Editing Dimethyltryptamine (section)

====Oral====
{{See also|Ayahuasca|Pharmahuasca}}
[[File:Aya-preparation.jpg|thumb|Ayahuasca preparation]]

DMT is broken down by the enzyme [[monoamine oxidase]] through a process called [[deamination]], and is quickly inactivated orally unless combined with a [[monoamine oxidase inhibitor]] (MAOI).<ref name="McKennaTowers1984"/> The traditional South American beverage [[ayahuasca]] is derived by boiling ''[[Banisteriopsis caapi]]'' with leaves of one or more plants containing DMT, such as ''[[Psychotria viridis]]'', ''[[Psychotria carthagenensis]]'', or ''[[Diplopterys cabrerana]]''.<ref name="McKennaTowers1984"/> The ''Banisteriopsis caapi'' contains [[harmala alkaloids]],<ref name="pmid9924842">{{cite journal | vauthors = Callaway JC, Grob CS | title = Ayahuasca preparations and serotonin reuptake inhibitors: a potential combination for severe adverse interactions | journal = Journal of Psychoactive Drugs | volume = 30 | issue = 4 | pages = 367–269 | year = 1998 | pmid = 9924842 | doi = 10.1080/02791072.1998.10399712 | url = http://www.mimosahostilis.com/files/Ayahuasca%20and%20SSRI%20Interactions.pdf | access-date = 10 April 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120201144245/http://www.mimosahostilis.com/files/Ayahuasca%20and%20SSRI%20Interactions.pdf | archive-date = 1 February 2012 }}</ref> a highly active reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase A ([[Reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase A|RIMA]]s),<ref name="BergströmWesterberg1997">{{cite journal | vauthors = Bergström M, Westerberg G, Långström B | title = <sup>11</sup>C-harmine as a tracer for monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A): in vitro and in vivo studies | journal = Nuclear Medicine and Biology | volume = 24 | issue = 4 | pages = 287–293 | date = May 1997 | pmid = 9257326 | doi = 10.1016/S0969-8051(97)00013-9 }}</ref> rendering the DMT orally active by protecting it from [[deamination]].<ref name="McKennaTowers1984"/> A variety of different recipes are used to make the brew depending on the purpose of the ayahuasca session,<ref name="Andritzky1989">{{cite journal | vauthors = Andritzky W | title = Sociopsychotherapeutic functions of ayahuasca healing in Amazonia | journal = Journal of Psychoactive Drugs | volume = 21 | issue = 1 | pages = 77–89 | year = 1989 | pmid = 2656954 | doi = 10.1080/02791072.1989.10472145 | url = http://www.lila.info/document_view.phtml?document_id=8 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080226052014/http://www.lila.info/document_view.phtml?document_id=8 | archive-date = 26 February 2008 }}</ref> or local availability of ingredients. Two common sources of DMT in the western US are [[reed canary grass]] (''[[Phalaris arundinacea]]'') and [[Harding grass]] (''[[Phalaris aquatica]]''). These invasive grasses contain low levels of DMT and other alkaloids but also contain [[gramine]], which is toxic and difficult to separate. In addition, [[Mimosa tenuiflora|Jurema]] (''[[Mimosa tenuiflora]]'') shows evidence of DMT content: the pink layer in the inner rootbark of this small tree contains a high concentration of ''N'',''N''-DMT.{{citation needed|date=December 2014}}

Taken orally with an [[Reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase A|RIMA]], DMT produces a long-lasting (over three hours), slow, deep metaphysical experience similar to that of [[psilocybin mushrooms]], but more intense.<ref name=Peru>{{cite web |url=http://www.kirasalak.com/Peru.html |title=Hell and back |vauthors=Salak K |publisher=National Geographic Adventure |access-date=2008-10-31 |archive-date=2019-09-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190911140217/http://www.kirasalak.com/Peru.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The intensity of orally administered DMT depends on the type and dose of MAOI administered alongside it. When ingested with 120&nbsp;mg of [[harmine]] (a [[Reversible inhibition of monoamine oxidase|RIMA]] and member of the [[Harmala alkaloid|harmala alkaloids]]), 20&nbsp;mg of DMT was reported to have psychoactive effects by author and [[Ethnobotany|ethnobotanist]] [[Jonathan Ott]]. Ott reported that to produce a visionary state, the threshold oral dose was 30&nbsp;mg DMT alongside 120&nbsp;mg [[harmine]].<ref name="ott1998" /> This is not necessarily indicative of a standard dose, as dose-dependent effects may vary due to individual variations in drug metabolism.

Without an MAOI, DMT is inactive orally at doses over 1,000{{nbsp}}mg.<ref name="Shulgin1976" /><ref name="TiHKAL" />