ultimately produced by the enzyme INMT during normal metabolism.

The amount we have is tiny, few of the analytical methods used to measure levels of endogenously formed DMT prior to about 2001, had enough sensitivity and selectivity to produce reliable results, but if there is any endogenous DMT in our bodies it seems to be mostly in the kidney, lung and lumbar regions and, of especial interest, in the cerebrospinal fluid.

“There has been speculation that DMT may play a role in mediating the visual effects of natural dreaming, and also near-death experiences. But practically speaking, the natural function of its widespread presence remains undetermined”.

Structurally, DMT is similar to the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) and the hormone melatonin.

DMT is classified as a Schedule I drug under the UN 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, meaning that use of DMT is supposed to be restricted to scientific research and medical use and international trade in DMT is supposed to be closely monitored. Natural materials containing DMT, however, are explicitly not regulated under the 1971 Psychotropic Convention.

Thus in the now familiar pattern we have seen with many of the chemicals on this site, it is illegal to use it 'recreationally' but legal to use it medically.

Background

Use and discovery

Many older shamanic cultures have used DMT in its plant based form for hundreds if not thousands of years. DMT is one of the constituents of Ayahuasca, for example, an Amazonian Amerindian brew 'employed for divinatory and healing purposes.' Pharmacologically, Ayahuasca combines DMT containing plants with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) containing plant or plants. There are a variety of recipes for Ayahuasca, but most commonly it is simply the leaves of Psychotria viridis (the source of DMT) and the vine Banisteriopsis caapi (the source of MAOI).

DMT is not the same as Ayahuasca, which has extremely positive medicineal use in helping thos e with depression and addicitive illnesses. DMT has none of these capabilities. For more details follow the LINK.

DMT was first synthesized in 1931 by Canadian chemist Richard Manske (1901–1977). Its discovery as a natural product is generally credited to Brazilian chemist and microbiologist Oswaldo Gonçalves de Lima (1908–1989) who, in 1946, isolated the chemical from the root bark of jurema preta, i.e. Mimosa tenuiflora. Since then DMT has been found in at least 50 other plant species and in at least 4 animal species.

In 1965 , for example, French pharmacologist Jacques Poisson isolated DMT in the leaves of the vine Diplopterys cabrerana. In 1970, the first identification of DMT in Psychotria viridis was made. These plants were already well known to the indigenous community, for example, P. viridis was used by Cashinahua Indians. DMT was found to be a minor alkaloid in snuff made from Virola bark resin. DMT was also found as a minor alkaloid in bark, pods, and beans of Anadenanthera peregrina and Anadenanthera colubrina used to make Yopo and Vilca snuff.

Psychological studies

The psychological effects of DMT were first studied scientifically by the Hungarian chemist and psychologist Dr. Stephen Szára who performed research with volunteers in the mid-1950s. Szára, who later worked for the US National Institutes of Health, had turned his attention to DMT after his order for LSD from the Swiss company Sandoz Laboratories was rejected on the grounds that the drug could be dangerous in the hands of a communist country. Szara discovered that DMT produced effects similar to LSD. The only difference was in duration. Whereas LSD typically lasts 8 to 10 hours, DMT lasted from 40 minute to 1 hour.

Further studies were made from about 1990 through to 1995, by the University of New Mexico psychiatrist Dr Rick Strassman [see observations]. In a September, 2009, interview with Examiner.com, Strassman described the effects on participants in the study:

"Subjectively, the most interesting results were that high doses of DMT seemed to allow the consciousness of our volunteers to enter into non-corporeal, free-standing, independent realms of existence inhabited by beings of light who oftentimes were expecting the volunteers, and with whom the volunteers interacted. While “typical” near-death [sic] and mystical states occurred, they were relatively rare."

Please note he did not say near death like experiences, which makes the comment rather interesting, if true.

Strassman also noted some other effects "Dimethyltryptamine elevated blood pressure, heart rate, pupil diameter, and rectal temperature, in addition to elevating blood concentrations of beta-endorphin, corticotropin, cortisol, and prolactin. Growth hormone blood levels rose equally in response to all doses of DMT, and melatonin levels were unaffected."

The chemicals he mentions are nearly all stress related neurotransmitters – those released at times of great fear and danger.

