“Mystical experiences of nature and experiences with entheogenic drugs have decisively determined his worldview and path in life. He acknowledges how these drugs opened his eyes to the wonder of that deeper, all-encompassing reality, into which we are all born as a part of the creation. This is the reality which all of the great mystics and founders of religions described; it is in truth the kingdom of heaven destined for humankind. There is, however, a fundamental distinction; whether one knows of this reality only from the reports of others, or whether one has experienced it personally in beatific moments; spontaneously or with the aid of entheogenic drugs. He characterizes the entheogens as one of the tools which can help us to overcome the materialistic worldview, to which we can ultimately attribute all of the great problems of our day—environmental contamination, spiritual, political and social abuses, wars. These medicines, which have been bestowed upon humankind by Nature—the most important of the entheogens are of botanical derivation—should not be withheld from contemporary society. Thus his passionate stance against drug prohibition.
Encoded in the genes of entheogenic plants are instructions for the biosynthesis of molecules which open up to us the wonder and mystery inherent in the universe and in ourselves, ancient wisdom so readily outshone by the brilliant beacons of our modern knowledge; nevertheless residing in every human heart and soul, awaiting a chemical or other key for its unfurling.
In response to the discovery of the entheogenic properties of DMT, bufotenine and 5-MeO-DMT as active principles of South American snuffs, a number of artificial derivatives of these tryptamines were made and tested. The best known and most widely tested of the artificial tryptamines are T-9 or N,N-diethyltryptamine (DET) and N,N-dipropyltryptamine (DPT). DET was first tested in Hungary and found to be active following intramuscular injection of the hydrochloride salt in the same dose range as DMT, around 1 mg/kg (Böszörményi et al. 1959; Szára 1957). In contrast to DMT, however, the effects of an intramuscular dose are not felt until after about fifteen minutes (versus two to three minutes for injected DMT). Whereas injected DMT lasts about thirty to forty-five minutes, injected DET lasts about two or three hours (Böszörményi et al. 1959; Faillace et al. 1967; Szára and Rockland 1961). A similar difference in time course obtains for vaporizing the drugs. The effect of inhaled vapor of free-base DMT commences virtually immediately and lasts only ten to fifteen minutes, whereas vaporized DET free-base requires a few minutes to be felt and lasts for about one to two hours. There are qualitative differences between the two compounds as well. While DMT has a dramatic, sledgehammer-like power, the effect of DET is more subtle, and the drug is less likely to provoke anxiety and panic states which may occur following DMT administration. This fact, combined with the idyllic one to three hour duration of effect, makes DET one of the most desirable of all entheogenic agents, particularly advantageous for users naive to entheogens. As the Böszörményi group commented: ‘we believe DET to be the best and least noxious mysticomimetic agent known thus far, which seems to have an unquestionable therapeutic effect as well’ (Böszörményi et al. 1959). DET is reportedly active orally at high doses (Shulgin 1976).
DPT was first tested by Szára in animals (Szára 1960), and later found to have properties similar to DET in human subjects (Faillace 1967; Szára 1970). This intriguing compound has been explored as a means to induce ‘peak experiences’ (mystical or religious experiences) in terminal cancer patients. In doses of 90-150 mg of DPT hydrochloride injected intramuscularly, with the patient carefully guided by trained therapists, and isolated from distractions by blindfolds and headphones playing classical music, peak experiences were indeed induced in some subjects (Grof and Halifax 1977; Richards 1974; Richards et al. 1977). Although ‘quite dramatic positive results’ resulted from DPT psychotherapy in some cases, ‘this study did not bring evidence that DPT could successfully replace LSD in psychedelic therapy of cancer patients’ (Grof and Halifax 1977), and most therapists concluded that LSD was more effective. Evidently, the duration of injected DPT is directly proportional to dose; lower doses (around 50 mg) having a duration of only about one to two hours, whereas doses above 100 mg show a longer duration (Richards 1974). DPT has also been used as an adjunct to treatment of alcoholism (Faillace 1970; Grof 1974, 1977). Like DET, this compound is reportedly active orally in high doses (Shulgin 1976), and the free-base is reportedly entheogenic when its vapor is inhaled (Stafford 1984).
