DMT- The Hallucinogenic Drug

DMT is a psychoactive component in many recreational drugs. DMT is the most intense psychedelic and dangerous illegal drug to mankind. DMT stands for alkaloid indole N-N dimethtrypamine(4). DMT can be produced from both plants animals. It is present in nature; trees, vines, grasses, mushrooms, toads and even fish. DMT was first manufactured and distributed as an illicit drug in the 1960’s (3). It's effective only when smoked or injected. When ingested however, the acids in the stomach destroy it hence making it ineffective when taken by mouth. DMT is a solid white powder in its pure form and has a moth-like smell to it. It may have a brownish or orange waxy appearance if its not completely purified. A single inhalation is enough to produce 5-10min intense hallucinogen experience (2). Every time you go to sleep and have dreams DMT is produced from your pineal gland. Yes, humans can produce it too. No wonder why sometimes you have crazy dreams (1).

The image corresponds to after affects of ingesting DMT in the brain. The brain visualizes objects, as far more geometry is aesthetically similar to images described by those who have taken DMT. For example, a yellow rose flower is imagined to expand its petals to more color and The progression of realism paintings followed by fractal patterns and sacred, and the sudden onset of its effects.

DMT is commonly referred to as a spirit medicine. This is because in the past, people used analogous containing this compound for religious purposes and ritual practises. For example, the Mayans are thought to feed toads (that have a venom containing DMT) to ducks, then eating the duck after in order to experience the hallucinations and avoiding dying of poison at the same time. Another example is the Siberian shamans. They would feed Amanita mushrooms (containing DMT too)  to deer, then eat the deer meat or drink the deer urine to appreciate the hallucinogenic effects and avoiding the poison too. Today, DMT is rarely found because in the 1970’s, it fell out of popularity among recreational drugs. The few illicit samples today are mostly found to have LSD (2).

Bufotenin is a compound that has DMT and is found mostly in Bufo toads. There have been many stories on how this compound has been extracted and used. Some people have tried boiling the toad in olive oil to extract the drug from the toads’ skin, some people have tried licking a live toad, and some have gone to the extent of drying up the venom, then smoking the drug. People however discovered that smoking toad produced a rather intensive experience and with a lot of side effects. Although possession of a Bufo toad is legal, extraction of the chemical venom is a criminal offence (2). 

Psilocybin is another chemical compound that has DMT and is commonly found in mushrooms. The most common mushroom species with this compound is psilocybe mexicana. The mushroom can be easily grown from spores and can be purchased from the Internet for about $10.  If the mushrooms are chewed well and kept in the mouth, the effects may be seen within 7-8minutes. The experiences first include; feelings of chills, weakness in legs, and nausea. Later, within an hour or two, these feelings are replaced by Heightened visual imagery and a comical sense of wanting to laugh (2). 

Reference: 

[1] Decalcify Pineal Gland,. (2013). Benefits of decalcifying/activating your Pineal Gland (Third Eye/Ajna Chakra). Retrieved 03 March 2015, from http://decalcifypinealgland.com/benefits-of-decalcifying-activating-your-pineal-gland/

 Gahlinger, P. (2004). Illegal drugs (pp. 265-276). New York: Plume 

1     [2]  Perrine, D. (1996). The chemistry of mind-altering drugs (pp. 282-283). Washington, DC: [3] American Chemical Society.

       [3]Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov,. (2015). N,N-DIMETHYLTRYPTAMINE | C12H16N2 - PubChem. Retrieved 3 March 2015, from http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/dimethyltryptamine#section=Drug-Tolerance

1     [4] Winkelman, M., & Roberts, T. (2007). Psychedelic medicine (pp. 26-27, 29, 70-73). Westport, Conn.: Praeger Publishers.

   

***Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for informational purposes. Mount Royal University makes no representation or validity of any information on this site. 

The Sweet Poison

Is aspartame actually bad for you? Aspartame is an artificial, non-saccharide sweetener used as a sugar substitute. There have been many tests and lots of speculation surrounding the dangers of aspartame.  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) set the acceptable daily intake (ADI) value for aspartame at 50 milligram per kilogram.  That is the equivalent of drinking 21 diet sodas in a 24 hour period.

To know if aspartame is dangerous to your health you need to know what it is made of.  Aspartame is made when you combine aspartic acid, methanol, and phenylalanine through peptide synthesis.  That is just a complex way in stating the combination of three compounds into one.  Most of the controversies surrounding aspartame are formed around the methanol compound in it.  Health Canada has composed several tests surrounding the concentrations of methanol in aspartame.  500 mg of aspartame will produce 55 mg of methanol which is well below the danger threshold of methanol.

