Alright. I'll throw my hat in the ring here. This is an offered revision I sent to The Traveler.

---

Below are some sincere ideas that represent the attitude of our community at large as it relates to Health & Safety:

Warning

DMT is a bottomless well of never ending confoundment, an unsolvable riddle of epic proportions spoken in alien tongues. It will call into question all that you know, all you’ve learned to accept as reality, and introduce you to a state of being which defies all comprehension.

This experience is not for everyone, and not all who choose to open the door deal well with the questions it raises. It should never be undertaken lightly or treated in a casual manner. Those who approach it with little respect often pay a psychic price.

Should you choose to proceed, be aware that integration issues may follow. What you find inside may change your life. It will almost certainly alter your deepest, most fundamental assumptions.

Ayahuasca and Mental Health

Studies of regular sacramental use amongst indigenous peoples of the Amazon basin have shown compelling indications that ayahuasca used in this fashion is not only free of negative side effects, but has actual long term mental and physical benefits to the user. The experience, however, can be incredibly immersive and intense - and certain food and drug interactions with MAOI’s present very real health dangers.

As with all other modes of consumption - education, pre-planning and respectful approach are the keys to a safe experience.

Vaporized DMT and Mental Health

Vaporized DMT is a relatively recent practice - and as of yet no studies exist on its possible long term side effects. The overwhelmingly extreme nature of the experience, as well as the almost instantaneous onset (wherein the user is launched into the peak experience within a minute or less) lends itself to the possibilities of panic and existential terror. The complete and utter inscrutability of the experience can leave one vulnerable in the aftermath. As mentioned above, integration issues big and small are not at all uncommon. Most who have traveled to any degree have dealt with this in some way.

Those with a history of mental health issues are urged to forego this experience. Extensive personal research is recommended as a prerequisite, and great attention should be paid at all times to issues of set and setting.

Having Problems?

If you find yourself experiencing problems related to trip integration, or mental and emotional distress of any kind as a result of your DMT usage, stop all use immediately. Should problems persist after you’ve stopped, seek professional help.

We are here to help you process the experience, but an internet forum is in no way a stand-in for appropriate mental healthcare. We are here because we share a common bond and fascination, but this fascination doesn’t make us doctors or psychiatrists. We’re not qualified to make medical assessments or advise on matters of pharmacology. If you are currently receiving professional treatment, stick with your treatment plan. DMT is not a cure-all, and it is not a replacement for doctor prescribed treatment of any kind.

If you find yourself feeling suicidal, seek professional help immediately. If treatment is not readily and immediately available, pick up the phone and call your local suicide prevention hotline. Do not act on any impulse to harm yourself or others. Integration problems will always pass with time and discontinued use.

Frequency of Use

There is no rule of thumb as to how often DMT can be safely consumed. Overuse of any substance will negatively impact the user, but the definition of what is too much can differ from person to person. If at any point you find yourself investing more emotional energy in that world than this one, we recommend that you take a break and focus on channel normal.

Addiction Potential

DMT is not physically addictive, and many users experience a kind of self-regulating quality to the drug. Any drug, however, has the potential for abuse, and DMT is no exception. If you feel yourself slipping into an area where you feel you are overusing, listen to your inner voice. Chances are that you’re right.

I would change it to this:



We already had a discussion about this in length and i feel both sides should be reflected. I feel my revision would be a good compromise.

and now here's a proposed version including some of art's, oblig and my changes (still missing a specific integration write up... ):


DMT Health and Safety

Warning:

DMT is a bottomless well of never ending confoundment, an unsolvable riddle of epic proportions spoken in alien tongues. It will call into question all that you know, all you’ve learned to accept as reality, and introduce you to a state of being which defies all comprehension.

This experience is not for everyone, and not all who choose to open the door deal well with the questions it raises. It should never be undertaken lightly or treated in a casual manner. Those who approach it with little respect often pay a psychic price.

Should you choose to proceed, be aware that integration issues may follow. What you find inside may change your life. It will almost certainly alter your deepest, most fundamental assumptions.


DMT/Ayahuasca and physical health

Researches have been made showing the relative physical safety of DMT. Ayahuasca, the DMT-containing brew from the Amazon, has been studied by multidisciplinary groups in Brazil and other countries and was shown that in reasonable doses in a careful context, it presents no negative cognitive/psychiatric/physical consequences.

