The Top 5 DMT-Containing Plants

Psychedelic plant with DMT molecule, DMT containing plants.

DMT (N,N-Dimethyltryptamine) is a classic psychedelic molecule that has been ingested as part of shamanic traditions for hundreds of years. DMT occurs naturally in dozens of plant species, although not usually in amounts large enough that ingesting or smoking the plant would have any psychoactive effects.

Some people theorize that DMT is released in the human brain at death, and is stored in the pineal gland. It's possible that certain spiritual experiences, like breathwork, can produce experiences similar to a DMT trip!

DMT can easily be extracted from plants to make pure DMT crystals, which can be smoked on its own or used to make pharmahuasca or changa.

Many DMT-containing plants can be legally purchased, depending on where you live. Even in countries where DMT is illegal, it can sometimes be legal to buy DMT-containing plants, as long as you’re not using them to extract DMT or to make psychedelic substances like ayahuasca. 

Keep in mind that laws about DMT-containing plants can be confusing and unclear, and countries may very well decide to prosecute you for having a DMT-containing plant unless they have explicitly stated that these plants are legal to possess.

As always, check your local laws before purchasing plants that are a natural source of DMT.

The Top 5 DMT-Containing Plants

Here are some of the most popular plants that are a natural source of DMT, many of which you can order online (depending on where you live). Remember to check your local laws – while you may be allowed to order these plants online, and grow them at home, it is possibly illegal to extract DMT from them or prepare them for ingestion. 

Chacruna is one of the most popular admixtures in ayahuasca brews. Psychotria viridis is a large shrub that originated in the Amazon, but is grown across South and Central America. It produces large green leaves that contain a significant quantity (around 1% dried weight) of DMT. 

Traditionally the leaves are added to a boiling pot of Banisteriopsis caapi vines, and the liquid is reduced into a thick, dark liquid, creating one of the most common forms of ayahuasca. The combination of the DMT from P. viridis with the MAOIs in B. caapi makes for a psychedelic symbiosis, where DMT can stay in the body longer than it would normally.

The liquid from fresh P. viridis leaves is used traditionally in the form of eye drops, to treat migraines and headaches (Rätsch, 2004).

Dried Psychotria viridis leaves can be bought online here. If it is legal for you to do so in your area, DMT can be extracted from the leaves as you would any other DMT-containing plant.

Mimosa hostilis bark contains DMT

Also known as Mimosa tenuiflora, this is a bushy tree that can grow up to eight meters tall. Jurema grows throughout Central and South America, and its root bark is used both as a medicine and entheogen.

The powdered bark has been reported to be a useful painkiller, and is traditionally rubbed on burns and wounds. It has also been used as an aphrodisiac, and as a general health tonic.

The root bark of Jurema contains around 1% DMT, and is a favorite among DMT-extractors because it is relatively easy to obtain in large quantities. Jurema can be purchased online here.

Yopo seeds, in a pile, are DMT-containing.

Anadenanthera peregrina is a tree that originated in South America, and now also grows in the Caribbean. The tree produces large, dark brown seeds, that contain the psychoactive molecules DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, and bufotenine.

Traditionally, these yopo seeds were roasted and ground up into a powder (cohoba) which is then snorted in entheogenic rituals to produce an altered state. Many different peoples across South America have been documented to use yopo (Rätsch, 2004).

It’s unclear whether extracting DMT from yopo seeds is possible, and it likely won’t give you as high yields as other more popular plants like M. hostilis or P. viridis. If you’re interested in yopo, it’s probably best to use the seeds to make a snuff, rather than attempting an extraction.

Yopo seeds can be bought online here.

Also called chagropanga in Quechua, chaliponga is a long vine that only grows in the Amazon basin, and is often used as an admixture in ayahuasca.

Chaliponga leaves contain a number of psychoactive molecules – most notably DMT (at around 1% of dry weight), but also 5-MeO-DMT, bufotenine, and beta-carbolines. 

Because of the presence of other molecules in the leaves, chaliponga may not be an ideal candidate for DMT extraction. However, it is a popular component of some changa recipes, as it can help to replicate an ayahuasca experience as part of a smoking blend. It can also be used as part of genuine ayahuasca recipes.

A pink ebook cover for a Changa Guide

Download this free guide and also receive our changa email series to help you make changa at home, using ingredients that are available online.

Chaliponga can be bought online here.

When purchasing this vine, it is important to consider the sustainability of buying a plant that grows only in the Amazon, especially considering the impact that ayahuasca tourism has already had. 

Dried Acacia confusa bark, contains DMT.