In conclusion studies show that aspartame in not toxic and not dangerous to your health.  Though to some it may taste a little metallic I would strongly suggest you stick to regular table sugar.  There is no LD50 (which is a measurement of toxicity) for aspartame.  I would also recommend not to drink 21 cans of diet cola because that could be unhealthy in other aspects.

References:

Aspartame (2013). Encyclopædia Britannica Inc.

Health Canada. Retrieved March 25, 2015, from http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/addit/sweeten-edulcor/aspartame-eng.php

Household Products Database. Retrieved March 25, 2015, from http://hpd.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=chem&id=3104

National Toxicology Program. (2005). Toxicology Studies of Aspartame. P.O. Box 12233 Research Triangle Park, NC: NIH Publication

Thomas, P. (2005). Aspartame: 1. The Ecologist H.W.Wilson - GS, 35(7), 36.

U.S. National Library of Medicine. HSDB: ASPARTAME. Retrieved March 25, 2015, from http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search2/f?./temp/~TpK0mE:1

Bisphenol A (BPA)

    

    Bisphenol A (BPA) is a plasticizer used as the structural component of many plastic containers, beverage bottles and lining of food cans. Its optical clarity makes BPA suitable for making components of many medical devices and their housing. Products like bike helmets, police shields, reading glasses and bullet-proof glass contain BPA for its shatter proof properties. These are just a few examples of products that can expose us to BPA. BPA is toxic if ingested, inhaled or if it gets into our bodies through skin contact. If products containing BPA are heated, it decomposes and emits acrid and irritating fumes that can cause an allergic reaction.

         BPA can leach out of containers and get into our food and drinks. BPA is known to disrupt normal hormonal activity and cause infertility. If it gets into our water system, it is toxic to aquatic life. Use of plastics in day-to-day life is increasing and as a result exposure to BPA is also increasing. Reports show that BPA level in human blood and tissues, including in human fetal blood, is higher than the proposed safe levels by the FDA. Long term effect of exposure to BPA in adulthood or during fetal life is that it alters neurobehavioral development. The FDA released a statement saying that BPA is safe at the current levels occurring in foods. Based on FDA’s ongoing safety review of scientific evidence, the available information continues to support the safety of BPA for the currently approved uses in food containers and packaging.

       What we can do to reduce exposure to BPA is to seek BPA-free products and reduce use of canned foods and avoid exposing plastic containers to heat by not putting them in the microwave or dishwasher. We can also use alternatives like glass, porcelain or stainless steel containers for hot foods and liquids instead of plastic containers.

Do you know what is in the water you swim in?

            Do you go swimming often? Would you want to swim in a green pool?!  Do you know what keeps the water so crystal clear and sparkly? CHEMICALS!

What chemicals? 

            The main component of most pool cleaners is calcium hypochlorite, as it comprises approximately 50-70% of commercial pool sanitation products [1,2]. This product typically appears white and comes in a solid brick or powder form to be added to your pool [3].

How does it work?

 It is mixed with other chemicals such as calcium chloride and lime and when this mixture comes into contact with water it breaks apart and forms hypochlorous acid [4]. This acid is known as a disinfectant, which has the ability to kill the microorganisms that are living in the water [4].

Is it safe for humans if it kills microorganisms?   

There is scientific evidence that suggests there is no link between calcium hypochlorite and cancer. In studies, mice and rats have been exposed to the chemical both by ingestion and direct contact with their skin. In both cases, the mice and rats all survived and showed no signs of tumors [1]. However, even though calcium hypochlorite does not cause cancer it can be toxic to humans when it is in high enough concentrations and is in its pure, solid form. It can cause chemical burns to skin and eyes, irritation and vomiting when ingested and can lead to olfactory fatigue when it is inhaled [5]. Olfactory fatigue is when an individual can no longer smell the chemical when they are exposed to it [5]. 

Other concerns?

            The major concern when it comes to calcium hypochlorite is that in its pure, solid form it is a very strong oxidizing agent and can cause explosions [3]. To prevent this it is important to store calcium hypochlorite in dry, cool areas, in a tightly sealed container and away from things like oils and soap [3].

Alternatives?

            If you are worried about using calcium hypochlorite there are other ways to clean your pool. A chemical alternative is sodium hypochlorite, which acts similar to calcium hypochlorite [3]. A non-chemical alternative is an ultra-violet system that uses strong beams of light to kill the microorganisms in the pool [3].

