Difference between revisions of "Separating 5-HO-DMT (bufotenin) from DMT"

Revision as of 17:37, 22 March 2009

There are many plants that contain 5-HO-DMT (bufotenin) along with DMT and often 5-MeO-DMT (methoxybufotenin). Examples include:

• Anadenanthera colubrina
• Anadenanthera peregrina
• Anadenanthera macrocarpa
• Phalaris Aquatica
• Phalaris Arundinacea
• Arundo donax
• Desmodium caudatum
• Mucuna pruriens

I often see people on these forums expressing a desire to remove 5-HO-DMT (bufotenin) from their plant alkaloid extracts. It’s actually quite simple to do. Both freebase DMT and freebase 5-MeO-DMT are soluble in naphtha or heptane. Freebase 5-HO-DMT is very polar and is completely insoluble in naphtha or heptane. It is soluble in more polar solvents like DCM, ether, chloroform, water, acetone, alcohol, etc. Because of its different solubility profile, it can be easily separated from DMT and 5-MeO-DMT.

Here are two methods that SWIM tested which work very well.

Selective Solvent A/B Extraction During the freebase phase of an A/B extraction, first extract the freebase DMT and 5-MeO-DMT with naphtha, heptane, xylene, or d-limonene. The freebase 5-HO-DMT will not get extracted because it’s insoluble in those solvents. Next extract the freebase 5-HO-DMT with DCM (dichloromethane), ether, or chloroform. Evaporate to give freebase 5-HO-DMT (and other similar plant compounds).

Citrate Acetone Precipitation Dissolve the mixed alkaloids in acetone. Add 10% citric acid solution (pre-dissolved in acetone). This causes a cloud to form. Continue adding the citric acid solution and precipitates start falling out of the acetone. Stop adding citric acid solution when no more precipitates form. The precipitates will contain the 5-HO-DMT citrate (and 5-MeO-DMT citrate if there was any). The acetone will contain DMT citrate. Pour off the acetone through a filter and wash the precipitates with acetone to obtain 5-HO-DMT citrate. NOTE: Before vaporizing 5-HO-DMT, it needs to be freebased.

Comments People often think that 5-HO-DMT (bufotenin) is to blame for the side effects felt from various alkaloid extractions and usually want it removed. While it does produce some side effects (especially if injected or taken orally), it’s usually not responsible for most of the side effects felt, but it usually gets all the blame for them because its known to cause serious side effects when injected in certain salt forms. However, that’s not the case when vaporizing it as freebase.

Freebase 5-HO-DMT (bufotenin) is actually a heavy duty psychedelic when vaporized. It’s much stronger than DMT (active at 2-10 mg). When vaporized it’s about as strong as 5-MeO-DMT (methoxybufotenin) but much more visual. When snorted, or taken sublingually, it’s about as potent as DMT. Like 5-MeO-DMT, it produces some minor side effects in some people so it’s not for everyone. Injecting it or taking it orally produces a lot of side effects, so that’s not recommended. It’s not something you want in an ayahuasca brew. As far as vaporizing goes, SWIM likes it more than DMT or 5-MeO-DMT, and finds that vaporizing 10 mg produces an ayahuasca like trip that is more visual than DMT, longer lasting, and more auditory than any other psychedelic SWIM knows of.

Often people are disappointed after they remove the 5-HO-DMT from their alkaloid extract, especially if they were vaporizing their extract. They are usually expecting the side effects to vanish, but that’s usually not the case. Instead they usually find that their extract is less visual. 5-HO-DMT adds a unique dimension to the effects of vaporized DMT and 5-MeO-DMT. It increases the visuals and adds an auditory effect that is otherwise usually absent. The side effects from vaporized freebase 5-HO-DMT only last about 2 minutes and may include very light nausea and strong tingling sensations. The psychedelic phase occurs after the side effects and peaks after about 15-30 minutes with the overall effects lasting up to 1-3 hours (depending on the dose taken).