Comparing the Detection of Endogenous Psychedelics in Individuals With and Without Alleged Mediumistic Experiences.
Explore (New York, N.Y.) November 1, 2018 Marco Aurélio Vinhosa Bastos, Paulo Roberto Haidamus de Oliveira Bastos, Maria Lucília Dos Santos et al. 6 citations
No differences in the presence of the endogenous psychedelics bufotenine (BT) and dimethyltryptamine (DMT) were found in urine samples from individuals who report mediumistic communication compared to those who do not. DMT was not detected in any sample, and BT was detected in only one of five mediums and two of five controls, a non-significant difference. Mediums reported more anomalous experiences than controls, but mental health did not differ between groups. The authors suggest that BT and DMT are rapidly metabolized and may not survive long enough in the periphery to be detected in urine, and recommend alternative strategies for investigating the role of endogenous psychedelics in spiritual experiences.