On DMT

A post on one of the most important molecules of all time!

By Gabriel MohrPublished 3 years ago • 6 min read

Quick Facts

-DMT is an important molecule, and it has benefited many people in the past!

-We don’t know for sure whether or not we produce DMT within our bodies, although some experts have used logic and their knowledge of biology to deduce that we do!

-We can reduce the potential risk of consuming DMT by taking the necessary precautions!

Intro

Dymethaltriptamine, otherwise known as DMT, is quite the important molecule! There is a mix of controversy, positive stories, and interesting stories surrounding DMT so I'll enjoy clearing everything up as much as I can!

What Is DMT, and What Is Its Function?

DMT is a molecule that's found in many different types of plants because it helps reduce herbivory, which is the consumption of plants by animals. DMT is a defense mechanism for the plant to prevent too many of their kind from being consumed too quickly.

That's great and all, but what does that mean for us?

Well, we humans have been ingesting this molecule for thousands of years in the form of ayahuasca! Ayahuasca is a plant that's made into a psychoactive drink by combining the plant (since it contains DMT) and a plant (such as marplan) that acts as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) together. The purpose of DMT in this context was to have spiritual experiences that people describe as wonderful, healing, intense, amazing, and life-changing. And also, because we probably produce the chemical in our bodies without any assistance from these plants!

Let's start with my latter assertion first… The controversy of whether or not we naturally produce DMT in our own bodies has been going on for a long, long time, so I went into the wonderful world of the internet to find some answers either way!

I found this post and it introduced this study. They figured out that the rat brain is able to synthesize and produce DMT, and that it was being produced from several parts of the brain including the neocortex and the hippocampus. They came to the conclusion that "DMT is produced naturally from neurons of the mammalian brain and may contribute to some aspects of higher-order brain functions (such as conscious information processing, or learning/memory, etc), though much remains to be explored experimentally."

Mighty interesting… But even still, no one has directly confirmed that DMT is naturally produced in our bodies other than Borjigin who I quoted above. Borjigin was experimenting with rats, however, and though many have used logic and their knowledge of biology to confirm that DMT is produced in our brains it hasn't been scientifically confirmed as of the publish date of this post.

As A Psychedelic

Then we have DMT as a psychedelic. Some of us drink the ayahuasca brew and some of us smoke it, but either way, it's been said that it's the most powerful psychedelic on the planet, especially when it's smoked.

There have been reports of people talking to our ancestors and/or higher beings, seeing and feeling intense geometry, going underground, going to a circus-like setting, and having life-changing experiences. Everyone, and I mean everyone, I've come across who took DMT conveys an extremely positive message with tones of love and playfulness, almost as if they felt something so positive and so intense that they just had to share it with me!

This is mostly why DMT is so special. Sure, we may produce it in our bodies and we may be able to produce extra through natural means, but the real meat and potatoes is consuming it from the outside; it's so powerful and so transformative that it goes far beyond any state provided by open-mindedness, meditation, or religion - and these kinds of states and experiences can be very powerful, too!

Unfortunately, the government (probably) knows this and they keep it illegal. I'm fact, I'm legally obligated to tell you that I do not advocate the use of this substance and that this information is for education and risk-reduction purposes only. Isn't that sad? Isn't it sad that the government makes a part of nature illegal (most likely) because they understand it exposes their scheme right down to the very core? I'm disappointed in the people who call DMT a "drug" that has "side effects," it's one of the best ways to heal yourself mentally and physically. You don't get a hangover and you don't experience any undesirable side effects after smoking it, 99.99% of the time it's a positive experience that everyone will benefit from doing at least once in their lifetime.

Do We Benefit From This, Or Should We Leave DMT Alone?

DMT is very beneficial to your wellbeing, especially if you're reading this post, and especially if you have the proper set and setting. The more open-minded, conscious, and able to surrender you are the more effective DMT/ayahuasca will be, and if you combine your set with a good setting (by yourself or with a conscious friend indoors or outdoors in a safe place) you'll probably have a very good experience.

Also, it's worth researching and/or getting involved in the search to find if we naturally produce it in our brains. If we do, and if we can produce an increased amount via meditation (like with serotonin) then we'll be able to go on our own "mini-trips" without any interference from the law.

In my opinion, DMT should only be left alone if you're afraid of the government's hand unless you consciously intend to overcome your fear. Generally, this kind of fear is what makes DMT not so effective, and sometimes civil disobedience is exactly the right thing to do.

Final Thoughts

I wish to mention once more that we've been ingesting DMT for thousands of years, and we're still alive as a species! I also want to argue that our disconnection with DMT and psychedelics, in general, is part of the reason we're suffering so much around the world. These aren't party drugs that give you side effects and potentially ruin your life - psychedelics (especially the natural ones like psilocybin, DMT, peyote, etc), when used properly, give you a quality of life that cannot be overstated. And a species that takes psychedelics as a group is a species that is enlightened and capable/willing to work as a team towards a regenerative goal - that is survival, expansion, and enjoyment.