Dimethyltryptamine

Dimethyltryptamine (DMT)
Chemical name	2-(1H-indol-3-yl)- N,N-dimethylethanamine
Chemical formula	C12H16N2
Molecular mass	188.27 g/mol
Density	1.099 g/ml
Melting point	49 °C and 74 °C (two different crystal structures)
Boiling point	160 °C at 0.8 hPa (reduced pressure)
CAS number	61-50-7
SMILES	CN(C)CCC1=CNC2=C1C=CC=C2
Missing image DMT.png Chemical structure of dimethyltryptamine

Dimethyltryptamine, also known as DMT or N,N-dimethyltryptamine, is an indole, similar in structure to the neurotransmitter serotonin, created during normal metabolism in low amounts by the human body (secreted by the pineal gland). Pure DMT at room temperature is a colorless waxy or crystalline solid. DMT was first chemically synthesized in 1931. It also occurs naturally in many species of plants. DMT-containing plants are used in several South American shamanic practices. It is believed to be one of the main active constituents of snuffs like yopo and of the potion ayahuasca.

Contents

1 Hallucinogenic properties 2 Chemistry 3 Speculations 4 Legal status 5 International 5.1 United States 5.2 Canada 5.3 UK 5.4 Brazil 6 External links 6.1 Brazilian ayahuasca churches

Hallucinogenic properties

DMT is a powerful psychoactive substance. If DMT is smoked, injected, or orally ingested with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, it can produce powerful entheogenic experiences including true hallucinations (virtual experiences that are indistinguishable from reality).

Inhalation: If DMT is smoked/inhaled, the maximal effects last for a short period of time (10 minutes +/- 5 minutes). The onset after inhalation is very fast (less than 45 seconds) and maximal effects are reached within about a minute.

Injection: Injected DMT produces an experience similar to inhalation in duration, intensity, and characteristics, although by some accounts it is more emotionally clinical (versus spiritual).

Oral ingestion: DMT, which is broken down by the digestive enzyme monoamine oxidase, is inactive if taken orally, unless combined with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). The shamanic potion ayahuasca, or yage, is a tea-like admixture of the boiled leaves, bark or roots of a variety of plants, usually including Psychotria viridis which contains high levels of DMT, and Banisteriopsis caapi which contains harmala alkaloids which are powerful MAOIs. Taken orally with an appropriate MAOI, DMT produces a long lasting (over 1 hour), slow onset, high intensity experience.

Induced DMT experiences can include profound time-dilation, time travel, journeys to paranormal realms, and encounters with spiritual beings or other mystical/trans-dimensional modalities that, by most first hand accounts, defy verbal or visual description.

In any case, it is highly uncommon for someone who experiences DMT in any form to talk about it afterwards as a "recreational" experience.

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ATC code	?
Bioavailability	?
Metabolism	?
Elimination half life	?
Excretion	Urine
Pregnancy category	?
Legal status	US: I CA: III UK: 1/A
Delivery	Vaporized, injected, or orally in combination with MAO inhibitors

Indicated for: ? Recreational uses: Euphoria Hallucinations Unethical uses: ? Other uses: Mystical Experience Shamanic Spiritual/Religious

Contraindications: Do not use if currently taking an MAOI Do no use if suffering from Schizophrenia or similar conditions, or if such runs in your family

Chemistry

DMT is a derivative of tryptamine with two additional methyl groups at the amine nitrogen atom. DMT is often synthesized by the Speeter-Anthony synthesis from indole using oxalyl chloride, dimethylamine, and lithium aluminum hydride as reagents. DMT is usually used in its base form, but it is more stable as a salt, e.g. as a fumarate. In contrast to DMT base its salts are soluble in water. DMT in solution degrades relatively fast and should be stored protected from air and light in a freezer.

Speculations

As DMT is naturally secreted by the human pineal gland, it is believed to play a role in dreaming, near-death experiences and other mystical states. It has been speculated by the researcher Jace Callaway that DMT might be connected with visual dreaming. By some scientific accounts, DMT can be found in elevated amounts during times of visual dreaming or after near-death experiences.

Interesting non-scientific writers on DMT include Terence McKenna and Jeremy Narby, though many people treat their writings with skepticism. McKenna writes of his experiences with DMT in which he encounters entities he describes as "Self-Transforming Machine Elves". Other users report visitation from external intelligences attempting to impart information. These Machine Elf experiences are said to be shared by many DMT users. From a researcher's perspective, perhaps best known is Rick Strassman's The Spirit Molecule (ISBN 0892819278).

Legal status

International

DMT is a Schedule I drug under the Convention on Psychotropic Substances[1] (http://www.incb.org/pdf/e/list/green.pdf). .

United States

DMT is classified in the United States as a Schedule I drug.

In December of 2004, the Supreme Court lifted a stay thereby allowing the Brazil-based O Centro Espirita Beneficiente Uniao do Vegetal church to use hoasca tea (containg DMT) in their Christmas services this year. The Supreme Court has decided to hear the case and will likely issue a final decision in the fall of 2005.

Canada

DMT is classified in Canada as a Schedule III drug.

UK

DMT is classified in the United Kingdom as a Schedule I/Class A drug.

Brazil

In Brazil there are a number of religious movements based on the use of Ayahuasca, usually in an animistic context that may be shamanistic or, more often, mixed with Christian imagery; these were legalized recently after official inquiry into the tea.

External links

• From Agony to Ecstacy: The Transformative Spirit of Yajé (http://ayahuasca.com/cgi-bin/viewdocument.pl?rowid=24)
• Vaults of Erowid - DMT (http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/dmt/)
• TiHKAL - DMT (http://www.erowid.org/library/books_online/tihkal/tihkal06.shtml)
• Spirit Plants (http://www.spiritplants.com/)
• "Release The Reality" - Web Journal: DMT & Ayahuasca info (http://releasethereality.com/)
• Breaking Open the Head - A shamanic journey into the heart of the psychedelic experience (http://www.breakingopenthehead.com/)
• DMT World message board - Discuss all things related to DMT (http://www.dmtworld.org/)

Brazilian ayahuasca churches

• Santo Daime (http://www.santodaime.org/) (in Portuguese)
• União do Vegetal (http://www.udv.org.br/english/index.html) (in English)
• BBC News story: US church's illegal tea faces ban (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4458873.stm)

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