DMT, Psychedelic Entities, & Their Therapeutic Implications
N, N-Dimethyltryptamine, or DMT, is regarded as one of the most potent psychedelic substances available. It's a naturally occurring compound in plants, animals, and humans for recreational and ritual purposes.
The effects depend on the method of administration—inhalation, ingestion, or injection, alongside the dosage. Known as the "businessman's trip," DMT typically kicks in at breakneck speeds, providing intense sensations for a short period lasting five to 15 minutes.
At low doses, DMT may provide mild feelings of euphoria and equanimity. At high doses, the substance can cause profound visual hallucinations of vibrant geometric patterns and a sense that the user is "communicating with other intelligent lifeforms."
These seemingly intelligent entities are often referred to as "machine elves."
But what are these entities and the therapeutic implications of DMT? In this article, we'll cover what these entities could be and different studies documenting the substance's benefits.
What Are Machine Elves?
DMT entities go by several names—machine elves, clockwork elves, gnomes, little people, clowns, and DMT elves. The term "Machine elf" was coined by the renowned ethnobotanist Terence McKenna in 1965 after he consumed a large dose of DMT in Berkley.
He has described the entities as follows: "...there were a lot of beings in there, what I call self-transforming machine elves. Sort of like jeweled basketballs all dribbling their way toward me. And if they'd had faces, they would have been grinning, but they didn't have faces…"
McKenna was not alone in this experience.
Rick Strassman, an American clinical associate professor of psychiatry, conducted a study on DMT at the University of New Mexico from 1990 to 1995. Many participants described encounters with these entities as mechanized wheels, gears, insects, or aliens.
Not all of these entities have the same personalities, however.
What Are Machine Elves Like?
McKenna associated the entities with love, knowledge, and happiness. Others often claim that intelligent beings are curious, whimsical, or mischievous.
Everyone has different encounters with the beings. Sometimes, they can be playful tricksters pulling on the strings of the user's psyche. One participant from Rick Strassman's study reported the following encounter eight minutes into a high-dosage session:
"...There were a lot of elves. They were prankish and ornery; maybe four of them appeared at the side of a stretch of interstate highway I travel regularly. They commanded the scene; it was their terrain! They were about my height. They held placards, showing me these incredibly beautiful, complex, swirling geometric scenes. One of them made it impossible for me to move. There was no issue of control; they were totally in control. They wanted me to look! I heard a giggling sound---the elves laughing or talking at high-speed volume, chattering, twittering."
Other encounters can lead to a sense of universal love and connection. One study found that thirty-four of thirty-six participants encountered entities during a DMT session. The most common type of encounter was described as Helping or Nurturing.
"Floating, jumping around, very happy to show me those things, [and] that I'm there, but again I could not play with them, that game that they asked me to do… I'm paying attention to them…this entity was asking me to look at his toy, then another ask[ed] me 'No, look at my toy, play with me!'… Very childish in what they were doing… Yeah, those entities calmed me down…their message somehow…gave me [the] impression that 'everything's ok, I'm in [a] good place, I do not need to worry, I'm too scared for nothing, and let us play with these toys!'"
Some individuals who have encountered machine elves claim the experience is life-changing, with an overall boost in well-being.
Many claim that communication is both verbal and nonverbal but intelligent nonetheless. Like any other psychedelic experience, encounters with machine elves seem to vary from person to person.
Machine Elves in Recent Studies
Consistent reports of communicating with spectral entities during high doses of DMT begs the question of whether they're from another "realm" or a trick of the mind. With many users reporting claims of intelligent verbal and nonverbal communication, it is hard to say whether these entities genuinely exist.
However, a recent study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology has documented the consistency of these encounters.
The single-blind, placebo-controlled study gave 11 healthy volunteers different doses of slow-rate DMT infusions over 30 minutes. The idea was to adjust the length, intensity, and dynamics to create the first steps to maintaining a steady-state DMT experience.
The study used four different dosages, ranging from 24.19 mg to 72.58 mg, with a minimum of two weeks between sessions.
Researchers used an IV injection, delivering a single dosage over 30 seconds, followed by a saline flush and a constant-rate infusion lasting 29 minutes.