Acacia is a genus containing hundreds of species of plants that have a wide variety of traditional and medicinal uses. Either trees or shrubs, Acacia species are most commonly found in Australia, and some in Africa. 

Acacia trees and shrubs are relatively fire resistant, and also act as a home and food source for butterflies. There are hundreds of species, with varying appearances and biology – although they often have large green blade-like leaves.

Some Acacia plants contain psychoactive alkaloids, including DMT. Although not all of the Acacia species have been investigated for DMT content, these four have been shown to have significant quantities of DMT (and sometimes other alkaloids):

  • Acacia acuminata – around 1% DMT in bark and leaves, but other alkaloids are present
  • Acacia confusa (available here) – the root bark contains around 1% DMT
  • Acacia drepanolobium – around 1% DMT in leaves and bark
  • Acacia simplex – around 1-2% DMT in leaves and stem bark, but other alkaloids are present

Although these Acacia species may also contain other alkaloids, anecdotal reports suggest that this doesn’t interfere with typical DMT extractions, so these plants are a good source for DMT.

What Plants Contain DMT in the US?

There are many plants native to the US in which you can find DMT. These natural sources of DMT include Bulbous Canary Grass (Phalaris aquatica)mainly found in Californian grasslands; Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea), an invasive species in North American wetlands; and Prairie Bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis), which grows in Florida, North Dakota, Texas, and Pennsylvania.

How to Use DMT-Containing Plants

The way you use your DMT-containing plants will depend on their specific properties! Some plants, like yopo seeds, are probably best used in the traditional way. Others, like chaliponga and P. viridis, are excellent components of ayahuasca brews. Chaliponga and P. viridis can also be used in changa recipes (guide coming soon)! Finally, plants like M. hostilis are ideal for DMT extraction. 

Unfortunately, ingesting DMT-containing plants without any kind of preparation is unlikely to produce much of a psychoactive effect. This is both because the DMT quantities are relatively small, and because your body breaks down DMT quite quickly unless there is also an MAOI present. This is why people most commonly extract DMT from these plants for use in psychedelic preparations.

The DMT extracted from plants can be used either in a changa recipe, or smoked on its own:

  • When pure DMT crystal is smoked on its own, the experience is extremely short-lasting and can be somewhat overwhelming. It also requires a more careful smoking technique, and preferably some additional equipment, to make sure the crystal is not heated too much (making an unpleasant taste and destroying the DMT). This usually involves a bong or vaporizer.
  • To make changa, the extracted DMT just needs to be dissolved into a solvent, and then soaked into a plant mixture that can then be smoked when it’s completely dry. Changa can be smoked out of a bong, pipe, or in joints. Learn more about changa in our Seeker's Guide!

References

Rätsch (2004) The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants.

About Patrick Smith

Patrick Smith is a biologist and writer who has been working in the psychedelic community for several years. Twitter: @rjpatricksmith

18 Comments

  1. jimmy_livingstone@yahoo.com' jimmy on November 22, 2020 at 2:31 pm

    Thank You for all this information ,
    I am intersted to have this great experience
    I Ieave in London . For the last 20 years I am practising Yoga and meditation almost everyday but, I never experienced such a high state of consciousnes . I’ll be so happy some one to help me .
    Many Thanks
    Jimmy

    • veritas123@gmx.com' OB1 on March 19, 2021 at 9:48 am

      Have you found anywhere yet. I may be able to help.

      • Modyremy@gmail.com' Ramses on May 1, 2021 at 2:58 pm

        Can u help me?

    • MRS.MORNINGSTARCURRY@GMAIL.COM' morningstar curry on September 24, 2021 at 7:17 pm

      Hi Jimmy,

      I am sure that if you use a natural extraction you will find a much more pleasant journey.

  2. Tommyowings@hotmail.co.uk' Tommy on December 22, 2020 at 9:22 pm

    I’ve had some and it is honestly the best experience I have ever encountered I could not even begin to comprehend what I was going to see but it’s well worth a try. I have give it to my little brother who is 18 and his girlfriend and from what I have heard from their experiences I honestly do believe you can connect with your loved ones who have passed away, Speke to your spirit guide and even look and it may even feel like your flying threw space theirs soo many experiences that I’ve heard but it’s a relaxant soo when I was taking it I put it in a spliff. You only need 2 or 3 pills n you’ll feel it then shut your eyes and let the magic happen. I’ve heard it’s been known to awaken people and even change people life around for the better.

    • Bigbwoy1337@gmail.com' Jack on February 15, 2021 at 10:26 am

      Hey man, your experience Sounds hella cool…where are you based and how did u make it?

