DMT stands for N, N-dimethyltryptamine. It is a chemical compound that belongs to the tryptamine family of molecules, which also includes psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms), LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), and serotonin (a neurotransmitter that regulates mood, sleep, and cognition). DMT has a similar structure to serotonin but has two extra methyl groups attached to it.

DMT was first synthesized by British chemist Richard Manske in 1931, but its psychoactive properties were not discovered until 1956 by Hungarian chemist Stephen Szara. He injected himself with synthetic DMT and reported having vivid hallucinations lasting about 10 minutes. In 1965, American psychiatrist Rick Strassman conducted the first clinical trials of N, N-dimethyltryptamine on human volunteers at the University of New Mexico. He gave them intravenous injections of N, N-dimethyltryptamine and recorded their subjective experiences using questionnaires and interviews. He found that N, N-dimethyltryptamine produced intense psychedelic effects that were often described as “more real than real." He also coined the term “the spirit molecule” to refer to DMT’s ability to induce spiritual or mystical experiences.

N, N-Dimethyltryptamine can be extracted from various plants such as Mimosa hostilis (jurema), Psychotria viridis (chacruna), Acacia confusa (acacia), Phalaris arundinacea (reed canary grass), Desmanthus illinoensis (prairie bundleflower), Diplopterys cabrerana (chaliponga), etc. It can also be synthesized in a laboratory using chemical precursors such as tryptamine or indole. However, both extraction and synthesis methods are illegal in most countries, including the UK.

How does DMT work?

DMT acts on various receptors in the brain, such as serotonin and sigma-1 receptors. It also affects other neurotransmitters and hormones, such as dopamine and melatonin. The exact mechanism of how N, N-Dimethyltryptamine produces its effects is not fully understood yet.

However, some researchers have suggested that N, N-Dimethyltryptamine may activate the pineal gland, which is responsible for producing melatonin and regulating circadian rhythms. The pineal gland has been called the “third eye” or the “seat of the soul” by some cultures and religions. Some believe that it can facilitate access to higher dimensions of reality or consciousness.

What are the effects of DMT?

DMT can produce a range of effects depending on the dose, route of administration, Setting, and individual factors. Generally speaking, D.M.T can cause:

• Intense visual hallucinations: Users may see geometric patterns, fractals, colours, landscapes, entities, symbols, or scenes that are often described as alien, futuristic, spiritual, or divine.
• Altered sense of time: Users may feel like time has stopped, slowed down, sped up, or become irrelevant.
• Altered sense of self: Users may lose their sense of identity, ego, boundaries, or body.
• Out-of-body experiences: Users may feel like they have left their physical body and travelled to other realms or dimensions.
• Near-death experiences: Users may feel like they are dying being reborn or meeting God or other beings.
• Mystical experiences: Users may feel a sense of awe Wonder loves gratitude peace or connection with everything.

The duration of DMT effects depends on how it is taken. When smoked or injected, the effects come on rapidly within seconds and last for about five to fifteen minutes. When taken orally with an MAOI, the effects take longer to onset (about thirty minutes to an hour) and last for about four to six hours.