Bufo alvarius

Anadenanthera colubrine (vilca)

Anadenanthera peregrine (yopo)

Overview

5-MeO-DMT is a naturally occurring psychedelic that belongs to the tryptamine family. It can be synthetically produced or found in certain trees and shrubs, usually in tandem bufotenin (5-HO-DMT), however it is most notably found naturally in the venom of the Sonoran Desert Toad (Bufo alvarius). 5-MeO-DMT is also endogenously produced in the body, similar to N,N-DMT, suggesting our innate ability to metabolize and transfuse the molecule through the blood-brain barrier may be inherent to us as mammals. One note of concern regarding the natural production of 5-Meo-DMT is the protected-status of the toad and the impact on its environment may be susceptible to exploitation, with the status of endangered in CA, threatened in NM, and secure in AZ, precautions should be taken when procuring this medicine from reliable sources.
Traditional uses in Central and South America go back centuries. It was first recorded in 1496, when Friar Ramón Pané observed the Taíno people of Hispaniola inhaling “cohoba,” a snuff that contained 5-MeO-DMT; and again in 1737 by Joseph Gumilla, who observed a similar practice in southern Venezuela. In 1936, nearly 200 years later, 5-MeO-DMT was synthesized for the first time by two chemists: Toshio Hoshino and Kenya Shimodaira.
The first modern record of someone extracting and smoking the Sonoran Desert Toad venom was Ken Nelson in the summer of 1983 after being inspired by an article in the August 1981 issue of OMNI magazine. In the article, Dr. Jeanne Runquist had excavated a Cherokee settlement in North Carolina where she found up to 10,000 toad bones and prompted Nelson to begin anthropological and scientific research into the possibility of a psychedelic toad, perhaps used in entheogenic rituals. He eventually identified the overtly glandular anuran Colorado River Toad (Bufo alvarius) as the most likely candidate, and traveled to the Arizona desert during the monsoon season of 1983. Nelson then had the first known modern toad venom extract experience which prompted the writing of the pamphlet Bufo Alvarius: The Psychedelic Toad of the Sonoran Desert under the pseudonym Albert Most.

In the early 1980s, one could legally order extracted 5-MeO-DMT by mail from the Church of the Tree of Life and the Church of the Toad of Light, the latter of which was founded by Nelson. As recreational use increased throughout the decades, it was eventually declared a Schedule I drug. Today, 5-MeO-DMT is being studied for its therapeutic benefits, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction. It is also a tool for personal growth and spiritual enlightenment. Because of this proliferated use, the toad is facing endangered status and a negative impact on its natural environment. It was in 2019 that researcher and chemist Hamilton Morris expanded and updated Nelson’s pamphlet, with the help of original illustrator Gail Patterson, to include a final page on the synthetic synthesis of 5-MeO-DMT. This reissue was done in honor of Ken Nelson, who passed in late 2019, with all of the proceeds going to toad conservation efforts and Parkinson’s Disease research.

It is highly recommended to use harm reduction practices if using this substance.

Dose and Duration

5-MeO-DMT is usually smoked, though it can also be ingested, usually alongside bufotenin, in the form of snuff. The nasal inhalation of snuff was prevalent throughout South America for thousands of years and paraphernalia is constantly unearthed in archaeological excavations. It is important to note that the effects of smoking 5-MeO-DMT last for a significantly shorter time than most other psychedelics, averaging at about 15 to 30 minutes instead of 7 to 8 hours. This is not to be taken lightly, as 5-MeO-DMT is known to be the most powerfully potent and intense experience most psychonauts will ever encounter.

The general recommended dose for smoking is as follows:

• Low: 3 – 6 mg
• Medium: 6 -12 mg
• Strong: 12 – 20 mg
• Heavy: 20+ mg

Effects

5-MeO-DMT and DMT share a similar structure, however 5-MeO-DMT has a methoxy group in the R5 position. It primarily works as a serotonin receptor agonist with an affinity to the 5-HT1A receptor subtype, as well as 5-HT2A and trace amine receptors. Neurotransmitters like noradrenaline and dopamine may also be involved in eliciting the psychedelic effects of 5-MeO-DMT.

Experience

Though sometimes mistaken for DMT, 5-MeO-DMT is known to produce an overwhelmingly strong perceptual shift and immediate onset of a tryptamine high and a visual white light, whilst being immersed quickly into a memory and time distorting “trance” where the user dissociates and dissolves their sense of self/ego much more rapidly than with DMT. It is known to be felt as a very human and religious experience which is remotely shared by the two tryptamines though distinctly different in nature. The trip is said to be less of a visual experience and instead consists of multiple interconnected sensations and an overloading of the psychical senses which can demand the user to submit to the medicine. Experiences include an essence of oneness, feelings of new perspectives, a fuller understanding of mindfulness, gratitude, and a lasting satisfaction of life and contentment in oneself. Users commonly experience loss of physical coordination and control, bright colors, moving environments, and possibly “environmental orbism.” Unlike DMT, visual effects of 5-MeO-DMT are limited. Ego death and perceptual disorientation is also experienced by many users, as well as auditory hallucinations, distortion of time, nausea, and memory loss.

Other shared experiences include:

Other shared experiences include:

• Physical Euphoria
• Changes Felt in Gravity
• Muscle Spasms
• Loss of Motor Control
• Delusion
• Wakefulness
• Auditory Enhancements

The effects of 5-MeO-DMT can last up to 30 minutes, with lingering effects lasting up to one hour.

Benefits

5-MeO-DMT has been known to produce a mystical-type experience. These experiences have been key in lowering levels of anxiety and depression and increasing levels of well-being and overall life satisfaction. In a survey of over 300 adults, 80% reported lower levels of anxiety and depression after using 5-MeO-DMT. Other studies show that these effects can last up to 4 weeks after the initial experience.

Risks

While studies demonstrate that 5-MeO-DMT is relatively safe to use and has a low risk of health consequences, there have been associated deaths related to use of this substance. One thing to consider is that this substance should not be taken with MAOIs, including some SSRIs (antidepressants), as it may cause severe hypertensive symptoms, seizures, serotonin syndrome, long-term kidney damage, and possibly even death. A sitter is highly recommended, almost essential, in contrast to N,N-DMT which has an exponentially lower toxicity profile.