DMT: Experience, Effects & How to Make the Most Powerful Psychedelic in the World

DMT is currently the most powerful psychedelic in the world. And it’s produced by your own body. It’s not physically harmful. But like other psychedelics, delivers very intense mental and spiritual effects that need to be taken seriously. Unlike other psychedelics, however, the duration of a DMT trip is just a few minutes rather than hours. The DMT drug used to be pretty obscure even just a few years ago. But lately it has really increased in popularity. That’s thanks to the late ethnobotanist Terence McKenna. And practicing psychiatrists like Dr. Rick Strassman who both spoke very highly of this ancient material.

The first person to synthesize the indolethylamine hallucinogen DMT was Canadian scientist Richard Helmuth Fredrick Manske back in 1931. Its effects—hallucinations, illusions, distortions of spatial perception and body image, disturbances of thoughts and euphoria—were finally uncovered by Dr. Stephen Szara in 1956 after inspiration from South American religious ceremonies. By 1965 German scientists FR. Franzen and H Gross found DMT in the blood and urine of normal human subjects. Of course the passage of the 1970 Controlled Substances Act halted research into hallucinogens until the 90s when Dr Rick Strassman pioneered contemporary DMT research. He published a number of landmark studies as well as The Spirit Molecule in 2000 which later culminated in a Joe Roegan-hosted documentary by the same name.

DMT is one of the few psychedelics that can be smoked. As a result DMT has a very rapid onset. Just a few seconds after inhalation you’ll be feeling the DMT effects. The DMT trip is incredibly intense. We’re talking an otherworldly experience where you’ll feel as if you’ve left your body. And you have been gone for hours traveling across time and the universe, possibly encountering intelligent and unusually compassionate extra-terrestrial beings and other trippy oddities. Suffice to say DMT is Stuff Stoners Like. But it’s not for the faint of heart.

What is DMT

DMT stands for N, N-Dimethyltryptamine. It’s created by mixing an enzyme with an amino acid. It’s in the tryptamine family. A tryptamine is what’s known as a monoamine alkaloid. Tryptamines are found in plants, animals and of course fungi like shrooms. There are even several tryptamine alkaloids inside your body right now. The neurotransmitter Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) is a tryptamine for example.

Some researchers believe that DMT acts as a neurotransmitter, similar to serotonin, in humans at sub-psychedelic concentrations. Serotonin regulates moods, appetite, sleep, memory and other things like learning. Interestingly the DMT molecule and seratonin molecules look very closely related. Maybe that’s because just like serotonin N, N-Dimethyltryptamine is rumored to be produced in the human brain. Many belive it’s created particularly in the pineal gland. In 2013 researchers found DMT in the pineal gland of rodents. The following year in 2014 researchers reported that biosynthesis of DMT in the human melanoma cell line.

Serotonin and N,N-DMT

The pineal gland is small, pea-shaped and found deep in the center of the brain in most vertebrates. It’s known to produce melatonin—a serotonin-derived hormone that modulates sleep patterns in both circadian and seasonal cycles. However its function is barely understood.

It’s history

Humans have known about the pineal gland and have been fascinated by it for centuries. There are several tales from ancient times speculating on its use. It was once known as a “third eye.” Some think that at one point in time it was really an actual eye that appeared in some species. This third eye allegedly provided perception beyond ordinary sight. It was known as a gate that leads to inner realms and spaces of higher consciousness. Maybe early humans or our ancestors really did possess a third eye? And as we evolved it went from an actual eye to something else? Funny enough the pineal gland itself kind of resembles the Eye of Horus. That thing is a symbol of protection, royal power and good health—depicted in many Egyptian hieroglyphics.

DMT containing acacia tree of life

Many people have speculated that the tree of life featured in Egyptian art is the plant Acacia Nilotica. That plant grows abundantly along the Nile River and contains a large amount of DMT. Some researchers believe that the Egyptians used DMT from the Acacia tree to gain enlightenment. They also think they used it to talk to their gods. This is similarl to the way that Native Amazonians used Ayahuasca for spiritual purposes.

