How Is DMT Made?

Interest in psychedelic drugs like DMT and magic mushrooms continues to skyrocket due, in large part, to scientific investigations around their benefits for people with mental health problems.

DMT users have long known that this substance has unique properties that can benefit people. But with the changing of the times and a new open-mindedness to explore hallucinogenic drugs, N dimethyltryptamine DMT and similar psychedelic drugs are finding legitimacy in and beyond scientific circles.

But how is DMT made?

What is DMT?

DMT or N dimethyltryptamine DMT is one of the hallucinogenic drugs used by ancient civilizations, especially by those located in South America.

Also known as Dimitri, spirit molecule, businessman’s trip, and Fantasia, DMT has been used by different civilizations for ritualistic and religious purposes.

DMT is found in many types of plants, including the one known as ayahuasca. In 1931, British chemist Richard Manske was able to produce synthetic DMT.

Psychiatry professor Rick Strassman popularized the idea that the pineal gland, one of the parts of the brain, produces DMT.

Strassman theorized that what some people believe to be a near-death experience was actually the pineal gland releasing a sizable amount of DMT.

How Is DMT Made?

Penn State University anthropologist Jose Capriles discovered a pouch containing psychedelic drugs while digging at an archeological site in Chile in 2010.

This pouch contained various hallucinogenic drugs, including N dimethyltryptamine DMT, harmine, psilocin from magic mushrooms, cocaine, and bufotenine.

Capriles’ discovery suggests that hallucinogenic drugs, including ayahuasca, have been around for thousands of years, running counter to the belief of some people that the hallucinogenic tryptamine drug is relatively new.

Where does DMT come from?

DMT can be found in a variety of plants and fungi. It can also be found in the human body, most of which can be found in the lungs, eyes, cerebrospinal fluid, and according to some, the pineal gland. There are now over 50 plant species believed to contain this substance.

But traditionally, the substance was derived from DMT-containing plants like the chacruna, acacia, and the jurema or Mimosa tenuiflora.

Does the brain produce its own DMT?

Some scientists believe that DMT production happens inside the human brain. In particular, some experts believe that the pineal gland found in the brain produces N-dimethyltryptamine DMT.

But until today, there is little evidence to support this idea.

It is true that DMT production happens inside the body. That’s why trace amounts of the substance can be found in the body, specifically in blood and urine.

However, experiments on rats show no evidence supporting the idea that the human brain can produce DMT. The removal of the pineal gland in rats does not stop DMT production.

Certainly, these studies are not conclusive. Endogenous DMT production in the human brain requires further investigation.

Is DMT derived from ayahuasca?

Some people think that DMT is derived from ayahuasca, an ancient brew known for its psychoactive effects. This brew is used both as a ceremonial drink and medicine in South America.

The belief that DMT comes from ayahuasca stems from the fact that the brew contains N-dimethyltryptamine DMT. But ayahuasca also contains other substances like harmines and harmalines.

These substances are believed to slow down the hallucinogenic effects of DMT.

And compared to ayahuasca, a DMT trip lasts shorter. Typically, the effects of ayahuasca last for hours.

Underground production of DMT

Producing synthetic DMT in a clandestine setting is quite difficult. You’ll have to get your hands on a variety of substances like oxalyl and tryptamine. Most of these aren’t readily available to consumers.

As such, many turn to plant sources to produce the hallucinogenic tryptamine drug. Among the ingredients required are heptane and sodium hydroxide, along with plants that naturally contain DMT, like Acacia acuminata and Acacia confusa and Mimosa tenuiflora.

Individuals can readily purchase most of these ingredients. Take note that although DMT is illegal and is classified as a controlled substance, its ingredients, including the plants, are illegal in just a few places.

The birth of synthetic DMT

The German-Canadian scientist Dr. Richard Manske is credited for being the first person to synthesize N-dimethyltryptamine DMT in a laboratory setting. However, Manske did not study the effects of the substance on humans.

It was the Hungarian psychiatrist and chemist Dr. Stephen Szára who first studied the effects of synthetic DMT on humans.

Szára enlisted 20 volunteers for his experiments with synthetic DMT. However, these experiments yielded little knowledge due to the setbacks faced by the researchers.

One of these setbacks was the Convention on Psychotropic Substances held in 1971. The result of this convention was a United Nations treaty that sought to control the importation, exportation, and scientific studies on psychedelic drugs, including DMT.

This landmark decision set back the research on hallucinogenic drugs, even if DMT and other psychedelic drugs showed promise for treating various conditions. DMT (and other psychedelic drugs) was classified as a controlled substance.

Small Pharma and the Spirit Molecule

After decades of being classified by state and federal law as a controlled substance, DMT finally gained recognition as a substance worth investigating.

Leading this thrust was the clinical psychologist and author of the book “DMT: The Spirit Molecule” Dr. Rick Strassman.

Dr. Strassman continued his research on hallucinogenic tryptamine drugs, picking up where he left off in the 1970s. With his book, the doctor explored the possibility of using DMT for therapeutic benefits.

Strassman’s investigations have also inspired Small Pharma, a biotech company with a keen interest in providing solutions to mental health problems, to study DMT potential.

Hallucinogenic Tryptamine Drug and Psilocybin

In 2018, researchers from the Centre for Psychedelic Research led by Dr. Chris Timmerman sought to find the effects of DMT in the blood with brain activity.

Timmerman’s team discovered that the presence of DMT in the blood changed the brain’s wave patterns. Specifically, the team noticed a substantial drop in the number of alpha waves. These brain waves are most active when people are awake.