DMT is not active orally. Single doses of up to a gram orally have no effect (Shulgin 1976; Turner and Merlis 1959). The average intramuscular dose of the hydrochloride salt is 50-60 mg, producing psychoactive effects commencing in two to five minutes, peaking in fifteen minutes, with the experience lasting a total of 30-45 minutes. An effect of equal intensity is produced by 25-30 mg of DMT free-base vaporized, with the entire experience accelerated dramatically. Onset following vaporizing is almost immediate, attaining a peak in two to three minutes, with the entire effect lasting only ten to twenty minutes (Ott 1977). Intravenous DMT fumarate was ‘hallucinogenic’ at 0.2-0.4 mg/kg, with peak effects at 1.5-2 minutes; lasting less than half an hour (Strassman and Qualls 1994; Strassman et al. 1994). Although DMT-containing plant snuffs are active, intranasal administration of 5-20 mg of pure DMT was inactive (Turner and Merlis 1959). Orally, in combination with MAO-inhibitors, DMT is active in the same dose range as by intramuscular injection (Ott 1994). DMT and LSD show cross-tolerance (Rosenberg 1964). Four hours left between doses does not elicit tolerance (Brown 1967).
DET is weakly active orally at high doses (Shulgin 1976). Vaporized or injected it has the same range of potency as DMT. lntramuscuiar injection of 50-60 mg results in an effect which commences in fifteen minutes, reaches a peak shortly thereafter, lasting a total of two to three hours (Böszörményi et al. 1959; Faillace et al. 1967; Szára 1957; Szára 1970; Szára and Rockland 1961; Szára et al. 1966). As in the case of DMT, the inhalation of 25-30 mg of DET free-base vapor produces an effect roughly equivalent to intramuscular injection of twice that amount, and again, the experience is contracted. The effects of vaporized DET free-base commence in two to three minutes and last one to two hours. Any tolerance is quickly acquired and as rapidly dissipates. DET is visionary when taken orally in combination with MAO-inhibitors.
DPT shows some oral activity (Shulgin 1976) and injected is in the same range of potency as DMT and DET (Faillace 1967; Szára 1970). Unlike these drugs, however, the duration of DPT effects are a function of dose, at least following intramuscular injection of the hydrochloride salt. Whereas lower doses (around 50 mg) may last about one to two hours; doses of 100 mg and above may last longer (Rhead 1977; Richards 1974, 1977). Again, inhalation of the free-base vapor greatly accelerates the drug’s effects (Stafford 1984).”
Encoded in the genes of entheogenic plants are instructions for the biosynthesis of molecules which open up to us the wonder and mystery inherent in the universe and in ourselves, ancient wisdom so readily outshone by the brilliant beacons of our modern knowledge; nevertheless residing in every human heart and soul, awaiting a chemical or other key for its unfurling.
In response to the discovery of the entheogenic properties of DMT, bufotenine and 5-MeO-DMT as active principles of South American snuffs, a number of artificial derivatives of these tryptamines were made and tested. The best known and most widely tested of the artificial tryptamines are T-9 or N,N-diethyltryptamine (DET) and N,N-dipropyltryptamine (DPT). DET was first tested in Hungary and found to be active following intramuscular injection of the hydrochloride salt in the same dose range as DMT, around 1 mg/kg (Böszörményi et al. 1959; Szára 1957). In contrast to DMT, however, the effects of an intramuscular dose are not felt until after about fifteen minutes (versus two to three minutes for injected DMT). Whereas injected DMT lasts about thirty to forty-five minutes, injected DET lasts about two or three hours (Böszörményi et al. 1959; Faillace et al. 1967; Szára and Rockland 1961). A similar difference in time course obtains for vaporizing the drugs. The effect of inhaled vapor of free-base DMT commences virtually immediately and lasts only ten to fifteen minutes, whereas vaporized DET free-base requires a few minutes to be felt and lasts for about one to two hours. There are qualitative differences between the two compounds as well. While DMT has a dramatic, sledgehammer-like power, the effect of DET is more subtle, and the drug is less likely to provoke anxiety and panic states which may occur following DMT administration. This fact, combined with the idyllic one to three hour duration of effect, makes DET one of the most desirable of all entheogenic agents, particularly advantageous for users naive to entheogens. As the Böszörményi group commented: ‘we believe DET to be the best and least noxious mysticomimetic agent known thus far, which seems to have an unquestionable therapeutic effect as well’ (Böszörményi et al. 1959). DET is reportedly active orally at high doses (Shulgin 1976).
