DMT

N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (also known as DMT and "The Spirit Molecule") is a naturally-occurring psychedelic substance of the tryptamine class that produces uniquely powerful and short-lived psychedelic effects when administered.

Depending on the dosage and method of administration, the effects of DMT can range from mild psychedelic states to powerfully immersive life-altering experiences which are often described as the ultimate displacement from ordinary consciousness in which users are placed in a subjective state where they can experience exploring ineffable spiritual realms or alternate dimensions.

DMT is present in over 65 species of plants and has been identified as being a normal constituent of human metabolism and an endogenous neurotransmitter in certain rodents. Its presence is also known to be widespread throughout the plant kingdom. Although various theories have been postulated, its neurobiological function has yet to be determined.

In modern times, DMT is known as an extremely powerful visionary psychedelic entheogen that, when vaporized or smoked, produces short-lived effects with a very rapid onset that is sometimes described as an "impossibly high-speed rollercoaster ride." When ingested in combination with a MAOI or RIMA agent, it becomes active orally and significantly longer lasting, immersive, and interactive in nature: this combination is known as ayahuasca. Ayahuasca brews have been used traditionally in South America since at least around the year 1500.

Unlike most highly prohibited substances, DMT is not considered to be addictive or toxic by the scientific community. Nevertheless, unpredictable adverse reactions such as uncontrollable anxiety, delusions and psychosis can always occur, particularly among those predisposed to mental disorders. While these negative reactions or "bad trips" can often be attributed to user inexperience or improper preparation of set and setting, they have been known to happen spontaneously among even highly experienced users as well. It is therefore highly advised to approach this incredibly powerful and unpredictable hallucinogenic substance with the proper preparation and harm reduction practices if using it. 

DMT was first synthesized in 1931 by the German chemist Richard Helmuth Fredrick Manske. Its discovery as a natural product is generally credited to Brazilian chemist and microbiologist Oswaldo Gonçalves de Lima who, in 1946, isolated an alkaloid he named nigerina (nigerine) from the root bark of jurema preta (Mimosa tenuiflora). DMT was unequivocally identified in 1959, when American chemists were provided a sample of Mimosa tenuiflora. DMT was also isolated and formally identified in the seeds and pods of Anadenanthera peregrina by a team of American chemists led by Evan Horning in 1955.

Since 1955, DMT has been found in a host of organisms: in at least fifty plant species belonging to ten families, and in at least four animal species, including one gorgonian and three mammalian species. 

DMT, or N,N-dimethyltryptamine, is a naturally-occurring indole alkaloid molecule of the tryptamine class. Tryptamines share a core structure comprised of a bicyclic indole heterocycle attached at R3 to an amino group via an ethyl side chain. DMT contains two methyl groups (CH3-) bound to the terminal amine RN at the end of this chain. DMT has many homologs and analogs from base tryptamines like MET and DPT, to four and five position substituted variants such as 4-PO-DMT (Psilocybin), 4-AcO-DMT (Psilacetin), and 5-MeO-DMT. 

DMT's psychedelic effects are believed to come from its efficacy at the 5-HT2A receptor as a partial agonist. However, the role of these interactions and how they result in the psychedelic experience continues to remain elusive.

In addition to this, N,N-dimethyltrytamine is believed to be an endogenous ligand for the sigma receptor. However, the significance of the sigma-1 receptor remains the subject of ongoing scientific research.

DMT in its smokeable form is reported to be the least mentally inebriating psychedelic. It is due to a lack of perceived intoxication that many people describe DMT as a genuine experience that is actually happening to them. It is worth noting that many people report that smoked DMT is extremely clear-headed in its style and tends to produce less personal insight in comparison to orally active psychedelics such as ayahuasca, LSD and psilocybin due to its short-acting nature.

PHYSICAL EFFECTS

        SPONTANEOUS PHYSICAL SENSATIONS - The "body high" of DMT can be described as a pleasurable all-encompassing glow. It maintains a consistent presence that quickly rises with the onset and hits its limit once the peak has been reached. It is capable of becoming very powerful at higher doses and can remain for up to half an hour after the experience itself has ended.

            PHYSICAL EUPHORIA - It should be noted that this effect is not as reliably produced as it is with substances like stimulants or entactogens, and can just as easily manifest as extreme physical discomfort in certain contexts.