Legal issues

In December 2004, the USA Supreme Court allowed the Brazil-based União do Vegetal (UDV) church to use a decoction containing DMT in their Christmas services that year. This decoction is a "tea" made from boiled leaves and vines, known as hoasca within the UDV, and ayahuasca in different cultures. In Gonzales v. O Centro Espirita Beneficente Uniao do Vegetal, the Supreme Court heard arguments on November 1, 2005 and unanimously ruled in February 2006 that the U.S. federal government must allow the UDV to import and consume the tea for religious ceremonies under the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

In September, 2008, the three Santo Daime churches filed suit in federal court to gain legal status to import DMT-containing ayahuasca tea. The case, Church of the Holy Light of the Queen v. Mukasey, presided over by Judge Owen M. Panner, was ruled in favor of the Santo Daime church. As of March 21, 2009 a federal judge said members of the church in Ashland can import, distribute and brew ayahuasca. U.S. District Judge Owen Panner issued a permanent injunction barring the government from prohibiting or penalizing the sacramental use of "Daime tea." Panner's order said activities of The Church of the Holy Light of the Queen are legal and protected under freedom of religion. His order prohibits the federal government from interfering with and prosecuting church members who follow a list of regulations set out in his order.

Other plants and sources [source Rasch]

Acacia - a very very large number of acacias contain DMT and also other tryptamines. The bark of acacias including the Acacia maidenii (Maiden's Wattle), Acacia phlebophylla, and many many other Acacias, most commonly found in Australia contain DMT in varying quantities
Arundo donax - the dried rhizome with the stem removed has been found to contain 0.0057% DMT, 0.026% bufotenine, 0.0023% 5-MeO-MMT The flowers are also known to have DMT and the 5-methoxylated N-demethylated analogue, also 5-MeO-DMT. Possibly also Tetrahydroharman.
The plant is a tall perennial cane growing in damp soils, either fresh or moderately saline. Other common names include Carrizo, Arundo, Spanish cane, Wild cane, and Giant reed. It is native to eastern and southern Asia, and parts of Africa and southern Arabic Peninsula. It has been widely planted and naturalised in the mild temperate, subtropical and tropical regions of both hemispheres, especially in the Mediterranean, California, the western Pacific and the Caribbean. It forms dense stands on disturbed sites, sand dunes, in wetlands and riparian habitats. Overall, it resembles an outsize common reed (Phragmites australis) or a bamboo (Subfamily Bambusoideae).

Studies have found this plant to be rich in active tryptamine compounds, but there are more indications of the plants in India having these compounds than in the United States. Toxins such as bufotenidine and gramine have also been found.
Banisteriopsis argentea - according to one source, also contains harmine
Delosperma - Very many of the species contains DMT and 5-Me-DMT in the leaves and branches. The common name is the ‘ice plant’. see also Mesembryanthum. Delosperma cooperi, for example, ( Mesembryanthemum cooperi; common names Trailing Iceplant or "Pink Carpet") is a dwarf perennial plant, native to South Africa. It forms a dense lawn with abundant, long-lasting flowering. It will reach sizes of approximately 10-15 cm tall, with fleshy leaves and a trailing stem that hangs down.
Desmanthus illinoensis (commonly known as Illinois bundleflower, prairie-mimosa or prickleweed) has been found to contain N,N-DMT, NMT, N-hydroxy-N-methyltryptamine, 2-hydroxy-N-methyltryptamine, and gramine [which is toxic].

