The+Death+Molecule

=DMT- Background and the Science Behind the Experience =

media type="youtube" key="uuUZhzd2RGA" width="560" height="315" align="right"Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a chemical compound found throughout nature and in the human bodies. It causes intense psychedelic effects on the brain, and also has protective properties. 1  DMT releases from several glands in the human body during a near-death or high stress situation. Chemically it is similar to serotonin which allows sigma-1 receptors to create strong bonds that are difficult to be broken. 2  Once the body releases DMT, it travels through the blood stream with and reaches the brain. This causes increased hypermobility skills, increased heart rate, dilated pupils, and heightened your rate. These preparations for death are not the only physical effects it has on the body. DMT is circumvented by an oxidation resistant enzyme that helps it resist oxidative stress. 3  DMT helps prevent the death of brain cells under high stress situations as it does once it enters the blood stream, unlike other chemicals that deteriorate as they travel through the blood stream. The same enzyme that helps prevent brain cell death is also what allows DMT to maintain its chemical integrity during its voyage to the brain. Voyage is meant quite literally, as DMT requires the assistants of three other active transport mechanisms in order to pass through several membrane barriers. This process is similar to those of essential chemicals such as glucose and amino acids. DMT's oxidative resistant properties apply universally as it effects all plants and animals similarly. 4

DMT as a One-of-a-Kind Hallucinogen
media type="youtube" key="XMpOhqqO4PE" width="560" height="315" align="right"However, its psychedelic effects have only been observed in humans. Accounts of DMT trips and near-death experiences are remarkably similar. Reports of spiritual elevation and separations have while under the influence of DMT have also been reported. Amazonian Tribes have been using Ayahuasca, which has DMT as its psychoactive component, as hallucinogens geared towards spiritual healing ceremonies. 5  Those on DMT report physical feelings similar to levitating above their own bodies and observing their surroundings, as well as out-of-body experiences such as being flung into an alternate universe, separate from Earth. 6  Many accounts describe a dome where extraterrestrials speak in different languages and are surrounded by unfathomable geometric patterns. 7  Majority of these reports describe these beings as omniscient and all-knowing. DMT is one of the most fascinating compounds in the body, its effects and purpose it has in the body still puzzle scientists today. It is being researched to be used as an emergency drug to prolong brain cell life during child birth and cardiac arrest. 8  Its uses are limitless and can be very useful to science and modern medicine.

(1). Christie, Caroline. "The Psychedelic Drug That Could Explain Our Belief in Life after Death | Little Atoms." The Psychedelic Drug That Could Explain Our Belief in Life after Death | Little Atoms. Little Atoms, n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2016. (2). Frecska, Ede, Attila Szabo, Michael J. Winkelman, Luis E. Luna, and Dennis J. Mckenna. "A Possibly Sigma-1 Receptor Mediated Role of Dimethyltryptamine in Tissue Protection, Regeneration, and Immunity." Journal of Neural Transmission J Neural Transm 120.9 (2013): 1295-303. ResearchGate. Web. 4 Apr. 2016. (3). Lichfield, Gideon. "The Science of Near-Death Experiences." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, Apr. 2015. Web. 21 Feb. 2016. (4). Beyer, Steven. "The Dimethyltryptamine Receptor." Singing to the Plants RSS. 14 Feb. 2009. Web. 11 Apr. 2016. (5). Cole, Krystle. "Many Legal Plants Contain DMT." NeuroSoup. 2013. Web. 11 Apr. 2016. (6). Williams, Kevin. "Mellen-Thomas Benedict's Near-Death Experience."Mellen-Thomas Benedict's Near-Death Experience. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2016. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px;">(7). Hanna, Jon. "Erowid DMT Vaults : DMT and the Pineal: Fact or Fiction? by Jon Hanna." Erowid DMT Vaults : DMT and the Pineal: Fact or Fiction? by Jon Hanna. Erowid, 29 June 2010. Web. 25 Mar. 2016. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px;">(8). Roberts, Jeff. "DMT Being Used To Prolong Life After Clinical Death."CollectiveEvolution RSS. Collective Evolution, 7 June 2015. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Media Sources <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">(1). PsychedSubstance. "DMT In 3 Minutes or Less." Online Video Clip. Youtube. Youtube, 23 February 2015. Web. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">(2). Alistair Valadez. "Joe Rogan and Graham Hancock Talk About DMT and Mystical Experiences." Online Video Clip. Youtube. Youtube, 18 November 2013

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Lin, Tao. "DMT: You Cannot Imagine a Stranger Drug or a Stranger Experience | VICE | United States." VICE. N.p., 5 Aug. 2014. Web. 11 Apr. 2016.
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Strassman, Rick. "Perspectives on DMT Research." Perspectives on DMT Research. Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, 1998. Web. 21 Feb. 2016.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Szára, Stephen. "DMT Modern Usage." DMT Modern Usage. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2016.