There is yet little research into vaporized DMT, but there seems to be no sign that it is in any way more dangerous physically than other administration forms. There are no reported deaths from smoking DMT. Smoking it will not lead to a dangerous overdose because the onset is so quick that one can only inhale a certain (pharmacologicaly safe)amount before being gone to ´hyperspace', without being able to smoke more until one is down again.

However:

* People with dangerous heart or other life-threatening conditions are contra-indicated, and should NOT use DMT unless they have consulted a qualified health professional about it.
* Also, it is possible that during the experience, one temporarily loses orientation in the consensus reality, so smoking/ingesting next to a cliff, sharp objects, etc, is not a good idea. BE IN A PHYSICALLY SAFE ENVIRONMENT!
* DO NOT use MAOIs (so for example an ayahuasca brew) together with stimulants or SSRI medication, this can cause serotonin syndrome and lead to convulsions or even death!

DMT/Ayahuasca and mental health

The research mentioned above (and available here) has shown that in a careful controlled setting, ayahuasca (oral DMT) use, even with a certain regularity, causes no cognitive/emotional/social problems. Users presented elevated levels of happiness and health. Nevertheless, these users were part of a strong-knit community with shared values and constant support between the members. The controlled setting they partook the substance in helped them make sense of the experience and special care has been taken in integration (see Integration section below).

Vaporized DMT, on the other hand, has not been the focus of published studies. The overwhelmingly extreme nature of the experience, as well as the almost instantaneous onset (wherein the user is launched into the peak experience within a minute or less) lends itself to the possibilities of panic and existential terror. The complete and utter inscrutability of the experience can leave one vulnerable in the aftermath. As mentioned above, integration issues big and small are not at all uncommon. Most who have traveled to any degree have dealt with this in some way. It is very important that those planing on vaporizing DMT take a special care with set and setting, approach with a respectful attitude and take time for integrating experiences.

Like with other psychedelics, DMT provides a very powerful emotional/mental experience, so those with personal or family psychiatric history, unstable emotionally or going through some very difficult moments in life are also contra-indicated and should be aware of the special risks that undertaking this experience has for them.

There has been at least one case witnessed in this forum where a member appeared to suffer from a mental-breakdown following DMT usage. Most people who are drawn to DMT have a history of use with other substances that could potentially have had negative impacts on mental health. Some may be bringing existing problems with them- we are not aware of the mental health history of members. For these reasons, it is unclear whether isolated instances of mental health problems are due to DMT usage.

If you feel that your mental health may not be in tip-top condition, and even if it is, research very carefully before deciding if you want to commit to this path.


Frequency of use

It is unclear how often DMT can be smoked safely. There is probably a point where overuse has a negative impact on the body, mental health, or the user's life due to neglecting of friends, family and duties.

The safe limit can vary from person to person, from context to context and from moment to moment. If at any point you find that you are investing more emotional energy in 'that world' than 'this one', we strongly recommend you reduce your levels of usage or take a break altogether.


Addiction

DMT is not physically addictive, and many users experience a frequency self-regulating quality to the drug. Any drug, however, has the potential for abuse, and DMT is no exception. If you feel yourself slipping into an area where you might be are overusing, listen to your inner voice. Chances are that you’re right.


Integration





Where and how to take

Due to the unpredictability of the effects, it is highly recommended that first timers should ingest/smoke in the presence of a sitter, someone trustable, that one is comfortable with, who can make sure one is safe.

One should consume DMT in a safe environment only! In this section of the FAQ you can find some of the main recommendations regarding the ideal setting for DMT vaporization/ingestion.



Having problems?

If you find yourself experiencing problems related to trip integration, or mental and emotional distress of any kind as a result of your DMT usage, stop all use immediately. Should problems persist after you’ve stopped, seek professional help.

We are here to help you process the experience, but an internet forum is in no way a stand-in for appropriate mental healthcare. We are here because we share a common bond and fascination, but this fascination doesn’t automatically make us trained health care professionals. In most cases, we are not qualified to make medical assessments or advise on matters of pharmacology. If you are currently receiving professional treatment, it could be dangerous not to stick with your treatment plan. DMT is not a cure-all.