Other researchers like Rick Stassman believe that DMT is released while people dream. Strassman also speculates that it’s deployed in large amounts during traumatic experiences like birth and death. Although there’s not yet any proof.

“The discovery of DMT in the human body stimulated much less fanfare than did that of endorphins, said Strassman. “Anti-psychedelic-drug sentiment sweeping the USA at the time actually turned researchers against studying endogenous DMT. The discoverers of endorphins, in contrast, won Nobel Prizes.”

Role in the body

There are many guesses as to what role such a powerful psychedelic might play in the human body. Especailly when it’s released in large concentrations. DMT, however, hasn’t been studied with enough detail to truly understand why it’s created in the human body.

According to TIHKAL written by Alexander Shulgin the godfather of MDMA and revered chemist DMT is endogenously synthesized in hundreds if not thousands of plants. Many of these DMT plants are easily accessible—meaning you can probably get your hands on some right now without too much trouble. And following the directions below—you can make DMT yourself in your kitchen with regular household items. DMT is also produced in mammals like the Colorado River Toad, which makes a venom that’s an analogue or a substance that’s similar or comparable to DMT. This venom which can be milked from the toads is known as 5-MeO-DMT. It can be dried and smoked to produce some super-intense psychedelic experiences. Some say that 5-MeO-DMT is even slightly stronger than N-Dimethyltryptamine and delivers slightly different pharmacological effects. It also has a reputation for being a more psychologically challenging psychedelic than DMT. If you’ve seen the Frog Venom episode of Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia you’ll definitely know what we’re talking about.

Traditional use of DMT dates as far back as the late 8th century. It was used as an ingredient in various psychoactive snuffs. DMT is one of the main ingredients in the ancient shamanic healing brew known as Ayahuasca. Archaeological finds in Ecuador show that the Indigenous Amazon people have been consuming Ayahuasca for more than five thousand years. So there is quite a long history of DMT use.

Normally DMT is not orally active. You can’t just eat it or drink it down with water and get high. But when it’s mixed with another plant that contains harmala alkaloids which act as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor or MAOI it becomes effective. That’s because the MAOI prevent enzymes—that break down DMT—from doing their job which is rendering DMT ineffective. So when a MAOI is ingested about an hour before DMT is ingested the result is a very powerful and very long psychedelic trip.

How did the ancient people of the Amazon know that they could combine these two plants for an intense psychedelic trip? It’s alleged that the plants themselves told them. Ayahuasca is occasionally available in Western countries but typically not in its ancient form used by Shamans. Most Westerners encounter “pharmahuasca” which is a combination of DMT and Syrian Rue.

You should know that using Ayahuasca can become dangerous when combined with other drugs that effect serotonin like MDMA, SSRIs, DXM, Tramadol aka AN 627 and a few other materials. These interactions could lead to serotonin syndrome—a dangerous medical emergency. Also note that pharmaceutical MAOIs have a stronger effect than harmala alkaloids and they are not a substitute for the harmala alkaloids that make DMT orally active.

How to consume it

When converted into its freebase form DMT can be vaporized and smoked to create what many people, including those of us here at Stuff Stoners Like, say is one of the most intense psychedelic experiences possible. All that’s needed is about 40 to 60 mg of vaporized or smoked DMT to visit an alternate dimension with colors, geometry and laws of physics that can’t be explained with language.

Some DMT enthusiasts actually report contact with other life forms. In fact this encounter is quite common. The foreign entities are often described as machine-like elf or gnome creates. They’re said to be typically happy to encounter humans and want to communicate with and comfort them. Some people often report deeply religious or spiritual experiences after smoking DMT like entering what the Buddhist call the “Bardo” which is some sort of intermediate or transitional state between death and rebirth. Many DMT connoisseurs report a massive and sudden connection to every plant and animal in the universe. As a result they feel an elevated mood that persists for days, weeks or even months. Maybe there’s a future of DMT use as an antidepressant? It sure has been around a lot longer than Ketamine which is now approved for use to treat depression.