Surprisingly, this brain activity was similar to test subjects who were given psilocybin.

Aside from the drop-off in alpha waves, the researchers noticed the appearance of theta waves. The DMT users reported seeing visions which are similar to people who are in a REM sleep state.

Interestingly, these results were not seen in other psychedelic drugs like magic mushrooms and LSD.

Timmerman’s team posited that their test results could provide insight into using psychoactive substances like DMT for treating depression and similar conditions.

Using DMT for Psychotherapy

With multiple studies supporting using DMT to treat mental health problems, pharmaceutical companies have stepped up in their research.

Indeed, classifying hallucinogenic tryptamine drugs as controlled substances pushed research back for decades. But with recent developments, psychoactive substances are moving into the limelight.

According to research, patients suffering from mental health problems like depression, PTSD, and drug abuse have repeated negative thought patterns.

With DMT-assisted therapy, the substance creates disorder in the brain and activates serotonin receptors to disrupt thought patterns.

Is it legal to use DMT for therapy?

To date, DMT remains classified as a Schedule 1 controlled substance in the United States and many other places in the world.

This means that only the researchers who have been given proper authorization by the DEA and Food and Drug Administration or FDA can conduct clinical trials with DMT.

Currently, the FDA has approved only one substance for treating mental health conditions – ketamine.

How does DMT-assisted therapy work?

DMT-assisted therapy does not end with patients receiving doses of the hallucinogenic tryptamine drug.

Typically, the therapy begins with the therapist building a relationship with their patients. This also helps patients prepare for the psychedelic effects as well as the hallucinogenic effects.

The therapist administers the n dimethyltryptamine and supervises their patients to reduce or prevent the chances of a bad trip as one of the harm reduction strategies involved in this type of therapy.

After the DMT users come down from their trip, the therapist will walk through with their patients to interpret and analyze their experience.

Other therapists integrate art into their DMT-assisted therapy. In a way, artworks make a patient’s DMT trip more tangible, enabling them to work through their memories and emotions during therapy.

Patient reaction to DMT-assisted therapy

DMT users usually describe a trip as an intense and visually-filled experience. However, DMT-produced hallucinations don’t usually last long.

In some cases, the hallucinations DMT produces can be frightening, hence the term “bad trip.” A few harm reduction strategies can be implemented to prevent or minimize the chances of a patient having a bad trip.

These harm reduction strategies center around making the environment comfortable for patients with mental health problems.

Psychoactive substances like DMT are used to help patients see their current situation and thought patterns in a different light. Usually, DMT-assisted therapy is recommended for patients who struggle to make gains with different types of therapies.

In most cases, DMT-assisted therapy is used in conjunction with other treatments. According to some studies, the use of psychoactive substances like DMT and magic mushrooms can make patients more responsive to other types of treatments.

How Is DMT Consumed?

N-dimethyltryptamine can be consumed in a variety of ways, including smoking, vaporizing, and snorting. It can also be drunk via an ayahuasca brew.

In a clinical setting, DMT is usually administered orally or through inhalation. Dosages vary depending on the desired effect. DMT is rarely administered orally, except when it is taken with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor. This is because the substance remains inactive when taken this way.

Although there’s still limited research on DMT, experts say that patients don’t develop tolerance to it, making it less likely to be used for drug abuse.

With synthetic DMT, the psychoactive effects can be felt in a few minutes. As for the duration and intensity, factors like dosage, method of consumption, meals and medications taken before the trip play a crucial role.

On average, a DMT trip can last anywhere between 45 and 65 minutes.

How Does DMT Work in Humans?

Upon consuming N-dimethyltryptamine, it binds itself with different brain receptors, especially 5-HT2A serotonin receptors.

This causes the patient to experience changes in how they perceive themselves and their environment while under the influence of the substance.

The Effects of DMT Use

DMT use can produce a variety of physical effects, including:

• Dizziness
• Pupil dilation
• Increased blood pressure
• Elevated heart rate
• Chest pain
• Rapid eye movement

Patients may also experience agitation and panic attacks.

Due to the intensity of the psychoactive effects of DMT, the risks of trauma and paranoia are quite considerable.

There have also been reports of people who experience flashbacks of their DMT experience long after their trips. These flashbacks can occur weeks, months, or even years after consuming DMT.

These are a few reasons why people with psychosis are cautioned against using N-dimethyltryptamine.

DMT and Serotonin Syndrome

Consuming DMT can lead to a condition known as serotonin syndrome. This life-threatening condition results from the increase in serotonin levels of some DMT users.

Serotonin syndrome is likely to affect people who are taking antidepressants while using DMT. Symptoms of the condition are similar to most of the side effects of DMT.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is DMT addictive?

Research on this subject remains sparse. However, available data suggest that DMT use does not lead to drug abuse.

Developing tolerance is not likely.

Can DMT be used with other substances?

Experts caution against DMT use with other drugs and substances like alcohol, cocaine, amphetamines, cannabis, and magic mushrooms.

Does DMT have a medical use?

With the exception of S-ketamine, no other drugs have been approved for therapeutic use.

However, that doesn’t mean that psychoactive substances like magic mushrooms or DMT cannot be used to treat mental health problems.

In fact, numerous studies indicate that these substances can benefit patients with mental illnesses.

However, more research and clinical trials are needed.

What does DMT look like?

Although DMT comes in different forms, depending on the mode of consumption, it usually comes in powder form.

In powder form, DMT usually has a white to a yellow-pink hue.

FAQ