Cultural Uses and Physiological mechanisms of action Dimethyltryptamine Cultural Uses and Physiological mechanisms of action BY: ALEX COLANGELI

DMT Chemistry DMT, N,N-diemethyltryptamine, Nigerine, desoxybufotenine, 3-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)-indole is a white, pungent-smelling, crystalline solid. It has melting point of 49-50 degrees Celsius, hydrochloride salt hygroscopic, picrate m.p. 171-172 degrees Celsius and methiodide m.p. 215-216 degrees Celsius. It is insoluble in water, but soluble in organic solvents and aqueous acids.1

Brief History N,N-DMT use has been documented as early as the 8th Century AD in snuffs found in burial sites, but its use is believed to be much older. Cohoba snuffs (from the Yopo tree) were documented in Columbia in the 16th through 19th Centuries. N,N-DMT and 5-MeO-DMT were finally identified as the active constituents of cohoba in the early 1950s In 1954 N,N-DMT was isolated as an active ingredient in A. peregrina.2

Intoxication Symptoms Onset When smoked, DMT generally reaches full effects within 10-60 seconds of inhalation. Duration The primary effects of N,N-DMT last approximately 5-20 minutes when smoked. For many people there is an additional period of time (1-2 hrs) before fully returning to baseline. Some people find DMT experiences difficult to integrate and experience unsettling thoughts and feelings for days after use. When DMT is consumed in an Ayahuasca brew; Depending on how much and how recently one has eaten and individual variation, effects begin between 20 and 60 minutes after ingestion. Duration With lower doses, effects last shorter, larger doses last longer, with the range being from 2-6 hours of peak effects with 1-8 hours after of lingering effects, depending on dosage and individual user variation. DMT Duration Smoked Total Duration 6 - 20 mins Onset 0 - 1 mins Coming Up 0 - 30 secs Plateau 3 - 15 mins Coming Down 3 - 5 mins

Physiological Mechanisms Anatomical: Resembles LSD, but mimics sympathetic reflex symptoms like dilated pupils, heightened blood pressure, and increased pulse rate are more common and more intense. Action in the brain: DMT much like LSD has it’s effect on the serotonergic system. Binding the 5HT2a & 5HT2c receptor cites. Endogenous Neurochemical: DMT is one the only endogenous psychedelic known, meaning is produced within the body. While it’s role in the brain is unknown , it has been speculated that DMT is released by the pineal gland. Effects of ayahuasca (0.85 mg DMT/kg body weight) on regional cortical electrical activity 60 min after administration (n = 18). Shown are statistical nonparametric maps based on t values of differences between ayahuasca- induced and placebo-induced changes in the alpha-2 (10–12 Hz) frequency band. Blue indicates significant decreases after Holmes correction (p ! 0.05) as compared to placebo. Axial slices (head seen from above, nose up; L = left; R = right) in steps of 7 mm from most inferior (Z = –41) to the most superior (Z = 71) are shown.

Physiology (cont.) Recent controlled clinical studies of the behavioral and physiological properties of DMT (18,19) have set the stage for evaluating theories of hallucinogenic drug action based on animal models. One of the most prominent hypotheses proposes that activation of 5-HT2A receptors(formerly referred to as 5-HT2 receptors) is an important component in the mechanism of action of hallucinogenic drugs

Ayahuasca Shamanic Use Harmine alkaloids Ayahuasca is a hallucinogenic Amazonian plant brew. It has been used by native Indian and mestizo shamans in Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador for healing and divination Ayahuasca comes from the Quechua language: huasca means ‘vine’ and aya meaning ‘soul’ or ‘spirit’. Dimethyltryptamine or DMT is the active, mind altering compound of Ayahuasca. DMT by itself is not orally active, due to MAO breaking it down. Shamans over came this through the incorporation of Harmine which act as a MAO inhibitor allowing the compound to permmiate the brain blood barier.

Huasca brew Ayahuasca brew Banisteriopsis Caapi The ayahuasca brew most commonly contains the Psychotria viridis bush, which contains significant quantities of DMT along with the Banisteriopsis caapi vine which contains Harmine. Psychotria Viridis

Legal Status Law N,N-DMT is illegal to possess or sell in the United States (Schedule-I) It is controlled by the 1971 United Nation's Convention on Psychotropic Substances and is illegal in most countries Registry # 7435.6 - It is illegal to produce, supply, or posses. Maximum penalty for possession is 7 years in jail. Ayahuasca On the other hand is not illegal to posses or sell, due to it’s use in various religious communities.

World wide legal status South America DMT is Schedule I/Class A in the majority of South American countries making it illegal to buy or possess without a license. Canada # DMT is schedule III in Canada. (Note: Canadian schedules are very different than U.S. schedules) Estonia # DMT is Schedule Japan # It was scheduled in 2000. New Zealand # DMT is Schedule I (Class A) in New Zealand Norway # DMT is Schedule I in Norway and illegal to buy or possess without a special license. Poland # DMT is schedule I (I-P group) in Poland. Russia DMT is illegal to buy or possess without a license. We do not know the terminology used in Russia. Sweden# DMT is regulated by law in Sweden, no additional details. U.K. # DMT is Schedule I/Class A in the U.K., making it illegal to buy or possess without a license.

My thoughts Personally I find the advent of psychedelic research to be fascinating. We understand very little about human consciousness, especially with regard to it’s role in the brain. It is my opinion that N,N-DMT could prove to be particularly useful in helping us develop a model for consciousness, dreaming, and even a deeper understanding of the role of specific neurotransmitters. Unfortunately due to the compounds scheduling status, in spite of the fact there is little to no abuse potential, research is severely limited. This tends to be the case with many stigmatized compounds, of the psychedelic genre. Most evidence points to the fact that there is virtually no abuse or addiction potential. DMT specifically is an endogenous neurochemical, making it’s potential for harm even more negligible.

Final thoughts N,N,-DMT has a long and rich history of indigenous use. Over time it has been hailed as a spiritual key to the lives of many, spanning from Shamans to the lay person seeking ancient wisdom. Although the potential for DMT to enlighten spiritually cannot be examined scientifically, it’s potential as a research tool in elucidating states of consciousness can. We, as up and coming colleagues in the scientific realm, have a responsibility to eliminate antiquated notions that have been established by our predecessors. I believe this begins with new laws and regulations applied to research with scheduled compounds.

The End Alex Colangeli

References RESEARCH JOURNALS 1) Effects of the South American Psychoactive Beverage Ayahuasca on Regional Brain Electrical Activity in Humans: A Functional Neuroimaging Study Using Low-Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography Neuropsychobiology 2004;50:89–101 Riba/Anderer/Jané/Saletu/Barbanoj 2)Agonist Properties of N,N –Dimethyltryptamine at Serotonin 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C Receptors RANDY L. SMITH, HERVÉ CANTON, ROBERT J. BARRETT AND ELAINE SANDERS-BUSH Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Veterans Administration Medical Center, INTERNET REFERENCES http://dmt.lycaeum.org/general/dmt_shulgin.html http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/dmt/dmt_basics.shtml http://dmt.lycaeum.org/general/dmtschtz.txt