Trip time

Unlike an LSD trip which lasts up to 12 hours and a mushroom trip which last about six the duration of a DMT trip is only about 5 minutes. After-effects linger for another ten. This means that you can experience an extremely intense psychedelic trip and be completely back to baseline in fifteen minutes. However you may feel as if you’ve been tripping for much longer. No wonder DMT has been known as the “Businessman’s Trip,” since the 60s.

Considering that DMT is naturally produced in the human body and the bodies of more living plants and animals than we can name it’s known as “the spirit molecule.” Unfortunately however the spirit molecule is illegal in many countries. Here in the US DMT is considered a schedule 1 drug so it’s possession and sale is illegal. Considering that DMT is manufactured in the human brain every single human being on the planet as well as a ton of plants and animals are carrying around inside their body at all times a highly illegal substance.

DMT Toxicity
The toxic profile of DMT has yet to be deteremined. However studies in rats suggest that a lethal dose of DMT would be extremeley high—more than 20 times the typical dose given during an Ayahuasca ceremony. DMT affects the serotonin system and should not be taken with any of the following materials:

  • SSRIs
  • antihypertensives (high blood pressure medicine)
  • appetite suppressants (diet pills)
  • medicine for asthma, bronchitis, or other breathing problems
  • antihistamines, medicines for colds, sinus problems, hay fever, or allergies
  • any drug containing dextromethorphan/ DXM or with DM, DX or Tuss in the name
  • CNS (central nervous system) depressants like xanax, ativan, etc
  • Vasodilators
  • Antipsychotics
  • Barbiturates
  • Booze

How to smoke DMT

Before we dive into smoking DMT let’s talk a little bit about physical harm reduction. If you sourced your DMT from someone that you don’t know well or trust you should test it to make sure it’s actually DMT. You can use the Ehrlich reagent to test your DMT. The Ehrlich reagent turns purple in the presence of molecules that contain an indole ring, which includes psychedelics such as LSD, LSA, psilocin and our friend DMT.


Mental preparation

It’s wise to practice mental or spiritual harm reduction as well. Sure DMT isn’t addictive like LSD or mushrooms however the extreme nature of the psychological and spiritual effects of a DMT trip are not to be taken lightly. So make sure that you pay close attention to your set and setting. This means go into your DMT experience with a positive mindset and consume DMT while you’re in a welcoming and comfortable setting. Take the time to mentally prepare before your trip by calming yourself, maybe take a few bong hits to relax your body and mind like Terrance McKenna would suggest. Also think about your intention prior to taking your first hit. What do you want to gain from this experience? And leave time after the experience to integrate what happened into your everyday life. This is how you’ll gain the most benefit.

You probably will want to have a trip sitter during the your first several DMT experiences and you should only smoke DMT while sitting or laying down. Within seconds the trip can cause a complete loss of awareness of your place in reality. Holding a hot pipe of molten DMT in your hand or near your face while tripping is dangerous. So it’s best to take those big hits with the help of a trip sitter. Also just know that it’s normal to be nervous before blasting off—even if you’re well prepared—and it’s also normal to return with extreme gratitude for having taken the trip.

Dosage

Below you’ll find dosage information from Erowid, one of our favorite resources on the net.

  • Threshold: 2 – 5 mg
  • Light: 10 – 20 mg
  • Common: 20 – 40 mg
  • Strong: 40 – 60 mg

When we talk about dose it’s best to think about the DMT experience being divided between “sub-breakthrough” and “breakthrough” doses. A sub-breakthrough dose produces psychedelic effects in a way that still involve you being connected or aware of “normal reality.” You can still see what’s on TV or understand the music playing in your headphones. Like being on a few grams of mushrooms you can also easily describe a sub-breakthrough dose while it’s happening or after it’s completed. One of the differences compared to mushrooms is the headspace at sub-breakthrough doses of DMT. When on DMT at a sub-breakthrough level you’re remarkably clear headed while tripping compared to mushrooms or acid.

A breakthrough dose takes you completely out of normal reality. You’ll be in a space where words let alone the laws of physics don’t mean a thing. A typical breakthrough dose is between 40-60 mg which is difficult to achieve without taking several lungfuls of DMT.  Terence McKenna always said that it takes about three big hits to reach a breakthrough level.