        CHANGES IN FELT GRAVITY - At higher breakthrough doses, physical feelings of being launched across vast distances at incredibly high speeds are commonly reported.

        NAUSEA - This effect is much less common than it is with 5-MeO-DMT as well as longer-lasting psychedelics like psilocybin mushrooms or mescaline. However, it can still manifest spontaneously and sometimes lead to sudden bouts of vomiting.

        SEIZURE - This is a very rare effect but is believed to happen in those who are predisposed to them, especially while in physically taxing conditions such as being dehydrated, fatigued or undernourished.

        PUPIL DILATION
INCREASED HEART RATE
    TEMPERATURE REGULATION SUPPRESSION
SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
CHANGES IN FELT BODILY FORM
     PHYSICAL AUTONAMY

COGNITVE EFFECTS

INCREASED MUSIC APPRECIATION - This typically occurs only at lower sub-breakthrough doses, and is not as prominent of an effect as it is with longer lasting psychedelics like LSD or psilocybin. Many people prefer to have their DMT experiences in complete silence, other than shutting out perceptual distractions this is often done to prevent a muddled or overwhelming experience.

        MINDFULNESS - This effect tends to occur after the experience has ended and the individual has returned to ordinary waking consciousness, to a sense of presence and sensitivity towards one's inner sensations as well as outer environment.

        MULTIPLE THOUGHT STREAMS - This effect tends to manifest in a much more chaotic fashion, in tandem with the sensation of cognitive overload.

REJUVINATION  - This effect tends to occur after the experience has ended and the subject has returned to ordinary waking consciousness, often in Near-Death Experience (NDE) variants of a DMT experience.

        TIME DISTORTION - This effect is a very prominent aspect of the DMT experience, which only tends to last under 15 minutes but is commonly reported to subjectively feel as if it had lasted much longer, in some cases "many lifetimes" or even an "eternity". This particular effect is most prevalent and notable with "breakthrough" experiences.

        AUTONOMOUS VOICE COMMUNICATION
    NOVELTY ENHANCEMENT

 PERSONAL BIAS SUPPRESSION
  MEMORY SUPPRESSION

       EGO DEATH
        COGNITIVE ENHANCEMENT
        ANALYSIS ENHANCEMENT
        ANXIETY
        DEJA VU
        DELUSION
        EGO REPLACEMENT
        EMOTION ENHANCEMENT
        COGNITIVE EUPHORIA

        FEELINGS OF IMPENDING DOOM

 VISUAL EFFECTS

        DRIFTING - (melting, breathing, morphing and flowing) - In comparison to other psychedelics, this effect can be described as highly detailed, slow and smooth in motion and static in its appearance.

        COLOUR REPLACEMENT
        COLOUR SHIFTING
        COLOUR TINTING
        TRACERS
        AFTER IMAGES
        RECURSION
        SCENERY SLICING
       SYMMETRICAL TEXTURE REPETITION
        ENVIRONMENTAL PATTERNING
    ENHANCEMENTS
        COLOUR ENHANCEMENTS
        PATTERN RECOGNITION ENHANCEMENT
        VISUAL ACUITY ENHANCEMENT
        MAGNIFICATION
    DISTORTIONS

AUDITORY EFFECTS

        ENHANCEMENTS - Enhancements of one's auditory acuity, often following the end of the experience, have been reported in clinical studies with intravenously-administered DMT.

DISTORTIONS

HALLUCINATIONS

MULTI-SENSORY EFFECTS

        SYNAESTHESIA - In its fullest manifestation, this is a very rare and non-reproducible effect. Increasing the dosage can increase the likelihood of this occurring, but seems to only be a prominent part of the experience among those who are already predisposed to synaesthetic states.

TRANSPERSONAL EFFECTS

    For a number of individuals these effects are consistently more reproducible and powerful with smoked or vaporized DMT than they are with other “classical psychedelics” such as LSD or mescaline, this is most likely due to its very intense but relatively short-lived effects. These components are unique to DMT in that for a majority of its users they are significantly more likely to manifest during "breakthrough" experiences as opposed to sub-breakthrough level experiences.

