DMT is a hallucinogenic tryptamine drug that occurs naturally in various plants, such as Psychotria viridis or Chacruna. Some people call it the “spirit molecule” due to the intense psychedelic experience.
Although less familiar than other psychedelics such as LSD or magic mushrooms, N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) produces a brief but intense visual and auditory hallucinogenic experience.
DMT is a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States. This means that it is illegal to manufacture, buy, possess, or distribute the drug. The substance has a high potential for abuse, no government-recognized medical use, and a lack of accepted safety parameters for use.
Researchers can use DMT under a Schedule I research registration that requires approval from both the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Despite its illegal status, people sometimes use DMT in religious ceremonies and various settings for an “awakening” or to obtain deep spiritual insight.
DMT is a white crystalline powder derived from certain plants found in Mexico, South America, and parts of Asia, such as Psychotria viridis. It is present in cohoba, a hallucinogenic drug derived from the seeds of Piptadenia peregrina.
People typically consume it in the following ways:
- vaporized or smoked in a pipe
- orally in brews like ayahuasca
- snorted or injected on rare occasions
The chemical root structure of DMT is similar to the anti-migraine drug sumatriptan, and it acts as a non-selective agonist at most or all of the serotonin receptors, particularly at the serotonin 5-HT2a receptor.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that has a large effect on the majority of our brain cells.
There is some evidenceTrusted Source that the body also produces DMT endogenously. This means the body makes DMT, likely in the pineal gland of the brain.
A typical smoked dose of DMT is 40 to 50 milligrams (mg)Trusted Source but may be as much as 100 mg. The drug begins working almost instantly. The effects peak and plateau for 2 to 5 minutes and gradually drop off with the duration of effect totaling up to 30 minutes.
When consumed as a brew in the form of ayahuasca, the dose is between 0.6 – 0.85 mg for every kilogram of liquid. Effects begin within 60 minutes, peak after 90 minutes, and disappear in approximately 4 hours.
Improved brain functioning
Anecdotal evidence shows that some people believe that microdosing helps improve their brain function by allowing their brain to operate at its fullest potential or making them more open to new ideas.
A study in PLOS ONETrusted Source found that microdosing makes people report better brain function on dosing days, but these effects do not carry over to other days when the person does not microdose.
Creativity
Creativity is a harder concept to quantify and validate, but many people who microdose claim to do so for its ability to boost their creative faculties. However, a combination of other factors, such as stress reduction or increased focus, may lead to this benefit. Again, evidence for this is anecdotal, and scientific studies are yet to back these claims.
Focus
Microdosing may also help with temporary focus, allowing a person to work on a big project without their mind wandering. One studyTrusted Source suggests that microdosing led to lower levels of distractability.
Quitting other habits
Another claim is that microdosing helps people quit other habits, such as smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol. Some people even feel as though they do not need to use simple stimulants such as coffee when they microdose.
Although some formal research explores the possibility of using psychedelics, such as psilocybin, to help people stop using other drugs, there is little scientific research or proof as of yet. However, anecdotal claims suggest promise.
davidpatson23 –
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