            Overall, when calcium hypochlorite is handled and used properly it only causes harm to the microorganisms living in your pool and not to humans since it is not at high enough concentrations.

References

[1] - International Agency for Research on Cancer. (n.d.). Hypochlorite salts. Retrieved March 24, 2015 from http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol52/mono52-8.pdf

[2] - Spellman, F.R. (2009). Handbook of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations, Second Edition. Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

[3] - Human Kinetics. (2008). AquaTech: Best Practices for Pool and Aquatic Facility Operators. Human Kinetics, Inc.

[4] - Virginia’s Community Colleges. (n.d.). Chlorination chemistry. Retrieved March 31, 2015, from http://water.me.vccs.edu/concepts/chlorchemistry.html

[5] - Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry. (2014). Medical management guidelines for calcium hypochlorite. Retrieved March 29, 2015, from http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/MMG/MMG.asp?id=927&tid=192

Fighting those stubborn blemishes! Are some ways worth the risk?

                               Figure 1: Even Emma Stone from the movie Easy A gets acne! ¹ 

Most people experience blemishes and acne at some point in their lives, even celebrities like Emma Stone. It is frustrating and can lead to self-conscious feelings. There is a treatment out there called 13-cis-retinoic acid (cRA), but is it worth the risks?

It’s a pill that you can take once a day for about 4-6 months that will really decrease acne, but it comes with risks. Its chemical structure looks like Vitamin A, but behaves slightly differently within our bodies.¹ In our bodies, our cells constantly divide, this allows us to grow, and heal from wounds. CRA actually increases the rate at which our cells divide.² This allows skin cells to be shed faster, and the buildup of oil in skin to decrease, both of which decreases acne. Sounds great right? Well cRA also comes with side effects such as extreme dryness.³ Dryness of skin and eyes can cause significant irritation, nose bleeds and even hair loss.³ It may also change your mood.³ Do you want to risk becoming bald and depressed? I sure don’t!

Although these are issues, they aren’t the biggest risk associated with cRA. CRA is classified as something called a teratogen.³ That means that it disrupts the development of an embryo during prenatal development.³ It can cause issues with the central nervous system, such as causing a baby to be born with its spinal cord on the outside in a condition called spinal bifida.⁴ In addition babies can be born with disfigured faces and ears, and even developmental disorders.^{5, 6} Another issue with cRA is that it may stay in the blood long after someone takes their last pill, and this can cause problems with women who want to get pregnant shortly after taking cRA.⁷ If anyone you know is thinking about taking this medication and wants to have babies soon, tell them to stay as far away from this medication as they can! As an alternative you can tell people that there are face washes for minor acne, and for more severe acne there are other options such as antibiotics.⁸

Everyone needs to make the decision for him or herself if the benefits outweigh the risks of any medication, including cRA. For me, I don’t think that cRA’s risks are worth the benefit of having clear skin, do you?

References 

[1] Guerrero, A. Celebrities Are Just Like Us: They Get Acne Too. http://www.medulous.com/blog/celebrities-us-acne/ (accessed April 1, 2015)

[2] Accutane. Encyclopedia of Toxicology, 2nd ed.; Academic Press: MA, USA, 2005; pp 7-9.

[3] Layton, A. The use of isotretinoin in acne. Dermato-endocrinology [Online] 2009, 1(3), 162-9. http://library.mtroyal.ca:2107/pmc/articles/PMC2835909/pdf/de0103_0162.pdf (accessed March 14, 2015).

[4] Columbia University. http://www.columbia.edu/itc/hs/medical/humandev/2005/HD19/TeratogensSyllabus.pdf(accessed March 5, 2015).

[5] Sarici, D. Akin, M. A., Kurtoglu, S., Uzum, K., and Kiraz, A. Asymmetric crying face in a newborn with isotretinoin embryopathy. Pediatric Dermatology [Online], 2012 30(6), 289-290. http://library.mtroyal.ca:2104/doi/10.1111/j.1525-1470.2012.01743.x (accessed March 5, 2015).

[6]Van Abel, K. M., Nelson, M. E., Collar, R. M. and Lesperance, M. M. Development of canal cholesteatoma in a patient with prenatal isotretinoin exposure. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, [Online], 2010, 74(9), 1082-1084. http://library.mtroyal.ca:2139/science/article/pii/S0165587610002648 (accessed March 5, 2015)

[7] Health Tap. https://www.healthtap.com/topics/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-accutane-out-of-system-before-ttc)careful (Health Tap, 2014) (accessed March 5, 2015)

[8] Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/acne/basics/treatment/con-20020580(accessed March 5, 2015).