If you find yourself feeling suicidal, seek professional help immediately. If treatment is not readily and immediately available, pick up the phone and call your local suicide prevention hotline. Do not act on any impulse to harm yourself or others. Integration problems will always pass with time and discontinued use.

Great amendments guys! Wish i could help with the integration section, but my relative inexperience would not do the topic justice.

I still feel a section dealing with the various quantities per method of administration is missing - perhaps recommendations for starting quantities ( with an explanation of course that it may vary in individuals). Or atleast links to other parts of the nexus that contain this info.

And an elaboration of a philosophy regarding quantity that will potentially curb future pissing contests. I.E. Start slow, work your way up etc.

Finally a section concerning the giving of advice, as outlined in my post above.

I wish i could help more, but i am away for a week or two an my web access is limited and i am inept on touch screens!! If it is still relevant when i get back, i will attempt to write proposals for some of these sctions

JBArk

good points, jbark, will see if I can add at least some of it later tonight if nobody has yet! Thanks for the feedback

Proposed change to one of the sections:


Where, how and how much to take

Due to the unpredictability of the effects, it is highly recommended that first timers should ingest/smoke in the presence of a sitter, someone trustable, that one is comfortable with, who can make sure one is safe.

One should consume DMT in a safe environment only! In this section of the FAQ you can find some of the main recommendations regarding the ideal setting for DMT vaporization/ingestion.

Specially with oral dosing, it is STRONGLY recommended to start with very low dosages and raise gradually in subsequent sessions, till one finds his own sweet spot. DMT dosages should never be object of competition, it is not something to brag about and nobody finds it 'cool' if one ingests or vaporizes excessively high doses.

Remembering there are strong individual variations and therefore one should always be on the prudent side, in this thread one can find information regarding dmt/ayahuasca/harmalas dosage

jbark, I think that the 'giving advice' thing is covered in the end saying that people here are not qualified to give medical advices. I think that a 'guideline on how to advice' would not really be the purpouse because this health and safety section is generally for new people knowing about health related issues. The health session is not to teach the other users here how to give advice to those with health issues, know what I mean? If you feel otherwise, of course, feel free to share your view on it, im just giving my impression


Another section I think we should add, either after 'DMT/Ayahuasca mental health', or after 'Where and how to take', is:

DMT Purity

The incredible variety of DMT extraction routes, skills/knowledge of person extracting, and purity of chemicals will likewise be reflected in the varied purity of between different batches of DMT. That is one of the reasons why buying DMT or getting it from an unknown untrustable person is very dangerous! One could be smoking toxic solvent left overs or other impurities from chemicals used. We strongly advice that if one is going to ingest/smoke DMT, that they should only do it with DMT they extracted themselves and took special care with purity (for example using guaranteed pure chemicals, did a naphtha evaporating test, etc) or of a known person that did the same.

In this thread there are some guideliness for knowing if your DMT is ok to smoke

Should ayawaska be contraindicated for all of these things? I assume most people come to it in need of healing for depression and other emotional problems, and most therefore have bad set when they come to it. Sure the experience itself can be rough for some people, but many people find it helps them immensely.

By these standard, Dreamer should not have drunk mimosa/rue nor smoked DMT, whereas it was precisely his problems that led him to do so, and for him at least it was exactly what he needed to help him recover.

Even with DMT, I wonder should it really be 'contra-indicated' for all these things? Is there actually evidence that people should never smoke in these situations? DMT can be healing too if used wisely. Maybe we should just say that it would be playing safe to avoid smoking DMT in these circumstances?

yes you do have a good point, I know of plenty cases of psychedelic mental healing, including myself. But at the same time we have to be careful to not express it in a way that can be interpreted as "we think ayahuasca can heal you, so therefore do it".. It definitely did cause problems already to people who shouldnt have taken it.

Also I think there is big difference between schizophrenic tendencies and a depression. So I agree we have to try to word this part better. If anybody has an idea, please go ahead. I'll see if I can think of a better way of wording it too.

