Harmala is a blanket term for a group of naturally occurring beta-carbolines including harmine, harmaline, and others. The harmala alkaloids are tryptamines and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. They also act as serotonin antagonists and CNS stimulants.

Harmala is found most commonly in the seeds of Peganum harmala, where it occurs in concentrations of up to 3%, and also Banisteriopsis caapi, where it occurs in lower concentrations. In Caapi, it is used in combination with a DMT containing admixture to form a South American Entheogen known as Ayahuasca; in high enough doses, it is slightly hallucinogenic on its own.

Telepathine

Telepathine was originally thought to be the active chemical constituent of Ayahuasca which gave Native users from the Amazon jungle collective contact with and/or visions of jaguars, snakes, and jeweled birds -- not to mention dead ancestors, the ability to see future events, and as the name suggested, telepathic communication among tribal members. It was assumed to be a newly discovered chemical, the active compound of Banisteriopsis caapi; however, it was discovered that Telepathine was already known more widely as Harmine.

Uses

As mentioned above, harmala is used as an MAOI to facilitate the oral ingestion of DMT and other tryptamines; it is also hallucinogenic on its own. In high doses, it acts a sedative. Harmine has been used effectively to alleviate the tremors that come with Parkinson's disease. It is unclear whether harmala can actually facilitate the telepathy it was once named for.

See also

• Syrian Rue
• Ayahuasca
• Banisteriopsis caapi
• Time Machines

Chemical Forms

Harmine: C13H12N2O

• 7-Methoxy-1-methyl-9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indole

Harmaline: C13H14N2O

• 4,9-Dihydro-7-methoxy-1-methyl-3H-pyrido[3,4-b]indole

Tetrahydroharmine: C13H16N2O4P

• 7-Methoxy-1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-Harmine