DMT - Zara Pickel

Dimethyltyptamine, or DMT is a very dynamic molecule with interesting physiological properties.  Currently it is restricted under Schedule III, Section 7 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act in Canada. “N,N–Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) (3–[(2–dimethylamino) ethyl] indole) and any salt thereof” (Government of Canada, 2014).

Dr. Rick Strassman conducted unprecedented research on the effects of this compound when administered intravenously, which he published in 2001. The volunteers reported alien kidnappings, otherworldly beings, and deeply emotional experiences in their fully hallucinogenic state.  It is interesting to note that DMT is chemically similar to the neurotransmitters serotonin and melatonin. Serotonin is often referred to as “the happy chemical,” and melatonin is “the sleep chemical”. Melatonin and DMT come from the same area in your brain- the pineal gland (Strassman, 2001). You may hear of people taking melatonin to deal with jet lag, when you cross too many time zones, and your body struggles to adjust to the local time. Great minds such as doctor Galen have found the pineal gland an interesting endocrine gland. Galen said of the gross anatomy surrounding and including the pineal gland that it was, “the first instrument of the soul” (Lokhorst, 2013). Philosopher Rene Descartes called the pineal gland, “the seat of the soul,” (Lokhorst, 2013).

DMT is synthesized in the body from l-tryptophan, an essential amino acid. Spirulina seaweed is especially rich in tryptophan. The ample tryptophan in Turkey is often blamed for making you feel sleepy after you eat it; this holds little credibility in the scientific community. You probably just ate 3 plates of Thanksgiving dinner!

The photo shown here is from an artist named Louis Wain, who battled schizophrenia throughout his life (Metzger, n.d.).  The progression of realism paintings followed by fractal patterns and sacred geometry is aesthetically similar to images described by those who have taken DMT, and the sudden onset of its effects.

*Disclaimer: The opinions represented in this blog are those of the author, Zara Pickel. The opinions expressed herein do not reflect those of Mount Royal University, the Chemistry department, or Professors therein. The image used is available for re-use as indicated by Wikipedia Creative Commons; Public Domain Mark 1.0. “This work has been identified as being free of known restrictions under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights.” (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/deed.en)

Sources Cited

Government of Canada Justice Laws Website, last modified March 2014. Accessed online from  http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-38.8/page-26.html#h-30

Lokhorst, G.J.  Descartes and the Pineal Gland (2005). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Accessed online from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/pineal-gland/

Metzger, R., n.d.. Louis Wain: The man who drew cats. Accessed online from

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/louis_wain_the_man_who_drew_cats