Ok changed some things as suggested by ohayoco, added a LAW part as suggested by Ya by pm (while its not health related, its safety-related.. if you guys think it shouldnt be there, comments are welcome). Also I added the integration part, which might still need to add more things and edit, so check that out and please give feedbacks if there's anything you think of. Here it goes:


DMT Health and Safety

Warning:

DMT is a bottomless well of never ending confoundment, an unsolvable riddle of epic proportions spoken in alien tongues. It will call into question all that you know, all you’ve learned to accept as reality, and introduce you to a state of being which defies all comprehension.

This experience is not for everyone, and not all who choose to open the door deal well with the questions it raises. It should never be undertaken lightly or treated in a casual manner. Those who approach it with little respect often pay a psychic price.

Should you choose to proceed, be aware that integration issues may follow. What you find inside may change your life. It will almost certainly alter your deepest, most fundamental assumptions.


DMT/Ayahuasca and physical health

Researches have been made showing the relative physical safety of DMT. Ayahuasca, the DMT-containing brew from the Amazon, has been studied by multidisciplinary groups in Brazil and other countries and was shown that in reasonable doses in a careful context, it presents no negative cognitive/psychiatric/physical consequences.

There is yet little research into vaporized DMT, but there seems to be no sign that it is in any way more dangerous physically than other administration forms. There are no reported deaths from smoking DMT. Smoking it will not lead to a dangerous overdose because the onset is so quick that one can only inhale a certain (pharmacologicaly safe)amount before being gone to ´hyperspace', without being able to smoke more until one is down again.

However:

* Somatic effects such as possibility of increased heart-rate means people with dangerous heart or other life-threatening conditions are contra-indicated, and should NOT use DMT unless they have consulted a qualified health professional about it.
* Also, it is possible that during the experience, one temporarily loses orientation in the consensus reality, so smoking/ingesting next to a cliff, sharp objects, etc, is not a good idea. BE IN A PHYSICALLY SAFE ENVIRONMENT!
* DO NOT use MAOIs (so for example an ayahuasca brew) together with stimulants or SSRI medication, this can cause serotonin syndrome and lead to convulsions or even death!

DMT/Ayahuasca and mental health

The research mentioned above (and available here) has shown that in a careful controlled setting, ayahuasca (oral DMT) use, even with a certain regularity, causes no cognitive/emotional/social problems. Users presented elevated levels of happiness and health. Nevertheless, these users were part of a strong-knit community with shared values and constant support between the members. The controlled setting they partook the substance in helped them make sense of the experience and special care has been taken in integration (see Integration section below).

Vaporized DMT, on the other hand, has not been the focus of published studies. The overwhelmingly extreme nature of the experience, as well as the almost instantaneous onset (wherein the user is launched into the peak experience within a minute or less) lends itself to the possibilities of panic and existential terror. The complete and utter inscrutability of the experience can leave one vulnerable in the aftermath. As mentioned above, integration issues big and small are not at all uncommon. Most who have traveled to any degree have dealt with this in some way. It is very important that those planing on vaporizing DMT take a special care with set and setting, approach with a respectful attitude and take time for integrating experiences.

Like with other psychedelics, DMT provides a very powerful emotional/mental experience, so those with personal or family psychiatric history are contra-indicated. A psychedelic experience can possibly waken a latent schizophrenia or exarcebate a pre-existing mental illness.

While there are several cases of 'psychological healing' and anecdotal reports of cured depressions and other mental issues, DMT and other psychedelics should not be considered a cure-all and will not heal everybody. People who are unstable emotionally or going through some very difficult moments in life should be aware of the special risks that undertaking this experience has for them. If, after informing themselves thoroughly of the possible risks, they still decide to do it, then it's recommended to do it only under the supervision of an experienced person/professional/shaman, as well as taking special good care with set and setting and integration.

There has been at least one case witnessed in this forum where a member appeared to suffer from a mental-breakdown following DMT usage. Most people who are drawn to DMT have a history of use with other substances that could potentially have had negative impacts on mental health. Some may be bringing existing problems with them- we are not aware of the mental health history of members. For these reasons, it is unclear whether isolated instances of mental health problems are due to DMT usage.

If you feel that your mental health may not be in tip-top condition, and even if it is, research very carefully before deciding if you want to commit to this path.


Frequency of use

It is unclear how often DMT can be smoked safely. There is probably a point where overuse has a negative impact on the body, mental health, or the user's life due to neglecting of friends, family and duties.