Each toke however becomes less easy to take as you get increasingly higher. If you’re ready for a breakthrough dose you’ll need to keep smoking until the DMT pipe is no longer visible and you’re no longer in normal reality. If you can still see the pipe—you need to keep toking if you want to break through. Again being this high requires the help of an aid so that you don’t burn yourself with a hot pipe or molten DMT. It also require a lot of courage by both the tripper and sitter. So good luck.

We’ve also heard but have you to confirm that a breakthrough dose is possible with a single hit if three different types of DMT are combined. Like we mentioned above, DMT is found in many many plants like Arundo donax, Desmanthus Illinoensis, and Phalaris arundinacea to name just three. So by mixing DMT made from three different sources, in theory, someone can get reach a breakthrough dose by taking just one hit. We’re definitely doing some research and experimentation into this. If you’ve heard about any of this let let us know in the comment section below?

Otherworldly entities
Like we mentioned above one of the very distinctive characteristics of a breakthrough DMT experience or what’s sometimes described as a mystical experience is contact with intelligent and unusually compassionate extra-terrestrial beings.

“What happens is,” says Terence McKenna, “the world is completely replaced. Instantly, 100%, it’s all gone. And what is put in its place, not one iota of what is put in its place, was taken from this world. So, it’s a 100% reality channel switch. They don’t even retain 3 dimensional space and linear time. It’s not like you go to an exotic place- Morocco or New Guinea. It’s like, you- reality is swapped out for something else. And when you try to say what it is, you realize that language has evolved in this world and it can serve no other, and… or it takes years of practice. So, what you’re looking at is literally the unspeakable. The indescribable falls into your lap. And when you try- you’re loaded, right, you’re there- and you’re trying to explain to yourself what is happening, and so, this is like you try to pour water over the transdimensional objects in front of you, the water of language, and it just beads up and flows off like water off a duck’s back. You cannot say what’s there.”

These otherworldly beings are often described as machine elves or angels. Some people believe that they are ancestors traversing the Bardo realm of existence. The way that they actually appear is beyond anything you can imagine. The great psychedelic explorer DM Turner used to say that they’d pop right out of his body. According to TRIPproject, the personification of these creatures is usually the result of one’s memory creating a metaphor to bypass their unimaginability. These entities are usually described as being very cheerful and grateful about our visit to their realm.

TRIPproject also reports that the entities are usually very eager to show the tripper all the impossible things from their realm, and uncovering the fundamental secrets of existence. The entities usually communicate with direct sharing of experience, with language being unable to convey the extremely mystical experiences they are communicating. A fraction of trippers who break through on DMT experience glossolalia, or speaking in tongues, which occurs when one finds out how to communicate pure experience back to the entities, which for some reason manifests as gibberish “in the real world”. The glossolalia is usually accompanied by an extremely cheerfully exuberant celebratory response from the entities, kind of like how a parent might become overcome with joy when their child speaks its first words.

Smoking DMT
You can smoke freebase DMT for some intense results. However one thing to keep in mind is that if your open flame comes in contact with the DMT it will destroy it before it can get you high. You wouldn’t pack a bowl of DMT the same way that you’d pack a bowl of weed. What you want to do is lay down a base layer of cannabis in your pipe. This will ensure that the DMT will not fall through the hole in your bowl when you take a hit. That’d be a total waste of DMT.

You can also use some ash from spent cannabis instead of actual cannabis. But if weed is accessible don’t even bother. Okay once you’ve got that base layer down you’ll want to sprinkle a layer of DMT over it. How much? Don’t have a scale? Just sprinkle some DMT until you’ve covered that base layer with a thin layer of DMT. Next top off that layer of DMT with some cannabis to protect it from the flame.

To smoke the DMT treat it like you’d treat good hash. Don’t expose that top layer of herb or ash to the flame. Hover that flame just a bit above the herb to get it really hot, but not hot enough to ignite, and begin to inhale. You’ll want to take the biggest hit possible. You’ll also want to hold in that hit for as long as possible as well. And if you want to breakthrough you’ll want to take at least one, two or even three more deep and long hits.

