DMT (Dimethyltryptamine)
DMT is like a one-night-stand, like a lover and ayahuasca is the long-term relationship, it’s the building, growth and healing - Anonymous

image by: Rex Anzaldua
HWN Suggests
DMT is in your head, but it may be too weird for the psychedelic renaissance
Why is DMT so fascinating? For starters, DMT is the only psychedelic known to occur naturally in the human body. In 1972, the Nobel laureate Julius Axelrod of the National Institutes of Health discovered DMT in human brain tissue, leading to speculation that the compound plays a role in psychosis. Research into that possibility—and into psychedelics in general--was abandoned because of the growing backlash against these compounds.
DMT is also the primary active ingredient of ayahuasca, a tea that Amazonian tribes brew from two plants and drink as a sacred medicine. After hearing about ayahuasca from the legendary Harvard botanist Richard Shultes, the beat writer William Burroughs traveled…
Resources
Demand for This Toad’s Psychedelic Toxin Is Booming. Some Warn That’s Bad for the Toad
When the toad is threatened, it excretes toxins strong enough to kill full-grown dogs. A substance found in these toxins, 5-MeO-DMT, can be dried into crystals and smoked in a pipe, producing an intense experience generally lasting 15 to 30 minutes, in contrast to other psychedelic substances that can involve hours of hallucinating and vomiting.
Dimethyltryptamine (DMT)
Dimethyltryptamine, usually shortened to DMT, is a hallucinogenic, psychedelic drug. It is the active ingredient in ayahuasca, which has been used for religious rituals and recreation in South America for thousands of years. The substance occurs naturally in many plants and animals, although when ingested as a recreational drug, it is typically more concentrated and potent. DMT causes intense changes to the senses, leading to visual and auditory hallucinations. The “trip” lasts around 30 minutes total.
DMT (N,N-Dimethyltryptamine)
DMT stands for N, N-Dimethyltryptamine. It is a powerful psychedelic drug, with serotonergic effects on the human brain, which can induce a rapid and intense psychedelic experience, often referred to as a ‘DMT trip’. The DMT experience is usually characterised by visual hallucinations, frequently involving powerful entities, and is often associated with deeper meaning. This meaningful experience is sometimes called a ‘DMT breakthrough’. When used as a recreational drug, DMT can be smoked, snorted, or injected in its crystal form.
DMT alters cortical travelling waves
Its consumption has most traditionally occurred via drinking ‘Ayahuasca’, a brew composed of plant-based DMT and β –carbolines (monoamine oxidize inhibitors), which inhibit the GI breakdown of the DMT (Buckholtz and Boggan, 1977).
DMT vs Ayahuasca – Exploring the Differences
DMT is a naturally-occurring psychedelic compound found in many plants and animals throughout the world. It is derived from certain plants and is usually smoked as a powder. DMT produces profound alterations to the user’s perception of reality, typically characterized by vivid visual experiences, sensations of deep spiritual connection, and intense emotional and psychological insights. The effects of DMT usually last for about 30-60 minutes, depending on the dose and how it is taken.
The Pied Piper of Psychedelic Toads
Octavio Rettig, an underground practitioner of 5-MeO-DMT, a hallucinogenic substance derived from Sonoran Desert toads, claims that he has revived a lost Mesoamerican ritual.
Advanced brain imaging study hints at how DMT alters perception of realit
In a study at Imperial College London, detailed brain imaging data from 20 healthy volunteers revealed how the potent psychedelic compound, DMT (dimethyltryptamine), alters brain function. During the immersive DMT experience there was increased connectivity across the brain, with more communication between different areas and systems. The changes to brain activity were most prominent in areas linked with ‘higher level’ functions, such as imagination.
An Introduction to Five Psychedelics: Psilocybin, DMT, LSD, MDMA and Ketamine
DMT has been used for thousands of years in psychedelic rituals and practices across South and Central America. It is one of the key active ingredients in the psychedelic brew ayahuasca. In these traditional uses, DMT has been isolated from plants, such as Psychotria viridis, known in Mexico as chacruna. Ayahuasca is prepared by boiling plants rich in DMT, such as P. viridis, alongside β-carboline-type alkaloid-containing plants, such as Banisteriopsis caapi.