The safe limit can vary from person to person, from context to context and from moment to moment. If at any point you find that you are investing more emotional energy in 'that world' than 'this one', we strongly recommend you reduce your levels of usage or take a break altogether.


Addiction

DMT is not physically addictive, and many users experience a frequency self-regulating quality to the drug. Any drug, however, has the potential for abuse, and DMT is no exception. If you feel yourself slipping into an area where you might be are overusing, listen to your inner voice. Chances are that you’re right.


Integration

One of the fundamental aspects of a psychedelic experience is how to digest what one has faced and be able to put in practice lessons in daily life. Without this part, a psychedelic experience will become meaningless, dysphoric, segregating, schizo-generating.

We spend most of our time in the normal 'waking/consensus' reality, and it is here that the real tests present themselves, it's here where we write the story of our lives and make due (or not) to our responsibilities of being alive. The difficulties of daily life shouldnt be seen as a problem we have to avoid at all costs, but rather they are opportunities for us to improve ourselves, to succeed in the tests presented by life.

While it can be extremely blissful during the effects, to see the DMT and psychedelic experience as an end to itself is a very dangerous attitude. Balance is always the key. Appreciate the gift of being alive and being able to deal with normal life. Psychedelics might be a beautiful part of the process but they are not self-sufficient and wont make your life meaningful if you dont yourself make your daily life meaningful.

Tips how to integrate:

1-Talk to different people and listen to what they have to say. By definition, our vision of life and the events we went through are single-sided and self-biased. Other people, (experienced with psychedelics or not) can provide us with differing view-points that aid in our learning process, like mirrors that help us notice our blindspots.

2- Put the lessons in practice, specially before taking it again. If during the experience one has received messages about how he/she should change the eating habbits, or should treat others better, or should study more, then by all means make all the effort possible to put that in practice and avoid taking psychedelics again before having achieved one's aim (even if not completely, as we can always be better, but at least to a significant degree)

3- Question things! Do not believe literally and take at face-value what anybody tells you (whether its religious leaders, politicians, your friends or your psychedelic experiences). Be self-critical, put things in perspective. Specially doubt and avoid believing any experience/feeling that involves "grandeur" ideas and anything that leads to extreme dissociation from other human beings ('im the chosen one, others are sheep'. Be extremely careful with suicidal thoughts (read point 7). Anything involving violence or ideas that would disrupt other people's lives should be avoided/disbelieved at all costs.

4- Balance is the key! If one is investing much more time thinking about and putting effort on psychedelic-related issues while neglecting other areas of life (family, work, health, studies), take a long break! Dedicate to life, dont worry, psychedelics will still be there in a few weeks/months/years, no need to rush.

5- Remember: One may have experienced Eternal Bliss and saw the Fractal All and Everything while interacting with Hyperspacial Beings, but....... The bills still have to be paid, the house still has to be broomed, the food still has to be cooked!

6- Health is a main priority! It highly pays off both in consensus reality as well as in the psychedelic/hyperspecial realm and one's conscience, if in daily life one is eating healthily, improving interpersonal relations and dealing with emotions, exercising, etc.
If DMT/psychedelic use is negatively affecting your health (physical, emotional or intellectual) directly or indirectly, stop taking it, and only do it when one has significantly been working on one's health issues.

7- Do not make strong decisions during/just after a psychedelic experience. So if one really feels like saying something to somebody, or quitting his job due to a realization, or something of the sort, please always wait for the next day (or week or month) or two, to think over and get the perspective from another state of consciousness. If its the right decision, one can still make it afterwards even if one has waited, but if its the wrong decision and one makes it impulsively, there might be no turning back and one can seriously disrupt his/her or other people's lives.


Where, how and how much to take

Due to the unpredictability of the effects, it is highly recommended that first timers should ingest/smoke in the presence of a sitter, someone trustable, that one is comfortable with, who can make sure one is safe.

One should consume DMT in a safe environment only! In this section of the FAQ you can find some of the main recommendations regarding the ideal setting for DMT vaporization/ingestion.

Specially with oral dosing, it is STRONGLY recommended to start with very low dosages and raise gradually in subsequent sessions, till one finds his own sweet spot. DMT dosages should never be object of competition, it is not something to brag about and nobody finds it 'cool' if one ingests or vaporizes excessively high doses.