Another variety of Desmanthus also contains DMT. Whilst Desmanthus illinoensis: contains 0% - 0.34% DMT in root bark, Desmanthus leptolobus: contains 0.14% DMT in root bark,
Desmodium is a genus in the flowering plant family Fabaceae, there are about seven to eight known to contain DMT. Desmodium is sometimes called tick-trefoil, tick clover or beggar lice. There are dozens of species and the delimitation of the genus has shifted much over time.
Diplopterys cabrerana - Diplopterys cabrerana (syn. Banisteriopsis rusbyana) is a South American rainforest vine, commonly known as Chaliponga, Chagropanga and, in parts of Ecuador, Chacruna. It is found in the Amazonian lowlands of Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Chaliponga is a common admixture of the entheogenic tea Ayahuasca, and is rich in tryptamines such as DMT and 5-MeO-DMT
Eriogonum: - Eriogonum is the scientific name for a genus of flowering plants, in the family Polygonaceae. The genus is found in North America and is known as Wild Buckwheat. “Within the Polygonaceae, Eriogonum species have been reported to contain DMT. Ott 1994”. [note that this is disputed in some sites]
Lespedeza is a genus of about 30 species of flowering plants in the pea family Fabaceae of which three are known to contain DMT. Lespedeza is commonly known as Bush clover or Japanese clover. The genus is native to warm temperate to subtropical regions of eastern North America, eastern and southern Asia and Australasia.
Mimosa - Mimosa tenuiflora (Jurema, Tepezcohuite) is a perennial evergreen tree or shrub native to the northeastern region of Brazil (Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte, Ceará, Pernambuco, Bahia) and found as far north as southern Mexico (Oaxaca and coast of Chiapas). It is most often found in lower altitudes, but it can be found as high as 1000 m. Mimosa tenuiflora is known as Jurema, Jurema Preta, Black Jurema, and Vinho de Jurema. At least two other mimosas also contain DMT – scabrella and verrucosa.
Mesembryanthum spp – only some contain DMT. They also contain mesembrine. Fig marigold or Icicle plant is a name for any of several South African taxa of Mesembryanthemum which are cultivated as ornamental plants for their showy pink or white flowers. "Pebble plant" or "Ice plant" are other but rather ambiguous common names, usually referring to other Aizoaceae.

Mesembryanthemum crystallinum
Mucuna pruriens – also contains 5-MeO-DMT and bufotenine
Osteophloeum platyspermum - also contains 5-MeO-DMT
Pandanus/Screw Pine: DMT in nuts. Pandanus is a genus of monocots with about 600 known species. Plants vary in size from small shrubs less than 1 metre (3.3 ft) tall, up to medium-sized trees 20 metres (66 ft) tall. The fruit is eaten by a large range of animals.
Petalostylis family Known as the Butterfly Bush and native to Australia. Petalostylis is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. It is reported to contain: N,N-dimethyltryptamine, N-methyltryptamine, tetrahydroharman and tryptamine (Willaman and Li, 1970). All compounds were found in the seeds and/or the leaves. Petalostylis species are also mentioned in Shulgin & Shulgin (1997) and Ratsch (2005). Shulgin mentions P. cassioides to contain 0.5% alkaloids, mostly tryptamines including DMT, with tetrahydroharman present in leaves and stems (TIHKAL 1997). Crushed seed pods give off a strong tryptamine smell in winter.
Psychotria - Psychotria viridis is a shrub from the coffee family, Rubiaceae. It has many local names, including Chacruna and Chacrona. Ayahuasca - contains DMT and an MAOI, commonly Banisteriopsis caapi with Psychotria viridis. The Rubiaceae family of plants has many more DMT containing plants.
Phalaris is a genus of grasses. Various species of Phalaris grow on every continent except Antarctica.. Phalaris arundinacea and Phalaris aquatica, as well as Phalaris brachystachys, are known to contain the alkaloids N,N-DMT , 5-MeO-DMT, and 5-OH-DMT. Note that “None of the above alkaloids are said to have been found in P. californica, P. canariensis, P. minor and hybrids of P. arundinacea”.
Phragmites australis - Phragmites, the Common reed, is a large perennial grass found in wetlands throughout temperate and tropical regions of the world. It has DMT in roots
Phyllodium pulchellum
Punica granatum: the common name of punica granatum is the pomegranate. Native to the drier regions of the Mediterranean Basin, pomegranate is widely cultivated throughout India and parts of southeast Asia, Malaya, the East Indies and tropical Africa Introduced into Latin America and California by Spanish settlers in 1769, pomegranate is now cultivated in parts of California and Arizona for juice production. DMT is found in the root cortex. The dried stem and root bark of the tree contain about 0.4-0.9% alkaloids. No one appears to have tested the fruit
Testulea gabonensis - is a species of plant in the Ochnaceae family. It is found in Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon.
Vepris ampody: Found in Madagascar and part of a wider and little researched genus Up to 0.2% DMT in leaves and branches
Various Virola species have DMT in the leaves - calophylla: callophylloidea: caliganata; carinata: cuspidata: divergens: elongata, melinonii: multinerva, pavonis: peruviana, rufula, sebifera: surinamensis: theiodora, venusa
Zanthoxylum - both Zanthoxylum procerum and arborescens contain DMT in their leaves and bark – see also Sichuan pepper.