DPT was first tested by Szára in animals (Szára 1960), and later found to have properties similar to DET in human subjects (Faillace 1967; Szára 1970). This intriguing compound has been explored as a means to induce ‘peak experiences’ (mystical or religious experiences) in terminal cancer patients. In doses of 90-150 mg of DPT hydrochloride injected intramuscularly, with the patient carefully guided by trained therapists, and isolated from distractions by blindfolds and headphones playing classical music, peak experiences were indeed induced in some subjects (Grof and Halifax 1977; Richards 1974; Richards et al. 1977). Although ‘quite dramatic positive results’ resulted from DPT psychotherapy in some cases, ‘this study did not bring evidence that DPT could successfully replace LSD in psychedelic therapy of cancer patients’ (Grof and Halifax 1977), and most therapists concluded that LSD was more effective. Evidently, the duration of injected DPT is directly proportional to dose; lower doses (around 50 mg) having a duration of only about one to two hours, whereas doses above 100 mg show a longer duration (Richards 1974). DPT has also been used as an adjunct to treatment of alcoholism (Faillace 1970; Grof 1974, 1977). Like DET, this compound is reportedly active orally in high doses (Shulgin 1976), and the free-base is reportedly entheogenic when its vapor is inhaled (Stafford 1984).
DMT is not active orally. Single doses of up to a gram orally have no effect (Shulgin 1976; Turner and Merlis 1959). The average intramuscular dose of the hydrochloride salt is 50-60 mg, producing psychoactive effects commencing in two to five minutes, peaking in fifteen minutes, with the experience lasting a total of 30-45 minutes. An effect of equal intensity is produced by 25-30 mg of DMT free-base vaporized, with the entire experience accelerated dramatically. Onset following vaporizing is almost immediate, attaining a peak in two to three minutes, with the entire effect lasting only ten to twenty minutes (Ott 1977). Intravenous DMT fumarate was ‘hallucinogenic’ at 0.2-0.4 mg/kg, with peak effects at 1.5-2 minutes; lasting less than half an hour (Strassman and Qualls 1994; Strassman et al. 1994). Although DMT-containing plant snuffs are active, intranasal administration of 5-20 mg of pure DMT was inactive (Turner and Merlis 1959). Orally, in combination with MAO-inhibitors, DMT is active in the same dose range as by intramuscular injection (Ott 1994). DMT and LSD show cross-tolerance (Rosenberg 1964). Four hours left between doses does not elicit tolerance (Brown 1967).
DET is weakly active orally at high doses (Shulgin 1976). Vaporized or injected it has the same range of potency as DMT. lntramuscuiar injection of 50-60 mg results in an effect which commences in fifteen minutes, reaches a peak shortly thereafter, lasting a total of two to three hours (Böszörményi et al. 1959; Faillace et al. 1967; Szára 1957; Szára 1970; Szára and Rockland 1961; Szára et al. 1966). As in the case of DMT, the inhalation of 25-30 mg of DET free-base vapor produces an effect roughly equivalent to intramuscular injection of twice that amount, and again, the experience is contracted. The effects of vaporized DET free-base commence in two to three minutes and last one to two hours. Any tolerance is quickly acquired and as rapidly dissipates. DET is visionary when taken orally in combination with MAO-inhibitors.
DPT shows some oral activity (Shulgin 1976) and injected is in the same range of potency as DMT and DET (Faillace 1967; Szára 1970). Unlike these drugs, however, the duration of DPT effects are a function of dose, at least following intramuscular injection of the hydrochloride salt. Whereas lower doses (around 50 mg) may last about one to two hours; doses of 100 mg and above may last longer (Rhead 1977; Richards 1974, 1977). Again, inhalation of the free-base vapor greatly accelerates the drug’s effects (Stafford 1984).”