Remembering there are strong individual variations and therefore one should always be on the prudent side, in this thread one can find information regarding dmt/ayahuasca/harmalas dosage


DMT Purity

The incredible variety of DMT extraction routes, skills/knowledge of person extracting, and purity of chemicals will likewise be reflected in the varied purity of between different batches of DMT. That is one of the reasons why buying DMT or getting it from an unknown untrustable person is very dangerous! One could be smoking toxic solvent left overs or other impurities from chemicals used. We strongly advice that if one is going to ingest/smoke DMT, that they should only do it with DMT they extracted themselves and took special care with purity (for example using guaranteed pure chemicals, did a naphtha evaporating test, etc) or of a known person that did the same.

In this thread there are some guideliness for knowing if your DMT is ok to smoke

Having problems?

If you find yourself experiencing problems related to trip integration, or mental and emotional distress of any kind as a result of your DMT usage, stop all use immediately. Should problems persist after you’ve stopped, seek professional help.

We are here to help you process the experience, but an internet forum is in no way a stand-in for appropriate mental healthcare. We are here because we share a common bond and fascination, but this fascination doesn’t automatically make us trained health care professionals. In most cases, we are not qualified to make medical assessments or advise on matters of pharmacology. If you are currently receiving professional treatment, it could be dangerous not to stick with your treatment plan. DMT is not a cure-all.

If you find yourself feeling suicidal, seek professional help immediately. If treatment is not readily and immediately available, pick up the phone and call your local suicide prevention hotline. Do not act on any impulse to harm yourself or others. Integration problems will always pass with time and discontinued use.



Law

While not exactly concerning health but definitely related to safety, anyone embarking on a DMT experience and/or extraction should be aware of the possible legal consequences of their actions. Pure DMT (and therefore extractions) will be considered illegal in all the UN-bound countries and can land you in jail if found out.

Plants containing DMT are usually in a legal grey area and it's control will highly depend on each country's current priorities and policies. Its important to be informed on your country's legal precedents and past cases to know what risks one is facing, specially when ordering/importing ethnobotanical plants from other countries.

With DMT's legal status, it becomes of utmost importance that anyone extracting becomes very careful not to arouse suspicion when buying chemicals (preferably buy over-the-counter as opposed to ordering, always have legal excuses for buying the products in case you're asked, dont buy chemicals that are highly watched, for example dont order lye in places with high meth production otherwise one might be thought to be producing meth, etc)

When extracting, be careful with nosy neighbours. Evapping petrochemical solvents, for example, will produce a smell that might call attention, so only do it if you dont have neighbours or have a well ventilated area where neighbours wont have access to.

Do not brag about extracting/having DMT: it shouldnt be a tool for puffing up one's ego, and it will call negative attention. People might start talking and it can fall in the ears of the wrong people, eventually authorities or in the very least of people who have bad disrespectful attitude.

Only mention DMT (or share) to those who you know will be really respectful, will know how to keep quiet and will appreciate the value.

If you have any issues with the law, consult a lawyer immediately!
D

To make sure that new insights about Health and Safety can be added/changed to the Health and Safety part of the DMT-Nexus by the community itself I made a Wiki page out of it. People can now make changes to it as new insights evolve.

You can find that page by clicking on the Health and Safety link on top of this page.


Kind regards,

The Traveler

awesome trav, thanks a lot for making it a wiki and adding the proposed changes!

Hey , I understand that a response to this may be that the education is a better preemptive treatment, but it is sometime out of ones hands ; I think there should be ,somewhere in the wiki , a section on how to recognize and treat shock. it can be deadly , so ive read, and i think a friend had it . I doubt u would get this from DMT , but other things definitly .
In this case cactus tea.
And possibly , in relation , some medical supplies to have on hand . I was thinking mild tranquilizers , and a drip ,if you could buy saline drips.
I know there is a first aid section ,but it doesnt seem so comprehensive.
What do u say?

shock with cactus tea? care to elaborate more on that please?

I doubt it was caused by any standard constituents of tea , maybe though .
Possibly bad in some way. either way it seems something that is likely for any long lasting trips.
Follow the below link for as much elaboration as is possible, i think.
Cactus tea shock
Im happy to ask any other Q's