The study measured intensity, anxiety, heart rate, and DMT plasma concentrations. Thirty minutes after the session, participants completed an Altered States of Consciousness (ASC) Scale and a Mystical Effects Questionnaire (MEQ-30). Participants also rated how often they encountered different dimensions of the experience, including entity encounters.
Entity encounters were most prominent during the latter parts of doses 3 and 4.
This may prove machine elves are consistently present in higher DMT doses, whether they're a figment of the mind or not. The same study states that these findings could help study consciousness or immersion into 'alternate realities,' but only time will tell.
The study also noted other positive effects, like feelings of 'unity,' 'meaning,' 'blissful state,' 'insightfulness,' and 'spiritual experience,' which were much higher for all of the doses compared with the placebo.
Additionally, an essential component of this study is the heart rate of a continuous DMT trip. The participant's heart rate did elevate during the initial injection but eventually stabilized and returned to baseline levels.
This suggests that there may be physiological safety to a sustained DMT session, making a better argument for therapeutic uses.
Near-Death Experiences and DMT
One of the most exciting findings on DMt is the relationship between the experience and near-death experiences (NDE). NDEs are profound encounters connected with death or impending death. The experiences can range from blissful to sensations of being in hell.
A 2019 study claimed that ketamine, Salvia divinorum, DMT, and other psychedelic substances may be linked to near-death experiences. This is because the semantic similarities are closely aligned with near-death narratives.
The study used the same procedure as Strassman's 1994 study, giving participants one of four doses of DMT, ranging from 7, 14, 18, and 20 mg. The researchers hypothesized that DMT would cause near-death-type sensations with a similar intensity.
To measure the effects, researchers used the Near-Death Experience scale, constructed from a questionnaire based on multiple participants in 1983. The NDE scale contains 16 items, ranking the intensity of an experience with subscales on cognitive, affective, transcendental, and paranormal.
All participants scored above the cutoff (7 or more) for a DMT-induced near-death style experience. These include various aspects, like feelings of an unearthly environment, heightened senses, sensations of peace, and bright lights.
These findings could indicate that the sensations before or near death are very similar to psychedelics like DMT.
The researchers suggested that this could improve the ability to detail various transient psychedelic experiences to help develop our overall understanding of psychology and neurobiology.
However, the study concluded that with the current data, it isn't possible to come to a conclusion. This may be unfortunate, but it's the nature of scientific research.
The Therapeutic Possibilities of DMT
Besides intelligent entities being well documented across several studies, DMT has other therapeutic implications. It's being studied alongside other psychedelics to determine the benefits in clinical settings.
For instance, SPL026 (DMT fumarate) is currently undergoing phase II clinical trials investigating its effects when combined with psychotherapy as a potential treatment for major depressive disorder. The results have yet to be released, but this is a step in the right direction for psychedelic research.
DMT is also being studied as a potential treatment for Parkinson's disease by Akome Biotech. The company is developing AKO004, a formulation comprising DMT and other naturally occurring plant bioactives. They suggest that the new formulation can play a neuroprotective role in the brain, possibly preserving nerve function in Parkinson's patients.
Another study discovered that DMT is a potent psychoplastogen, a compound that can create rapid and sustained neuroplasticity. Researchers suggest their results underscore the potential benefits of psychedelics and identify the underlying mechanisms for treating depression and related disorders.
These are just a few notable studies and research projects based around DMT. Many studies on the benefits of psychedelics have been conducted and will continue to be conducted, noting the potential use cases.
Summary
It's common to hear crazy stories about any psychedelic, but DMT often takes the cake. It's a mysterious substance that causes intense sensations lasting a short period. Many report encountering intelligent entities and different realms blasting through time and space itself.
But this isn't only a recreational drug for psychonauts and enthusiasts.
The latest research is revealing that sustained DMT trips may lead to beneficial therapeutic outcomes, like improved mood and well-being. It also reveals that machine elves are a consistent trip component.
Only time will tell regarding the therapeutic benefits of DMT and what the future holds.
Author: Aarron Lopex
Aarron Lopex has experienced several spiritual experiences through psychedelics, meditation, and prayer. He seeks to go into detail on these topics, providing a scientific approach to metaphysical topics and self-development.
