It's good that you want to learn how to do it right. A basic understanding of chemistry is not required, if you follow teks and pictorials. But, I think that the best way to do an extraction, is to try different methods of extraction, and the different methods of Recrystallizing and cleaning the product. While doing whatever extraction you are doing, do not just read the tek and say "ok, mix lye and dH2O and add it." Instead, read what the tek tells you to do, and then, if it doesn't tell you why you need to do that step exactly, search this forum and find out exactly the reaction that is taking place and what you are trying to cause to happen with each progressing step. Once you understand the process of what you are trying to do, you will not need to reference these teks nearly as much, instead you will think, "ok, extract the alkaloids from the root bark (boil, or soak, in a basic or acidic solution [Acid/Base extractions are much better in my opinion]), then basify the solution to convert the alkaloids to freebase form if an acid extraction of the bark was done (if doing straight to base, it is already a basic solution so this is not necessary), and then collect those alkaloids from the base solution with a solvent good for DMT (most people will recommend naphtha for the initial extraction, and Heptane is good for Recrystallization). Temperature is one of the most important thing when extracting Mimosa Hostilis. If the solution goes over 100 degrees F when soaking the bark, you will also extract the fats and tannins that will make your DMT taste undesirable as well as have other effects that you can read about on here. I recommend an A/B because your yield will be better if done correctly, and the product will be perfect with absolutely no need to recrystallize. Also, I understand the desire to do these extractions with food safe chemicals, but if you do a good extraction, follow good directions, and let your final collection jar evaporate all the solvent that is left after pouring off as much of the solvent as you can (which naphtha is very volatile so it will evaporate quickly), you will be left with pure dmt, with no tannins, no fats, no solvent, simply the most intense tryptamine available. So get on here and start reading! And always ask questions if you run into something that has not been discussed already on these forums, other people will appreciate learning from your mistakes that you may run into along the way.
Good luck buddy, I hope you extract some perfect spice to toss you around hyperspace.
Happy inquiries!