Why N,N-dimethyltryptamine matters: unique features and therapeutic potential beyond classical psychedelics.

Abstract

The "wine of jurema", used in ancient Brazilian shamanic rituals, is rich in N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a naturally occurring tryptamine like serotonin and melatonin. Widely found in plants and animals, DMT is the main component of some botanical tisanes used for centuries as a channel of communication with the otherworld (1, 2). Despite being classified as a "classical psychedelic” (2-4), DMT’s unique effects are often overlooked due to an overemphasis on serotonin (5HT) 2A receptors as the key pharmacological feature of serotoninergic psychedelics. This simplification ignores DMT’s broader receptor interactions, lack of tolerance, and distinct subjective experiences.