DMT during psychedelics-assisted therapy (PAT)
DMT is a powerful hallucinogenic substance that occurs naturally in many plants and animals and can be ingested or used in DMT therapy. It has traditionally been used in shamanic rituals such as in ayahuasca and has recently gained popularity as a recreational drug. Research suggests that DMT may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of various mental disorders, including depression, anxiety, and trauma-related conditions.
DMT appears to be very similar to the most studied psychedelic drug psilocybin in terms of its effects. Due to this similarity, approximately the same effects are expected as in the studies on psilocybin.
The ongoing studies on DMT as a therapeutic tool are increasing, but not as much as the safer and expectedly better-working psilocybin.
Therapeutic effects in the treatment of depressionSeveral clinical studies were conducted to investigate the potential therapeutic benefits of DMT in the treatment of depressive disorders. These studies focused on the effects of DMT on mood, well-being, and overall mental health of the participants.
Neurological effectsSome researchers have studied the effects of DMT on brain activity using techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG). These studies were aimed at understanding the neurological mechanisms behind the effects of DMT on perception, consciousness, and other cognitive processes.
Spiritual experiencesThere were also ongoing studies to investigate the role of DMT in spiritual experiences. These studies were aimed at understanding the effects of DMT on feelings of connectedness, transcendence, and mystical experiences.
The DMT trip
DMT has a very short duration of action and often only lasts a few minutes. DMT does not work when taken orally without MAOI. This is because the molecule in the gastrointestinal tract is broken down by an enzyme called monoamine oxidase (MAO) before it reaches the brain. To prevent this, DMT can only be taken through a smoking or vaping method. After just one minute, the effects begin to intensify.
The DMT trip is often described as intense and highly visual, with geometric shapes playing a major role. The effects vary from person to person, but can include visual hallucinations, intense emotions, and a loss of sense of time and space. Overall, a DMT trip lasts only an hour, while the peak effects are short-lived.
DMT therapy is still illegal
DMT therapy is not yet available. DMT, also known as dimethyltryptamine, is classified in various countries as a controlled substance. It is on the list of controlled substances of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and several other countries. In the Netherlands, it has been classified as a hard drug since 1999, making its possession and sale illegal under the Opium Act. If the many ongoing studies yield many positive results, DMT will eventually be legalized for various types of therapy, is our expectation.
Legal alternatives to DMT
Currently, there are no other substances that act as quickly or produce the same effects as DMT. Psilocybin can produce approximately the same visual effects provided the dosage is high enough. Psilocybin does not work through a vaporizer but rather orally. The difference between vaping DMT and taking psilocybin orally lies primarily in the long duration of the psilocybin session, which lasts about 6 hours. Some people suggest that 5-MeO-DMT could be an alternative, however this substance does not produce visual effects.
DMT
Psilocybin
Psilocybin therapy as the best alternative
Most clients who search for DMT therapy often choose psilocybin as an alternative because psilocybin has often proven effective in conditions where these people are looking for a remedy. On the page below we have described when psilocybin helps and how psilocybin works as a therapeutic tool.