  3. Pacomacaw@gmail.com' Paco Macaw on February 11, 2021 at 3:20 am

    I did DMT about two years ago supervised by a paramedic. I felt very safe and comfortable before my experience.
    I was so surprised by the immediacy of the hit, that I was not able to take the third pull on the vaporizer that was recommended. I regret this, as I now wish I had gone deeper.
    Colourful geometric patterns and a hint of other beings present ( I so much wish I took that third pull ). Having had a bad trip on LSD when I was 17, (now 68 ), I was fearful of saying or doing something stupid. That could not happen. I was in a sleep-like, semi-conscious state. Movement and speech impossible.
    The trip was very short about 10 minutes, which is so much better that being trapped in an LSD trip for hours.
    I came out feeling very relaxed/happy/contented, walking on air. It is the opposite of a come-down (maybe a come-up!?). It was like I had just had a good night’s sleep and a wonderful dream.
    My experience was very good. I don’t feel compelled to do it again, but I think I might.
    I fall short of recommending it as, not everyone will react the same way. However if you know someone qualified to supervise you that you trust, think about it.

  4. neoman369000@gmail.com' Oliver on April 4, 2021 at 3:16 am

    I read your the article top 5 DMT containing plants. Would like to know more.

  5. 3daccesssolutions@gmail.com' Graham on May 5, 2021 at 3:29 am

    Honestly every person on this planet deserves to experience DMT, before the dose their pineal gland gives them to leave this existence. It changed my life , I’m not even going to try to explain.
    Baseline is it’s an instant connection to the third eye and therefore the universal energy and the higher dimensions.
    How could one ever fear death after that experience?

    • Kendra.janel.km@gmail.com' KendrizZzled on June 2, 2021 at 12:08 pm

      🙌

  6. Mido297555@hotmail.com' Mido on May 12, 2021 at 7:49 pm

    Does any of them may be addicted?
    And what dose is the least to be taken or inhaled to get the effect

  7. Jennrn.bsn@gmail.com' Jennifer on July 9, 2021 at 5:21 pm

    I am interested in a life changing experience. Either bufo toad or DMT. Any information would be helpful. Also, would like a referral for Portland, Oregon too. Thank you.

  8. dogcowstella@yahoo.com' stella watts on July 26, 2021 at 2:07 pm

    In the interest of factual discourse, there is zero evidence that DMT is introduced to the human body by the pineal gland, or that meaningful amounts of DMT are generated by ANY endogenous process, or that endogenous DMT contributes to human experience, near-death or otherwise.

    It’s amazing stuff, but don’t get caught up in the hyperbole, speculation, and wishful thinking that so often accompanies any discussion of DMT.

    • Patrick Smith on July 28, 2021 at 2:40 pm

      Yep, we have covered that in our article about DMT and the Pineal Gland!

  9. erkokuu09@gmail.com' Erko on August 4, 2021 at 10:46 pm

    Hmm, what I found interesting is that, iff u take earth, it seems like major of dmt plants are there, where we don’t have a long history somehow, expect mayans 😕 But seems like they had the collective dmt dripp to another dimension…

  10. kchesney38@gmail.com' Kevin on September 27, 2021 at 12:31 pm

    I first had dmt about 15 yrs ago. I had recently read about it in nexus magazine & was immediately interested. Life conspired to bring it to me. It was brown rhombic crystals with a heavy odour of PVC, enough to fill a one hit cone. I lit it up in a marijuana pipe making sure all was burnt. I cannot recollect putting the pipe down. immediately I was in another reality peopled by what I can only describe as therianthropes resembling Egyptian & Mayan gods. They were waiting for me and knew I was coming. The surrounds that was park or country like was then replaced with a city made of the most exquisite crystal radiating colours beyond number. that will suffice although the experience moved on. When I regained consciousness of this reality around 20 mins had passed. It still feels more than this.

  11. 220794@pm.me' Yoyada on October 15, 2021 at 10:05 pm

    I have tried to extract DMT from the Acacia Rarsberry Jam Wattle tree with No success.
    I get to the Freeze overnight stage and all looks promising with white particles on the base of dish.
    When I either drain through Coffee Filter or drain and leave base particles to dry ALL just Evaporates and is doing my head in.
    Yo Yo.

  12. rj092981@gmail.com' Kcfan81 on December 6, 2021 at 11:01 pm

    Yoyada, were you able to figure why it was doing that? I’m running in to the exact same thing. Frustrating to say the least. Thank you for any information.

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