The Mystery Of The Pineal Gland
The pineal gland is a small endocrine gland in the human brain that produces melatonin; the hormone responsible for regulating sleep. It is believed by some in the medical and scientific communities that the pineal gland may also secrete DMT, a chemical compound responsible for altered states of consciousness, intense hallucinations and mystical experiences.
DMT has been discovered in the human brain in extremely small concentrations. At these concentrations, no altered states of consciousness are experienced. It is also believed that the pineal gland may contain anti-DMT enzymes that constantly break down the compound, preventing us from hallucinating.
The question becomes: are anti-DMT enzymes malfunctioning in patients with schizophrenia, resulting in too much release of DMT that may be responsible for auditory and visual hallucinations? It is believed that DMT may be released at birth, during dreams, during very traumatic experiences and death.
It would be quite difficult to measure DMT in the human brain during any of the scenarios listed above. But since we do not know what causes psychosis, besides the possibility of too much dopamine, it may be possible that DMT is uncontrollably released due to malfunctioning anti-DMT enzymes.
When DMT is used for recreational purposes, users describe a very intense psychedelic experience of vivid hallucinations, a universal consciousness and detachment from the body. These descriptions sound similar to people who have gone through near-death experiences.
In addition, it has been observed in small DMT clinical trials that participants did not experience tolerance to DMT after receiving multiple doses. Tolerance is classic after multiple, consistent doses of LSD, psilocybin and mescaline are received. If the human brain does not experience tolerance to DMT, can this be part of the reason why some schizophrenic patients hallucinate indefinitely?
The next reasonable question to ask is why would the human brain create an endogenous substance responsible for making humans hallucinate? The same question can be asked as to why the human brain contains cannabinoid receptors and a compound called anandamide.
The human brain also produces endogenous natural pain killers such as endorphins and enkephalins, which are released when a person experiences pain. The pattern seems to be quite clear: the human brain contains receptors and endogenous chemical compounds that help with pain relief, pleasure, eating and sleeping.
If DMT is produced by the pineal gland, is it possible that it may be responsible for causing schizophrenia and other psychotic illnesses in millions of people worldwide?
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DSM (Defeating Stigma Mindfully) 
Hmm interesting. Sounds logical enough although as you say we are so far from being able to prove this or indeed understand our consciousness. I still feel at some deep level a belief that one day we have the abilitu to engineer all this to choose “who we are”.
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You mean engineer our mind? That would be playing God, wouldn’t it?
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Well I’m not sure if you are familiar with de Chardin or Frank Tipler? But to become gods was, they believed, man’s destiny.
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I’m not familiar but I’m sorry to say that I don’t share their views. I believe what the bible says, and to “become gods” is something man wound invent secondary to temptation by Satan. There is only one God, and always will be.
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We all are capable if holding very different views and I believe that us a good thing. The most important thing is that we hold such views peaceably and do not attempt to force others to accept our views. Remember Pascal’s Wager? He admitted he could be wrong. The important thing in my view is to act in accordance with the Beatitudes, the Noble Eightfold Path and so on. If we do that, Satan or none, we will have done our duty. In my oponion opinion of course!
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Agreed. Respecting each other’s views peacefully is key to spreading wealth and wellbeing.
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