Here’s the thing though. Smoked DMT doesn’t taste anything like cannabis. Cannabis is delicious. DMT? Not so much. Many people find its flavor unpleasant. Suffice to say inhaling enough smoked DMT for it to work effectively can be difficult. You can use a bong. That’ll give you the ability to take a much larger hit than you would if you were using a pipe. You can also use a steam-roller as well to get that larger hit. We’ve heard that people can use oil pipes, like you’d use with meth, to smoke DMT too.

DMT Vape Carts

Vaping DMT
If you’re lucky enough you can find DMT in 510 threaded vape cartridges as shown in the photos above. Just attach them to any vape pen battery and you’re good to go. Getting a huge enough hit (or several) to reach a “breakthrough” is difficult using one of these devices. But if you’re persistent it is possible.

We’ve had some pretty good results vaping DMT with a dab rig. We’ve experimented with both titanium and quartz nails. You do not need much heat to vaporize the freebase DMT at all. We’re talking a bit less than what you’d need if you were taking a cool dab of cannabis concentrate. The only problem with a dab rig is getting that second or third hit. Even after a single hit of DMT you’ll be pretty high and uncoordinated to the point where wielding a torch is dangerous. So recruit a partner if you can.

We’ve had some success with enails. Again use a very low heat to vaporize the freebase DMT. We’ve also had some success using a vape pen. We’re talking about the type of pens that have an atomizer that you can fill with DMT like the Atmos Raw. Keep in mind that once you use these things with DMT each subsequent hit for quite some time is going to have the unmistakeable flavor of DMT. If you’ve ever made the mistake of adding flavored coffee to your coffee maker and then had that flavor taint future coffee for weeks you’ll know what we mean. Anyhow we’ve heard that the VapeXhale works really well to vape DMT.

The guy who has taught many to make DMT, Gordo, has a vaping technique that seems pretty rocking and will allow someone to easily take a few large hits of DMT without much risk of getting burned. He makes a DIY vape device that he calls a Dream Maker Tool by taking a Snapple bottle or some other similar glass bottle with a metal lid and uses a drill and specialized large glass bit to remove the entire bottom. Gordo also drills out a hole in the side to act as a carb. Gordo uses an earplug to plug the carb and heavy-duty tin foil to cover the bottom of the bottle. Rubber bands hold the foil in place.

To vape the DMT he’ll place the material on the foil, secure the foil to the bottom of the bottle with the rubber bands, close the lid and carb and uses a heat gun to vaporize the DMT. It takes about a minute or more to heat up and vaporize all the DMT.

Gordo shows on his video that it’s a good idea to hit the side of the bottle with the heat gun a few times to warm it up. This will prevent the DMT vapor from sticking to the sides of the bottle. Once you’ve got all your DMT vaped take care to stash your heat gun on a metal tray or something heat-proof and get it out of the way so that you don’t get burned during your trip. Next pop the top, pull out the carb and take the biggest hit that you can. Repeat until you’re high AF.

How much is DMT
How much does DMT typically cost? DMT is commonly sold by the gram. It will run you around $100 for a gram of DMT. Or you could follow the directions below and make about a gram of DMT for around $30.

How to make DMT

This recipe comes from Gordo. His DMT extraction technique results in extremely high yield and purity. The best part about his method is that it requires no special lab equipment or the use of harsh chemicals like sodium hydroxide aka Lye. And it’s easily performed in your kitchen with a few grocery store items and a mixer. You don’t need to worry about pH or high temperature reactions—just follow the directions carefully and you’ll be rewarded with DMT.

Here’s a link to Gordo’s Patreon site with links to all the items that you’ll need to make DMT at home. If you do purchase any of the required materials please use Gordo’s affiliate links so that he gets a little monetary reward for passing on such useful information. The following instructions are summarized from Gordo’s recipe just to give you a quick overview of the process. Make sure to visit his Patreon page and watch his instructional video if you’re going to make DMT yourself:

Ingredients to make DMT

  • 100 grams powdered or finely shredded mimosa bark.
  • 100 ml of distilled white vinegar with 5% acidity.
  • 80 grams of Calcium Hydroxide or Sodium Carbonate (Pickling lime is fine if Calcium Hydroxide is the only listed ingredient, washing soda is also fine).
  • 600 grams of Heptane or 400g Naphtha (solvent).

