https://www.amazon.com/S...-Mescaline/dp/1517564999
I acquired this book not too long ago and I wanted to share it with everyone because it has a lot of valuable information. Including extractions of harmalas, DMT,& mescaline, the history of these plants and their uses, DIY separation devices, and also DIY shaman techniques. Prefect for a beginner extractor/explorer.

I know most or all of this information is already on the Nexus but it's nice if you like a hard copy of your info.

I was fairly disappointed with the publication.

The information contained was patronizing and basic, it contained several factual errors and errors in nomenclature, and was reminiscent of an obvious re-writing of Wikipedia and erowid entries...

I guess I have been spoiled by David E. Nichols publications, PIHKAL/TIHKAL, and NCBI...

"A Laboratory History of Narcotics, Vol. 1 Amphetamines and Derivatives" by Jared Ledgard actually impressed me, and contained some of the same information, such as mescaline extraction from cacti.

I seriously apologized if someone here wrote the book and I offended them, I think for psychedelic neophytes it could be a great introduction, just in my case personally I was upset that I spent the money on it, all of the information is easily accessible for free, most if it can even be found on the nexus...

I always feel like dick giving bad reviews, so I'll just put it out there that I am a pretentious nerd with very high standards, I mean, I'm sure most people may like it...

-eg

I would have to agree with you, the information is very general and there were a lot of typos and errors. I purchased it only because its more convenient to read a book than searching the web for me at least.

I'll have to check out those books. Seems like some useful information. Thanks for the reply!

Are there any other books you know of that are similar that you would recommend? Thanks!

I would have to agree with you, the information is very general and there were a lot of typos and errors. I purchased it only because its more convenient to read a book than searching the web for me at least.

I'll have to check out those books. Seems like some useful information. Thanks for the reply!

Are there any other books you know of that are similar that you would recommend? Thanks!

I think that some Richard Evans schultes books or Psychedelics Encyclopedia by Peter Stafford, or erowid, or even Wikipedia could provide the information regarding plant species, history and culture, as far as the chemistry bit, I think that one should learn organic chemistry as a whole.

Think of it this way, you could want to learn piano and spend all your effort learning how to play your favorite song, or you can learn the instrument and music theory and be able to play any song you want, by ear, on demand...with chemistry you can waste time learning these little work-ups, or you can learn organic chemistry as a whole.

I recommend first obtaining college organic chemistry text books and working your way through the courses until you have the basics cemented into your brain, (that is if school is not an option) then, after that, I would recommend PIHKAL and TIHKAL by Alexander shulgin.

Daniel Trachsel's "Phenethylamine: Von der Struktur zur Funktion" is great, but you have to translate it yourself as an English version is not yet available.

"psychedelic chemistry" by M.V. Smith is pretty good, it's various reprintings of patents and other published synthesis methods regarding various psychedelics...

even books like "acid trips and chemistry" by cam cloud was not bad for what it was.

Otto snow published some great psychoactive chemistry books...

there is a good deal of quality information out there...

I purchase every psychedelic chemistry book that I encounter, the good and the bad, and honestly the majority of my collection I was fairly disappointed with, but I still don't necessarily regret adding anything to my collection.

"SWIMS psychedelic cookbook" was an exceptional disappointment, it seemed as though it had been written by high school children reading erowid and Wikipedia entries and then placing what they read into their own words. The lack of professionalism and novice errors made this publication more reminiscent of what you would expect from a poorly Xeroxed pamphlet thrown together in haste than what you would expect from a serious publication . The information was incredibly basic, and I found his incredibly patronizing, I think that more detail into safety and responsible chemical procedure should have been included...any way, I'll stop, I always feel really bad giving psychedelic publications bad reviews, but in this case it was hard not to. I apologize if I offended anybody, but didn't want to lie, I had to give my honest opinion.

-eg

Don't underestimate the importance of "these little workups" in chemistry. Especially in organic chemistry, the little details can be decisively important. Not only does the choice of solvent, the temperature of the reaction, the concentration of the reactants, etc., etc. in many reactions determine the success or failure, you'll also find that most syntheses comprise of multiple steps. Between each successive step a workup of the last result is performed. Much of organic chemistry is an art in the classical sense.

It is the same with dmt extractions: understanding acid base chemistry is a nice foundation, but you'll also need to know many practical details about concentrations, temperature, timing etc. Anyone who has mastered the art, coming from several initial less successful attempts, leading into a final skill to coax shiny crystals out of some plants and household chemicals, knows what I mean.

Anyone dreaming of one day being a true psychedelic chemist, I'd encourage to not forget to learn about such boring basics as the difference between proton donors and acceptors or the concept of delocalized bonds in aromaticity. Lest they not embarrass themselves too many times on online forums. After all, ad nauseam superfluous quoting of Shulgin and McKenna doesn not make one an expert.

And like any art, it takes practice.

Couldn't have said it better myself

Hey thanks entheo I'll eventually add all of those to my library.

You always give good advice pitubo