DMT: The Spirit Molecule: A Doctor's Revolutionary Research into the Biology of Near-Death and Mystical Experiences Paperback – January 1, 2001

DMT: The Spirit Molecule is a remarkable book, made all the more remarkable that it was first published in 2001, well before this current "psychedelic renaissance" reached the popularity it currently has. In that popularity's excess focus on Johns Hopkins and MAPS, Strassman does not get the credit he deserves. When he conducted the multi-year study this book elaborates, no one else in the entire country was conducting above-ground psychedelic research in direct relationship with an academic institution and the Federal government. That had not happened since around 1970. Strassman's tenacity, commitment, and willingness to find new pathways opened the door, and without his work, that door could still be closed.And then there's the research itself. The sections about the research subjects' subjective experiences with DMT were among the most fascinating chapters I've ever read. It is remarkable to hear their wild testimonies, and Strassman does an excellent job maintaining his integrity and his scientific stance as a researcher. A gripping inner conflict emerges -- does he reduce the subjects' experiences to a scientific explanation, or does he take a bold leap into listening to their reports of "beings" and "other realms" as if they are real, as the subjects so adamantly expressed?Some negative reviews claim that Strassman spends too much time explaining all that he had to go through to get the research going. I have a very different perspective on this. I found the section engaging and also important, because when Strassman published it in 2001, he was providing a road map for other researchers to follow in his tracks and re-establish psychedelic research in U.S. universities. As an important piece of psychedelic history, it's so valuable to have his detailed account for reference, and the sheer amount of challenges he overcame serves as a good lesson about the importance of follow-through on a vision, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.Lastly, what makes this book so impactful is that Strassman is a grounded realist. He does not get swept up into overly-blissful psychedelic enthusiasm and make extreme claims. He does not cut out information gained from the study that show the real dangers of psychedelics. In a time when over-glorification of psychedelics consistently misguides a curious and suffering public, Strassman's balanced perspective offers another roadmap for how to look at these amazing compounds and maintain a stance of neutrality and curiosity, rather than zealotous religious fervor. If you are looking for a book to confirm your already-existing beliefs that psychedelics are a panacea or magic pill, this is not the book for you. Or maybe it is, because it can help balance that out with a healthy dose of realism.I hope that people continue to read and reference this book, and I hope that more people acknowledge it as the groundbreaking work that it is. We are lucky to have Rick Strassman.

Rich Stassman's account of his ground-breaking research program with the psychedelic drug DMT is more than a scientific chronicle. His tale of the rigors of such an extraordinary undertaking, from the years he spent gaining permission for the study, getting access to the drug, and carrying out the experiments with human subjects, is suspenseful to the end.DMT or di-methyl-trptamine is produced by many organisms and is found abundantly in plants and animal tissue. In humans it is believed that it is produced in the tiny pineal gland, which is situated deep within the brain. Its location in the brain corresponds with Eastern Ayurvedic traditions of the highest "chakra". In reptiles, the pineal is a light sensitive organ, and though this function has been lost in humans, it has been referred to as the "third eye". Descartes called it the "seat of the soul", and in modern times it has been a focal point of consciousness research.Though the academic purpose for the research at the University of New Mexico from 1990 to 1995 was to find the purpose and function of "endogenous" (produced in the body) DMT, as well as its relationship to psychosis, it was Strassman's emersion in the teaching of Buddhism that was his inspiration throughout. Ironically, the findings of his research undermined many of his beliefs and left him alienated from the Buddhist community.Many of his research subjects were experienced psychedelic users, but they were unprepared for the intensity of DMT. One volunteer described his acute ten minute voyage into another dimension as being hit by a "nuclear cannon." While LSD allows the user a self-guided trip, the DMT experience has its own agenda, stripping the subject of any goals, expectations, and ego. As Stassman said, "DMT as the true spirit molecule, gave the volunteers the trip they needed, rather than the trip they wanted."But it wasn't only the volunteers of the experiments that were shocked. Strassman was completely unprepared for his subjects' reports of contact with alien beings, reptiles, and other strange entities. In other cases, they described out-of-body experiences, going through tunnels of light, and meeting relatives, spirits, and angels. Strassman soon realized that these reports were very similar to the modern cultural phenomena of alien abductions and near death experiences (NDE)--neither of which were familiar to him prior to his research project.He theorized that these two phenomena might be caused by excess releases of endogenous DMT from the pineal gland under conditons of stess, such as child birth or severe trauma, causing an NDE. Similarly, a close cousin of DMT, namely melatonin and perhaps DMT itself, is released during the nighttime hours. This, Strassman thought, could give rise to the alien abduction experience, which most often happens in the early morning hours.Near death experiences have often been used to support religious teachings. Perhaps the reverse should be considered. Religion was invented to explain the strange phenomena experienced due to an excess release of DMT in the body.Because of the intense reality of the DMT experience, and the volunteers' rejection of psychological, or biological explanations for their journey, Strassman was forced to consider an even more intriguing explanation. Perhaps, DMT does not cause hallucinogenic experiences, but rather, allows our brain to sense different forms of existing reality. The information we receive from the world is limited by our five senses. It is possible that DMT allows us to sense other dimensions and other realities.In the end the rigors and stresses of the study took a huge toll on Strassman costing him his job and alienation from the Buddhist communtiy. Even though many of the monks, had entered the monistary as a result of the influence of LSD use, their rise to elected power left them unable to support Strassman's research. AS Strassman stated, "Holiness won out over truth."Rich Strassman's writing style makes this book extremely readable, and the DMT subjects' reports and anecdotal stories make the book difficult to put down. This book warrants a "5 star" rating. I highly recommend DMT the Spirit Molecule.This review by David Kreiter, Author of "Quantum Reality: A New Philosophical Perspective."