Equipment to make DMT

  • Stand mixer (with mixing paddle)
  • Blender or coffee grinder (only if mimosa bark is not finely ground)
  • Kitchen scale
  • Cling wrap
  • Two glass pie plates
  • Crock pot
  • Mason or other similar glass jar with lid
  • Coffee filter
  • Stainless steel or glass funnel
  • Stainless steel spoon
  • Freezer on coldest setting

[Keep all open flames or heating elements well away from your solvent at all times, use proper ventilation when working with solvents (fan to outside) or work outside or in an open garage]

1) Put 100 grams Mimosa bark, powdered or shredded fine in a mixer.

2) Add 100 ml Distilled White Vinegar plus 1/2 cup (approx 120ml) of boiling hot water and mix for 40 minutes on slow setting.

3) Add 80g of Calcium Hydroxide or  Sodium Carbonate and mix for 10 more minutes.

4) Place the bark mix in the glass pie dishes spread out evenly with a stainless steel or silicon instrument. Cover with cling wrap and let the bark sit for 1 to 36 hours—based on what’s convenient for you.

5) Add 500ml of very hot water (you can microwave it for 3 minutes) in a crock pot on high (this should either be outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.)

6) Put 100g of naphtha (150g of Heptane) in the mason jar with the lid on very lightly on (not tightened).

7) Place the mason jar with the solvent into the crockpot.

8) Place the pie dish containing the mimosa bark on top of the crock pot so it serves as the lid and the bark mix can warm up for 10 minutes.

9) Remove the pie plate from the top of the crock pot, wipe the bottom dry with a towel, and set it down.

10) Add the pre-warmed solvent to the bark mix in the pie plate then place the pie plate back on the top of the crock pot to keep it warm during the pull.  

11) Slice and move the bark slowly with a stainless steel spoon so that the solvent has the chance to make contact with all areas of the bark. Stir for about 10 minutes if using naphtha, 5 if using heptane (because it rapidly evaporates).

12) Put the coffee filter in the funnel pour the solvent into the funnel, which is placed over the mason jar so that the now DMT rich solvent is back in the mason jar without any of the bark particles falling in with it.

13) Place a clean/dry pie plate on the crock pot and pour the DMT rich solvent into it.  Do not cover this pie plate, this should still be done outside or with kitchen vent on maximum. Watch this very carefully until it is reduced to 10-25 grams (1 to 2 tablespoons).  

14) Cover pie dish with cling wrap, put in freezer at a slight angle for 2 to 4 hours. Dry the bottom of the pie dish and cover it tightly with cling wrap, then put the pie dish, tilted at a slight angle, into the freezer set to the coldest setting.

You will know it is ready when the solvent first becomes cloudy and then clear again after crystal formation.  You should see white crystals at the bottom, try not to disturb the dish while they are forming.

It is highly recommended (but optional) that you rotate the pie plate after the crystals are done forming so that the DMT is out of the solvent, but leave it in the freezer, still tightly covered, for several more hours or overnight- this will pre-dry the DMT.

15) Take the pie dish out of the freezer, and pour all the solvent left in the pie dish. There’s not much in there so don’t worry about saving it.

16) Let the pie dish dry for about two hours in an area where it will not be disturbed.

17) Scrape the DMT off of the pie plate with a razor.

18) Repeat the “pulling process” of extracting DMT from the bark roughly 48 hours from start time, a week from start day, and two weeks from start day. To do this repeat these instructions from step 8.  Always store the bark mix tightly covered, at room temperature, but a cool place like a basement is fine (do not refrigerate it).

Have you ever smoked DMT? Please let us know about your experience in the comments section below.

SSL is not responsible for whatever happens if you decide to make or consume DMT. All DMT images are Photoshopped. SSL does not sell or posses DMT. Please see our TOS and Disclaimer.



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