In the Sonoran Desert, located on the border of the United States and Mexico, there exists a creature coveted by all those seeking to live psychedelic experiences. It is known by several names: Colorado River toad, Sonoran Desert toad or Bufo toadalthough perhaps you have seen it in memes like the Hypno Toad from Futurama.
And this amphibian has the peculiarity of secreting a substance that protects itbut when consumed directly by licking it or converting the liquid into vapor, it generates hallucinogenic effects that have been used as a recreational drug and also for healing or enlightenment rituals, especially on the Mexican side of the desert, where this substance is legal.
But today it is science that is behind the toad, and a study carried out jointly by the universities of Columbia and Mount Sinai, has shown that the compound called 5-MeO-DMT, produced by the amphibian, acts on the receptors of serotonin in a much more effective and direct way than the current medicine used to control the symptoms of anxiety and depression, which is why it would be key to developing new pharmacological treatments.
The scientists took the substance generated by the toad and modified it to find a selective molecule that would hit only the serotonin receptors and avoid the psychedelic effects. The compound was tested on mice with symptoms of depression and anxiety, which were relieved.
This would also explain why the psychedelic rituals associated with this amphibian are given therapeutic properties and even life-changing stories of those who have made these hypersensory trips, because indeed part of this substance – which science is now trying to isolate – has positive effects for certain mental illnesses.
Of course, the idea of this study is to be able to continue working on the creation of this compound artificially, in order to stop depending on this species that, although it is not in danger of extinction, has begun to generate drug trafficking. toads that could eventually damage the Sonoran Desert ecosystem.