       SPIRITUALITY ENHANCEMENT
EXISTENTIAL SELF-REALIZATION
        PERCEPTION OF ETERNALISM
PERCEPTION OF SELF-DESIGN
        PERCEIVED EXPOSURE TO THE INNER MECHANICS OF CONSCIOUSNESS
UNITY AND CONNECTEDNESS

 GEOMETRY

The visual geometry that is present throughout this experience can be described as more similar in appearance to that of psilocin than LSD. It can be comprehensively described through its variations as intricate in complexity, abstract in form, equally organic and digital in feel, structured in organization, brightly lit, multicoloured in scheme, glossy in shading, equal in sharp and soft edges, large in size, fast in speed, smooth in motion, equal in rounded and angular corners, immersive in depth and consistent in its intensity.

The geometry present with smokeable DMT is considered by many to be the most profoundly intricate and complex set of visual geometry found within the entirety of the psychedelic experience. In comparison to orally active DMT (ayahuasca), it is significantly more digital in appearance and contains a colour scheme which is similar to LSD and a structured style that resembles a high dose of psilocin (4-HO-DMT).

HALLUCINATORY STATES

DMT produces a full range of high level hallucinatory states in a fashion that is more consistent and reproducible than that of any other commonly used psychedelic. These effects include:

    INTERNAL HALLUCINATION (autonomous entities; settings, sceneries, and landscapes; perspective hallucinations and scenarios and plots) - DMT produces high level internal hallucinations at appropriate doses more consistently than that of any other psychedelic. They are more common within dark environments and can be comprehensively described through their variations as lucid in believability, interactive in style, new experiences in content, autonomous in controllability, geometry-based in style and almost exclusively of a personal, religious, spiritual, science-fiction, fantasy, surreal, nonsensical or transcendental nature in their overall theme.

    EXTERNAL HALLUCINATIONS (autonomous entities; settings, sceneries, and landscapes; perspective hallucinations and scenarios and plots) - These are more common within dark environments and can be comprehensively described through their variations as lucid in believability, interactive in style, new experiences in content, autonomous in controllability, geometry-based in style and almost exclusively of a personal, religious, spiritual, science-fiction, fantasy, surreal, nonsensical or transcendental nature in their overall theme.

   MACHINESCAPES

TRANSFORMATIONS

PROGRESSIVE STAGES

When smoked or vaporized at moderate to heavy dosages, the DMT experience consistently manifests itself in a progressive sequence which can be described as follows:

1. "BREAKING THROUGH"

The first step of a DMT trip is the come up that leads onto an experience commonly referred to as "breaking through." This seems to have at least a few different ways of presenting itself to the user.
The first thing that a person notices is an extremely distinct set of visual enhancements such an increase in visual acuity and colour intensity. This is followed by a sudden onset of high level 3 geometry which increases in its intensity until it envelopes and covers the external environment. These effects are often accompanied by auditory hallucinations such as soft crackling sounds or high pitched extended tones. There is also the possibility of accompanying physical sensations as one "breaks through." These can include feelings of suddenly being pushed through and onto the other side of a membrane or feelings of shooting through space at high speeds.

2. "THE WAITING ROOM"

Almost immediately after a person has inhaled enough DMT to have "broken through", they often find themselves spending a brief amount of time in what is sometimes described as a psychedelic "waiting room" or "loading screen." The appearance of this space can assume a seemingly infinite variety of forms but generally appears in the shape of an enveloping tunnel comprised of rapidly shifting, interlocking geometry. This lasts approximately 10 – 20 seconds and feels qualitatively different from other stages of the experience.

3. "THE OTHER SIDE"

Once the waiting period is over, the user will feel that they have "broken through" onto the other side. It is here where users experience intense level 7 geometry and level 3 - 4 internal hallucinations. It is worth noting that although experiences vary between individuals, DMT trips often follow common archetypes, scenarios, content, and plots. These scenarios generally consist of visiting what appears to be an alternate reality that is often described to contain autonomous entities, settings, sceneries, and landscapes as well as themes of a cosmic, transcendental, or transpersonal nature.

4. "DRIFTING DOWN"

The final stage is experienced as the sensation of being pulled further and further away from the scenario until it is no longer visible and one finds themselves back in reality. This is typically accompanied by level 3 - 4 geometry as well as a sense of general exhilaration and awe. The moderate to mild geometry stays for a further 10 – 15 minutes before disappearing completely, sometimes leaving a noticeable "body high" that lingers for up to an hour.

Threshold: 2 - 10 mg
Light: 10 - 20 mg
Common: 20 - 40 mg
Strong: 40 - 60 mg
Heavy: 60+ mg