Harmala alkaloid produces 7 documented subjective effects across 2 categories.
Full Harmala alkaloid profileThe effects listed below are based upon the subjective effects index and personal experiences of PsychonautWiki contributors.
Banisteriopsis caapi (also known as ayahuasca, caapi or yajé) is a South American jungle vine of the family Malpighiaceae. It contains harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine in the following proportions:
Peganum harmala, commonly called esfand (native name), syrian rue, is a plant native to the eastern Iranian region west to India. It has also spread invasively throughout Arizona, California, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Texas and Washington. The plant itself produces seeds which contain harmala alkaloids and is easily accessible and legal to purchase online through the use of google. Powdered syrian rue seeds act as a reversible inhibitor of MAO-A (RIMA) at doses of 2 - 5g.
Syrian rue seeds contain several different harmala alkaloids at slightly varying percentages. Only some are monoamine oxidase A inhibitors. In one study, total harmala alkaloids were at least 5.9% of dried weight.
Though ground seeds can be consumed raw, this is an unreliable method of accessing the contained harmala alkaloids. The stomach can only soak the seed material in gastric juice for a limited period before it is moved further along the digestive system for absorption of molecules in solution. Because of this, whole seeds are ineffective; ground or pulverized seeds work in some circumstances, but to reliably and predictably achieve psychoactivity, it is most efficient to first extract the alkaloids from the seeds of peganum harmala into a solution by brewing it for at least 30 minutes.
The brewing environment can be enhanced by acidifying the water, using stronger solvents, and increasing the temperature. Using more water will also increase the concentration gradient, allowing more alkaloids to dissolve.
MAOIs have highly dangerous and sometimes fatal interactions with many common drugs. They can cause serotonin syndrome or hypertensive crisis when combined with almost any antidepressant, stimulant, common migraine medication, certain herbs, most cold medicine (including decongestants, antihistamines, and cough syrup), nicotine, caffeine, etc. Sedatives are likely easier tolerated, but potentiation should be expected.
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) combined with cholinergic substances can result in a cholinergic crisis.
Banisteriopsis caapi and Peganum harmala contain harmaline and harmine. Both alkaloids are acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs).
When intravenously injected into mice, the LD50 of harmine is 38mg/kg. There is no data for the other harmala alkaloids in humans or animals.
It is strongly recommended that one use harm reduction practices when using this drug.
There is no tolerance built up with harmala alkaloid use. There are no real reports of addiction to harmala alkaloids.
Harmala alkaloids and their natural sources are legal in most parts of the world.
Australia:** Harmala alkaloids are Schedule 9 drugs under POISONS STANDARD of DECEMBER 2019. HARMALA ALKALOIDS except in herbs, or preparations, for therapeutic use:
containing 0.1 per cent or less of harmala alkaloids; or
in divided preparations containing 2 mg or less of harmala alkaloids per recommended daily dose.
Canada:** Harmala alkaloids are Schedule III drugs.
France:** Possession and sale of harmala alkaloids is illegal.
Responsible use
Beta-Carbolines
Psychedelics
Tryptamines
Phenethylamines
Lysergamides
Harmala alkaloids
Harmala alkaloids (Wikipedia)
Harmaline (Wikipedia)
Harmine (Wikipedia)
Tetrahydroharmine (Wikipedia)
Harmala Alkaloids (Erowid Vault)
Harmaline (TiHKAL / Isomer Design)
Harmine (TiHKAL / Isomer Design)
Tetrahydroharmine (TiHKAL / Isomer Design)
Natural sources
Banisteriopsis caapi* (Wikipedia)
Banisteriopsis caapi* (Erowid Vault)
Peganum harmala* (Wikipedia)
Syrian rue (Erowid Vault)
Morales-García, J. A., de la Fuente Revenga, M., Alonso-Gil, S., Rodríguez-Franco, M. I., Feilding, A., Perez-Castillo, A., & Riba, J. (2017). The alkaloids of Banisteriopsis caapi, the plant source of the Amazonian hallucinogen Ayahuasca, stimulate adult neurogenesis in vitro. Scientific Reports, 7(1), 5309. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-05407-9
Diarrhea is the occurrence of frequent, loose, or watery bowel movements as a side effect of certain psychoactive substances, resulting from either direct GI irritation or pharmacological alterations to gut motility and fluid absorption.
HeadacheA painful sensation of pressure, throbbing, or aching in the head that can range from a dull background discomfort to a debilitating pounding that dominates awareness. Substance-induced headaches may occur during the acute effects, during the comedown, or as a rebound symptom hours to days after use.
SedationA state of deep physical and mental calming that manifests as a progressive desire to remain still, lie down, and eventually drift toward sleep. Sedation ranges from a gentle drowsy relaxation to a heavy, irresistible pull into unconsciousness where maintaining wakefulness becomes a losing battle against the body's insistence on shutdown.
Serotonin syndromeSerotonin syndrome is a potentially fatal medical emergency caused by excessive serotonergic activity in the central and peripheral nervous systems, typically resulting from combining multiple serotonin-elevating substances, and manifesting as a dangerous triad of neuromuscular hyperactivity, autonomic dysfunction, and altered mental status.
StimulationA state of heightened physical and mental energy characterized by increased wakefulness, elevated motivation, and a subjective sense of vigor that pervades both body and mind. Users often report feeling electrically alive, with a buzzing readiness to move, talk, and engage that can range from a pleasant caffeine-like lift to an overwhelming, jittery compulsion to act.
Intense feelings of apprehension, worry, and dread that can range from a subtle background unease to overwhelming panic attacks with a sense of impending doom, often amplified by the substance's intensification of one's existing mental state.
Cognitive dysphoriaA cognitive and emotional state of intense dissatisfaction, discomfort, and malaise encompassing feelings of depression, irritability, existential unease, and a pervasive sense that something is fundamentally wrong. This is the mental counterpart to physical dysphoria.
Harmala alkaloid can produce 5 physical effects including stimulation, sedation, serotonin syndrome, headache, and 1 more.
Harmala alkaloid produces 2 cognitive effects including cognitive dysphoria, anxiety.