The Octopus and The Toad- Do Octopuses have Endogenous DMT?

DMT can be found occurring naturally in many places. It is present in trees and plants, fungi, animals, and humans. It’s also found in the ocean in various creatures like sea sponges and fish. Many are familiar with one of the most famous sources (specifically of 5-MeO-DMT), the Sonoran Desert Toad.?Please note that there are different types of DMT, uses, experiences, sources, etc.- but this is a short article.

So do octopuses have this enigmatic and amazing molecule? According to Gül D?len, a neuroscientist who conducted a study associated with Johns Hopkins University in which they administered MDMA to octopuses, nobody has actually checked. But, I’m going to tell you why I think they do.?

There have been studies on octopuses while they sleep. They have been noted to exhibit bizarre behavior while sleeping, and, more oftenly, to change skin color and pattern. These are signs of dreaming. There is reason to believe that the humans, among other creatures, produce DMT while in the dream state. It may even be responsible for dreaming and an important factor in visual perception.?

The Sonoran Desert Toad (known by many names) secretes a “toxin” from the parotid gland when in distress, to protect itself from potential predators. The quotation marks around toxin are because, in humans, the concepts of toxins, drugs, poisons, and medicines exist along a continuum that is best represented by one’s relationship to the substance and the dose. Octopuses also secrete a substance when in distress- ink. Of the substances in octopus ink that have been tested, one is melanin- which is also present in humans. Another co-occurring phenomenon in humans is that we, too, produce endogenous DMT when in distress. It has been linked, for one, to cardiac death, and also in utero and during the birthing process. There are also many methods and techniques people use which they say will stimulate endogenous DMT production without physically harming themselves, such as breathwork and meditation.?

So, humans, toads, and octopuses all secrete substances when under stress. (Someone should check the octopus ink for DMT, but maybe just wait until they are getting away from a predator in nature?) We generally accept that humans dream, and there is strong evidence that octopuses dream. Perhaps we have more in common with octopuses than we even know how to measure? But, do toads dream? ???