Evidence has been emerging over the past few years about several kinds of psychedelics that seem to alleviate symptoms of depression. Now, scientists have been testing a new compound from the slimy white serum produced from ugly olive-colored toads. Sounds disgusting, right? Well, researchers discovered that if you dry out that serum into a crystallized powder, then smoke it, it may hold some profound benefits for your mental health.
The study, published in the journal Psychopharmacology, has found that within seconds of inhaling one puff of vapor produced from dried toad secretion participants experienced an intense psychedelic and spiritual trip. Its inevitability led to a decrease in psychopathological symptoms; decreased levels of anxiety, stress, and depression; and overall more satisfaction with their lives. Although not all participants completed this four-week-long study until the very end, it’s hard to say whether toad secretion is for everyone.
This psychedelic toad (Incilius alvarius) is known as the Colorado River toad or the Sonora Desert toad. The species can be found in some areas of northern Mexico and the southwestern US. As part of its defense against threats, the toad secretes a toxic substance from glands across its body. The toxic substance contains 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT), a psychedelic compound with a similar structure to DMT and ayahuasca.
5-MeO-DMT has been used for centuries for spiritual purposes, and today it’s widely taken as a treatment for mental health problems or as a means for some good old-fashioned spiritual exploration.
Now, researchers from Maastricht University in the Netherlands and the University of Chemistry and Technology in Czechia, organized the experiment of smoking toad venom among a group of 42 people who were recruited from Czechia, Spain, and the Netherlands. All of those who were in a naturalistic setting and took a single hit of the substance were asked about their mindset, cognition, and mood within 24 hours of the trip and again four weeks later.
What the researchers found was that most of the participants experienced declines in feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress just after the trip. The interesting part is, this effect appeared to have become even more profound a month later. “A single inhalation of vapor from dried toad secretion containing 5-MeO-DMT produces sub-acute and long-term changes in affect and cognition in volunteers,” the researchers said.
The authors of the study explained, “Participants that experienced high levels of ego dissolution or ‘oceanic boundlessness’ during the session displayed higher ratings of satisfaction with life and lower ratings of depression and stress.”
However, the research started off with 75 participants, but only 42 came back for the follow-up investigations. So it makes you wonder if perhaps they didn’t have a good experience. It is also possible to have a bad experience with 5-MeO-DMT, which can lead to increased anxiety and paranoia.
The authors wrote, “Their reasons for not completing the assessments are unknown but potentially could be driven by disappointments that emerged over the experience.”
Despite the number of participants who returned, the study provides fertile ground for more investigation. What do you think? Would you smoke this psychedelic toad goo?
