Agraphia
Intention, Preparation and Structure
Dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin are three primary neurotransmitters involved in human behaviour. Psychoactive drugs are known to contain neuroactive agents that structurally resemble these internally produced in our bodies, and fill the same receptor sites in our nerves [see below chemical structures for comparison]. Epinephrine (adrenaline), for example, has a very similar structure to methamphetamines. Serotonin (5-HT) is widely produced in the brain and gastrointestinal tract and is a precursor for melatonin (produced during sleep and meditation) and serves mainly as an inhibitor of neurochemical pathways in the central nervous system, “as if to screen out spurious bits of data to allow one to better focus on the task at hand” (Calloway, 1999).
Most psychedelics have some effect on the serotonergic activity, which effect higher functions of behaviour, such as time-relations. Most serotonin is then metabolised to 5-HIAA by monoamine oxidase (MAO). This is important for a number of reasons. Because MAO inhibits serotonin, when MAO is inhibited, serotonin in the brain increases, creating an excess of the neurotransmitter. This may over-stimulate the vagus nerve and cause vomiting and diarrhoea, or tripping. Deficiencies in tryptophan (precursor to serotonin) and serotonin are linked with violent alcoholism, anxiety, depression and suicide – never take psychedelics if you are on anti-depressants, particularly MAO Inhibitors. And never take MAOs with specific serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Your brain could explode. The aim of some psychiatric medications, likes MAOIs and SSRIs is to increase the availability of serotonin. The medical name for tripping is The Serotonin Syndrome, a toxic state of rapid increase in serotonergic activity subsequent to blocking of metabolic pathways, and its recycling into presynaptic neurons.
Seratonin (5-hydroxytryptamine)
Psilocin (4-Hydroxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine)
DMT (N, N-Dimethyltryptamine)
Nicotine (S)-3-(1-Methyl-2-pyrroli-dinyl) pyridine
Caffeine (3,7-dihydro-1,3,7-trimethyl-1h-purine-2,6-dione)
LSD-25 (d-lysergic acid diethylamide)
Tryptophan also produces DMT (structure above) and serotonin also produces 5-MeO-DMT and 5-hydroxy DMT, which play a part in the psychoactive side-effects of MAO inhibitors as psychiatric medication. DMT can be chemically derived and smoked, and is also known as one of the most powerful psychedelic substances, with links examined in its role in near-death experience and dreaming (along with most psychedelics, it plays a role in the pineal gland and the visual pathways). In particular, it is included in the psychotria viridis, which South American shamans and practitioners have mixed with the ayahuasca vine (which includes harmaline – an MAO inhibitor) for thousands of years (read Narby, 1998). Though the intention, preparation, and structure of their spiritual ceremonies are mostly for purposes of physical, psychic and spiritual healing, many entheogenic substances, and their chemical counterparts are extremely exploited in our part of the world, and this leads to their fear and condemnation, and the people-jumping-out-of-windows scenarios.
On inducing the serotonin syndrome, there is a series of behaviours that are likely to be observed. In other words, if you’re wondering what will happen if you eat that little cardboard square, or drink this nasty tea, expect the following (see Ludwig, 1969):
1. High speed thinking, rapid connections of thought and changes in concentration, attention, memory and judgement, with a likelihood of strong personal reflection – this is why I say to expect to face your fears and your insecurities – it is not our natural state to be as insecure as many of us are, and ‘bad trips’ are very likely to put you in contact with much life-changing information.
2. Alteration of time. Acceleration and deceleration, and the infinite experience. There is research now linking this experience to specific neurology.
3. Loss of your previous idea of Reality. Chances are, your previous idea of reality is not the Real Reality. But hey, whose is?
4. Expressivity. The waves of life, crests and troughs of emotion, from ecstasy to despair, are represented in a psychedelic trip. Intensity of emotion may be experienced alongside a breakdown of inhibitions (e.g. “I shouldn’t cry in front of this person”)
5. Perceptual Alterations. Tripping! Visual imagery – external and internal hallucinations. Bright lights, amazing patterns and moving tunnels of psychedelia, influenced directly by your consciousness and by your environment. If you are seeing things you don’t like, then don’t avoid them. Accept them and will them to change into more pleasant things. They are likely to do just that. Synesthesia may occur, a criss-crossing of senses, such as seeing sound, or tasting colours.
6. Out-of-Body Experience. Or dissolution of the boundaries of your body, including the realisation of mind and body as a single unity and the movement of the spirit into the cosmos. Or perhaps you’ll just feel like rubber, or strangeness.
7. “Changes in meaning and significance” – also known as the “mysto” experience. One may be led to examine the works of Carl Jung (e.g. Synchronicity: An acausal connecting principle). This intense insight may include a sense of knowledge and wisdom of all things.
8. Ineffability. It is unlikely that you will be able to communicate the wonder (or horror) of what you are experiencing as the depth of your meaning and understanding of ‘your’ self-environment-being (energy-consciousness system) and it is probably better if you don’t try too often, or too hard. Firstly, other people are likely to understand your meaning in their subjective reality to some similar level, and secondly, it’s really annoying for people when there’s someone describing every aspect of their trip to the group. It may be much more favourable to just enjoy it and appreciate it. This is not to say that one shouldn’t vocalise a need for assistance if needed, sometimes that is the only thing to help you from descending into a void of paranoia.
9. Rejuvenation. Rebirth. Healing. Due to the nature of this article as a simple guide to the processes of tripping, the content of this point is too much to examine here. As mentioned previously, the healing involved with ethnogenic plants can be one of deep spiritual and life-changing significance.
10. Hypersuggestibility. Coinciding with changes in meaning and significance, it is important not to latch on to everything everybody says, though it may be subjectively relevant. Use your common sense, do not leave this behind. Your body would not be happy if you jumped out the window, and if you think you can fly, take off from the ground.
Before attempting to induce a serotonin syndrome of your own, examine what is known about Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (Flashbacks), LSD affecting chromosomes, and all the bad cases of mental illness related to exploitation and activation of schizophrenic genes and such-like (go to erowid.org). Reading can give you an idea of what to expect, and can show you cases where people got things they didn’t expect, and can help you maintain a seemingly sane persona in an insane world.
All Peace (relaxation without paranoia or stress) and Love (compassion, care and communication) to all Life consciousness.
Expect the unexpected, but expect nothing. Never double drop, have friends there, and stay grounded. Be careful, and listen to your mothers. Don’t take candy from strangers and never get into the car with dirty old men.
http://www.psychedelic-library.org/bookmenu.htm
www.erowid.corg
A. M. Ludwig - Altered States of consciousness
Jeremy Narby – The Cosmic Serpent: DNA and the origins of knowledge
Tom Wolfe - The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test
Timothy Leary – The Psychedelic Experience
J.C. Calloway – Phytochemistry and Neuropharmacology of Ayahuasca, in Ralph Metzner – Ayahuasca, Sacred Vine of Spirits
Look at Dennis McKenna and his brother Thomas too
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