DMT: The Spirit Molecule: A Doctor's Revolutionary Research into the Biology of Near-Death and Mystical Experiences

From 1990 to 1995 Dr. Rick Strassman conducted DEA-approved clinical research at the University of New Mexico in which he injected sixty volunteers with DMT, one of the most powerful psychedelics known. His detailed account of those sessions is an extraordinarily riveting inquiry into the nature of the human mind and the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. DMT, a plant-derived chemical that is also manufactured by the human brain, consistently produced out-of-body, near-death, and mystical experiences. Many volunteers reported convincing encounters with intelligent nonhuman presences: angels, aliens, spirits. Nearly all agreed that the sessions were among the most intense experiences of their lives.

Strassman's research connects dmt with the pineal gland, considered by Hindus to be the site of the sixth chakra and by Rene Descartes to be the seat of the soul. DMT: The Spirit Molecule makes the bold case that DMT, naturally released by the pineal gland, facilitates the soul's movement in and out of the body and is an integral part of the birth and death experiences, as well as the highest states of meditation and even sexual transcendence. Strassman also believes that alien abduction experiences are brought on by accidental releases of DMT. If used wisely, dmt could trigger a period of remarkable progress in the scientific exploration of the most mystical regions of the human mind and soul.

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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Good but keep an open mind when you read this; , 2009-01-09
In it Strassman remains vague on what he personally believes; are the trips induced by DMT real or simply a construct of the mind? He does this deliberately so that he can appeal both to the scientist and the spiritualist (or some other more proper dualist label). He does well to provide arguements for and against this, but when he proposes his strictly scientific explanations, one gets the impression that Strassman is argueing science over religeon merely to maintain his reputation as a scientist. One starts to taste a hint of 'peer pressure to conform' in his writing.

Toward the later stage of the book Strassman's real feelings come out, at which point you discover that he is more of a spiritualist than he lets on. At a later stage also he describes how his research had to end because of opposition from various religious leaders, such as his Buddhist ex-friends. He describes the argument entirely and continues to plead his case, even after the reader gets the impression that he is clearly wrong. He does make some good points and even highlights some hypocrisy from the Buddhists, but he doesn't get the whole picture. One gets the impression that he is boasting more knowledge of Buddhist, Tantric and Taoist practices than he really has, perhaps to strengthen his argument.

In the early stages of the book he attempts to describe the potential method of natural DMT release from the pineal gland following various Tantric meditation practices. His arguments are extremely weak and should not have even been attempted. I agree with his theory of DMT; it is his explanations that I fear are weak.

After reading the book I made up my mind that there is more to it, than simply injecting DMT into the veins. In the book Strassman reports the account of a shaman, who described the experience as extremely intense, the most intense of all, BUT, the experience was somehow hollow; there was something missing. I believe that when mystical experiences occur naturally, there is something more involved than merely DMT. Thus, injecting DMT might not be the way to achieve its so called therapeutic effects. Perhaps there is another chemical involved that works synergistically with DMT. Perhaps the DMT injection utilizes the brain's natural stores of this chemical, subsequently preventing further experiences in the laboratory from being whole. Alternatively, from a religious perspective, perhaps mystical experiences utilize both DMT and the body's natural stores of prana (chi or psychic energy). When DMT is injected in the laboratory the experience occurs independent of prana or utilizes prana, thus preventing further experiences in the laboratory from being whole, or REAL; just a mere construct of the mind, or an experience that is too far from our own dimension for it to be applicable anywhere, now.

The book is a good place to find out about or get a heads up on psychedelic research. Strassman gets three stars, but loses two for being vague, a conformist to peer pressure (gutless) and for being less informed/knowledgeable about his research than I expected. The book is otherwise a very good read.



0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

groundbreaking and fascinating, 2009-01-08
to steal a line from another review i read: if your journey in life has brought you to this book, then read it!

it was a great read and contains so much food for thought. if this book doesn't get you to start thinking about questioning the illusion of our constructed reality, then i don't know what will. if you are religious you may be upset or comforted. if you are a materialist atheist you may start considering a spiritual (not theistic) realm. if you find psychedelics interesting (how could you not?) you will read this in a few days.

strassman was handed the opportunity of a lifetime and he did great things with it. he restarted the long lost psychedelic research front and came out of it with fewer answers than when he went in....

if this book doesn't make you wonder, then you must be brain-dead! drug haters or tree huggers alike will both admit that dmt is quite an awe-inspiring chemical....


0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Ties it all together, 2008-12-29
I first heard about DMT via Terrence Macnally. I loved listening his True Hallucinations audio book in youtube. Through the links around that series I came across interviews and mentions of Strassman's work. Being a UFO and alien enthusiast, I could not resist researching this area of the human pineal gland phenomenon. This ia a a great look into the clinical obstacles a researcher needs to got through in regards to off the mainstream drugs. It's a thorough look into the clinical process without being clinical and dry. It really is a page turner when he gets into the volunteer patients' experiences and results. Sooo fascinating. Very interesting look into the man's perseverance of the research, frustration with the process and skepticism and confusion with the results. I feel at the end of the book that he is discouraged by the whole a thing and feels the entire endeavor was useless. Far from it. but it is sad that the book ends on such a defeatist tone for the scientist. He shouldn't give up. It's cutting edge research. This is a great read and will really make you think.


0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Spirituality made Science, 2008-11-18
One of the most amazing books I have ever read. I strongly suggest engaging in a session of your own of the book's main subject before reading, as it will enhance your understanding of the experiences of the test subjects. Absolutely mind opening read, of one of the most challenging and informative studies in human neurology.


2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

all negative reviews overlook the whole point...., 2008-10-20
All these negative reviews have missed the importance of the work - DMT is in our - YOUR - heads and it just so happens to be a very potent hallucinogen. Why is it there? Not because we're all born drug abusers. Gimme a break. Its time to get on to the next chapter of the book of life and unfortunately (for the scientific and religious literalists both) thats going to be a stretch cause science has reached the point of scratching its head while somehow??? maintaining blind ignorance on the coat tails of old theoretical roadblocks. Religion has become a set of rules to abide by as the preaching carnies keep the truth of personal awakening buried under demands of sewing your seeds of cash and condemning the sins of "the others". Life IS a mystery and if we're going to try to figure it out we're going to have to dive deep into the vast pool of the mysterious to pull it out. Boil science with religion, pull off the heavy slag of rhetoric that bubbles to the surface and there you'll most likely find your pure extraction of the truth of the matter - just don't wait for science and religion to do it for you. The Kingdom of Heaven is within!

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