Method

I am not going to provide you with a detailed description of how to use this drug, but I think it helps to have some background on how it has been used, so that you are able to understand the observations.
Pure DMT is most often found in crystal form It has been smoked, inhaled and injected [intramuscular (IM) injection and intravenous (IV) administration ].

Duration from smoked DMT – source EROWID

DMT is generally not active orally unless it is combined with an MAOI, the body quickly metabolizes orally administered DMT, and it therefore has no effect [unless the dose exceeds monoamine oxidase's metabolic capacity]. If taken orally, MAOIs have to be used with extreme caution as they have been found to have lethal complications with some prescription drugs such as SSRI antidepressants, some over-the-counter drugs, and a number of common foods. South Americans fast for long periods before taking ayahuasca.
Depending on the dose, “its subjective effects can range from short-lived mild experiences to powerful immersive experiences, which include a total loss of connection to conventional reality, which may be so extreme that it becomes ineffable. Psychologically, the DMT experience can be overly-intense, potentially causing overwhelming fear and difficulty integrating experiences, if one is not mentally prepared.” [Wikipedia's words not mine]

How it works

Physically - According to Wikipedia “DMT binds non-selectively with affinities < 0.6 μM to a number of serotonin receptors, it is worth noting that chronic or frequent uses of serotonergic drugs have been causally linked to valvular heart disease. The following serotonin receptors are known:

5-HT1A - agonist

5-HT1B – unkown action

5-HT1D – unknown action

5-HT2A Agonist

5-HT2B – unknown action

5-HT2C Agonist

5-HT6 – unknown action

and 5-HT7 unknown action

It has also been shown to possess affinity for the dopamine D1, α1-adrenergic, α2-adrenergic, imidazoline-1, sigma-1 (σ1), and trace amine-associated receptors.”

This is the hardware view. To make sense of the experience we need a software view.

Logically – DMT at the doses mentionned is probably regarded by the body as a major threat and one which compromises its own DMT balance. Thus the will is likely to indeed perform the early stages of a near death like experience in which memory and reason are subjugated and the will lets the autonomic system fight for its survival. As the will lets go, the composer steps in. I Have included the following assessment, as it may prove helpful

From 'An Open Letter to Dr Timothy Leary” by the Rt Rev Michael Francis Itken
I have recently done a great deal of research and study on this matter and I find that neither DMT or DET are truly psychedelics, nor for that matter even true hallucinogenic agents in the general usage of those terms. Rather, both DMT and DET are deliriants that is the effects they achieve are obtained by subjecting the body to a state of delirium similar to that which might accompany a fever of 105 degrees. The degree wrought to the physical center is commensurate with the physical conditions accompanying a 105 degree fever. In addition, I am sure you have observed the temporarily ruptured blood vessels in the eyes of those who have used DMT or DET with great frequency. Consider then, what these same deliriants must do to the same blood vessels throughout the intestinal tract, to the tissues of the liver, to the brain cells and perhaps most clearly possible and defined, to the heart – particularly the aorta.

The reason that DMT does not last as long as LSD is that as a threat, the body has at least some armoury [if it is indeed endogenous] to cope with an overdose. With LSD, it does not.

References and further reading

http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/dmt/dmt.shtml
Christian Rasch – Encyclopaedia of Psychedelic plants
DMT at Fifty - Szara S ; Neuropsychopharmacologia Hungarica 2007. december, IX. évfolyam 4. szám [translated version]
Drug Test Anal. 2012 Jul-Aug;4(7-8):617-35. doi: 10.1002/dta.422. Epub 2012 Feb 28. A critical review of reports of endogenous psychedelic N, N-dimethyltryptamines in humans: 1955-2010.
Barker SA, McIlhenny EH, Strassman R Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70806, USA. sbarker@vetmed.lsu.edu
Behav Brain Res. 1996;73(1-2):121-4. Human psychopharmacology of N,N-dimethyltryptamine. Strassman RJ Department of Psychiatry, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque 87131-5326, USA

Related observations

Psychedelic N,N-dimethyltryptamine and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine modulate innate and adaptive inflammatory responses through the sigma-1 receptor of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells 017412

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Introduction and description