Ayahuasca, dimethyltryptamine, and psychosis: a systematic review of human studies
Ayahuasca is a hallucinogen brew traditionally used for ritual and therapeutic purposes in Northwestern Amazon. It is rich in the tryptamine hallucinogens dimethyltryptamine (DMT), which acts as a serotonin 5-HT2A agonist. This mechanism of action is similar to other compounds such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin.
DMT Models the Near-Death Experience
Near-death experiences (NDEs) are complex subjective experiences, which have been previously associated with the psychedelic experience and more specifically with the experience induced by the potent serotonergic, N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT). Potential similarities between both subjective states have been noted previously, including the subjective feeling of transcending one’s body and entering an alternative realm, perceiving and communicating with sentient ‘entities’ and themes related to death and dying.
N, N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), an Endogenous Hallucinogen: Past, Present, and Future Research to Determine Its Role and Function
This report provides a historical overview of research concerning the endogenous hallucinogen N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), focusing on data regarding its biosynthesis and metabolism in the brain and peripheral tissues, methods and results for DMT detection in body fluids and brain, new sites of action for DMT, and new data regarding its possible physiological and therapeutic roles.
Neuropharmacology of N,N-Dimethyltryptamine
N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is an indole alkaloid widely found in plants and animals. It is best known for producing brief and intense psychedelic effects when ingested. Increasing evidence suggests that endogenous DMT plays important roles for a number of processes in the periphery and central nervous system, and may act as a neurotransmitter.
Psychedelic brew ayahuasca’s profound impact revealed in brain scans
Study gives most advanced picture yet of DMT compound’s effect on advanced functions such as imagination
Study Reveals DMT’s Effects on the Human Brain in Unprecedented Detail
A new study has unveiled how psychedelics achieve their perception-altering effects in the human brain. The research used a powerful combination of brain analysis techniques to provide the clearest picture yet of how the short-acting, but powerful psychedelic DMT (dimethyltryptamine) affects brain activity.
Sub-Hallucinogenic DMT Patch in Development by Psilera
The biotech company's co-founder, Jacqueline L. von Salm, talks about a potential over-the-counter outpatient treatment for social-anxiety disorder that would feature dimethyltryptamine or psilocybin compounds, at the WSJ Health Forum.
The brain on DMT: mapping the psychedelic drug's effects
Users have reported seeing 'aliens' or 'entities' while under the influence of the drug. A team from Imperial College London plans to put the 'machine elves' myths to rest.
This is your brain on DMT — the ingredient in ayahuasca that can trigger near-death experiences
Researchers are studying DMT as a future depression treatment, and to get insights into human consciousness.
What is DMT?
Dimethyltryptamine, or DMT, is a substance that has captured the interest of many people around the world. Known for its mind-altering properties, it has been the subject of both recreational use and scientific research.
What It's Like to Trip on DMT
Everything to know about the hallucinogenic “spirit molecule”—common side effects include seeing aliens and finally connecting with the universe.
DMT is in your head, but it may be too weird for the psychedelic renaissance
You know that psychedelics are making a comeback when the New York Times says so on page 1. In “Hallucinogens Have Doctors Tuning In,” John Tierney reports on how doctors at schools like Harvard, Johns Hopkins, UCLA and NYU are testing the potential of psilocybin and other hallucinogens for treating depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, alcoholism—and for inducing spiritual experiences. Tierney’s brisk overview neglects to mention the most mind-bending of all psychedelics: dimethyltryptamine, or DMT. It was first synthesized by a British chemist in the 1930s, and its psychotropic properties were discovered some 20 years later by the Hungarian-born chemist Stephen Szara, who later became a researcher for the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Introducing Stitches!
Your Path to Meaningful Connections in the World of Health and Medicine
Connect, Collaborate, and Engage!
Coming Soon - Stitches, the innovative chat app from the creators of HWN. Join meaningful conversations on health and medical topics. Share text, images, and videos seamlessly. Connect directly within HWN's topic pages and articles.