DMT breathwork

DMT Breathwork: Can Circular Breathing Release DMT?

Megan, Trauma-Informed Breathwork Facilitator & Teacher, Yoga Instructor, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Holistic Nutritionist, Reiki 2 Megan, Trauma-Informed Breathwork Facilitator & Teacher, Yoga Instructor, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Holistic Nutritionist, Reiki 2

Engaging in Breathwork induces altered states of consciousness, often described by practitioners as visionary experiences and journeys reminiscent of psychedelics. Circular breathing enthusiasts frequently draw parallels between their breathwork encounters and the effects of substances like Ayahuasca, known for its high DMT content. Moreover, the reported benefits of breathwork often mirror those associated with DMT and other psychedelic plant medicines.

Some Commonly Shared Benefits of DMT & Breathwork Include:

  • Transpersonal or mystical experiences
  • Feelings of unity or oneness with the universe
  • The processing and release of trauma
  • Physical and emotional healing
  • Divine encounters and messages
  • Exploration of deep aspects of the self
  • Inner child meetings and healing
  • Life-altering breakthroughs or insights
  • Spiritual awakening

The similar benefits and effects have given rise to a compelling notion suggesting that breathwork might trigger the endogenous release of DMT in the brain. Some breathwork facilitators even market their approach as “DMT breathwork,” emphasizing the perceived connection between the two. However, determining the veracity of this claim has proven challenging, as there is a lack of direct studies investigating this potential correlation. And researchers are only just beginning to comprehend the role of DMT in the human body. Despite the scarcity of definitive evidence, we conducted an in-depth exploration of this potential connection, and in the following sections, we will unveil the findings of our investigation.

What is DMT (N,N-Dimethyltryptamine)

DMT (N, N-Dimethyltryptamine) stands as a hallucinogenic tryptamine chemical within the psychedelic class alongside LSD and psilocybin [1]. While most recognized as a key psychoactive component in the plant-based concoction Ayahuasca, DMT is not confined to this usage, as it occurs abundantly in various plants, animals, and intriguingly, in the human body itself [2], [3]. Remarkably, DMT is the sole naturally occurring psychedelic identified within the human body, with studies detecting its presence in human blood, brain, and cerebrospinal fluid [4],[5].

Boasting the title of the most potent psychedelic on Earth, DMT, when ingested, elicits profound psychedelic and often mystical-type experiences. Notably, it mimics the near-death experience, wherein individuals describe transcending their physical bodies and entering alternate realms. This unique attribute led researcher Rick Strassman, M.D. from the University of New Mexico, to dub DMT the “spirit molecule” [6]. Strassman posits that DMT facilitates the soul’s movement in and out of the body, playing a pivotal role in birth, death experiences, and the deepest states of meditation [7]. Intriguingly, there is also speculation about DMT’s involvement in deep REM sleep, and dreaming, and its potential influence on the evolution of human consciousness.

In an interesting aside, Holotropic Breathwork, one of the original branches of modern Breathwork, emerged in the 1960s through the pioneering work of Psychiatrist and LSD-facilitated therapy researcher Stanislav Grof. Grof achieved notable success in utilizing LSD to assist his patients in overcoming PTSD. However, with the substance becoming illegal in the United States, he ingeniously developed his conscious, connected Breathwork technique. This innovative approach proved effective in inducing psychedelic-like states that facilitated profound healing, without relying on conventional psychedelic substances.

Exploring the Natural Production of DMT in the Human Body

In the mid-1990s, Dr. Strassman conducted groundbreaking experiments on DMT, ultimately attributing its production and secretion to the pineal gland. Nestled deep within the center of the brain, this small organ has long captivated researchers, earning epithets such as “the seat of the soul” or the “third eye.” Despite the prevailing belief in the exclusive synthesis of DMT within the pineal gland, a 2019 study published in Scientific Reports unveiled a different reality. This research indicated the presence of brain neurons containing the two requisite enzymes for DMT synthesis, not confined to the pineal gland but also dispersed in other brain regions crucial for higher-order brain functions [8].

DMT Breathwork: Three Ways Circular Breathing May Cause the Natural Release of DMT

  1. Potential DMT Release in Breathwork Through Stress States

    Because the experiences and benefits of Breathwork often exhibit parallels with those associated with DMT and other psychedelic plant medicines, and considering that DMT is naturally produced in the body, there is a widespread belief that DMT might be released during Breathwork sessions. While the exact mechanisms governing the production and release of DMT in the body remain unknown, it has been proven that highly stressful situations can lead to a release of high quantities of DMT in the brain of rats, and this phenomenon may occur similarly in human brains [9],[10]. Breathwork sessions are known to alter the carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen ratio in the body, leading to an increase in pH. These rapid physiological changes may subject the system to mild stress. Theoretically, this induced state of stress during Breathwork could potentially be associated with the release of DMT. However, further research is needed to validate and understand the intricate details of this complex relationship.

  2. Potential DMT Release Through Reduced Oxygen Levels

    Another conceivable mechanism through which Breathwork may instigate the natural release of DMT is by inducing mild hypoxia, characterized by reduced oxygen levels in tissues. Despite the common misbelief that breathwork increases oxygen levels, the rapid breathing inherent in Breathwork does the opposite. It induces a rise in pH and a decrease in CO2 levels, initiating vasoconstriction—the narrowing of blood vessels. CO2 is essential for facilitating the release of oxygen from the blood into tissues and organs, a phenomenon known as the Bohr effect. And as a result of vasoconstriction and the Bohr effect, breathwork actually diminishes oxygen levels in the tissues [11],[12]. Intriguingly, studies have unveiled that DMT can exert a protective effect on human cells in low-oxygen environments, raising the possibility that reduction of oxygen levels induced by Breathwork may trigger the release of DMT as a safeguarding survival mechanism [13].

  3. Potential DMT Breathwork Release Through Brainwave Alterations & Cerebrospinal Fluid

    A third avenue through which Breathwork might induce the release of DMT involves the modulation of brainwaves and cerebrospinal fluid dynamics. Gamma brainwaves, associated with states of profound meditation, heightened awareness, and elevated cognitive functions are activated during Breathwork and other deeply meditative practices [14]. Notably, a correlation between gamma waves and DMT release exists, suggesting a reciprocal stimulation between the two [15],[16].

    Preliminary research further proposes that circular breathing may influence the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid, wherein this fluid harbors the highest concentrations of DMT outside the brain. This implies that the deliberate modulation of breath during Breathwork may stimulate the flow of DMT-containing cerebrospinal fluid, potentially augmenting the distribution of DMT throughout the brain and body [17]. As research continues to explore these intricate connections, the role of Breathwork in influencing DMT release remains an area ripe for deeper investigation.

Concluding Thoughts: Everything You Need is Already within You!

Though we may lack definitive answers regarding the validity of DMT Breathwork, what remains undeniable is the profound efficacy of Breathwork itself. Its transformative and healing effects stand unparalleled, bringing subconscious experiences to the forefront, purging physical, emotional, and mental toxicity, and paving the way for self-discovery and spiritual awakening. Moreover, Breathwork is a safe, all-natural practice that empowers individuals to become their own healers. The journey within holds the key to unlocking the innate wisdom and healing potential that resides within each of us!

Ever since my very first Breathwork session which dramatically improved my life, I have made it my mission to help make Breathwork as popular and accessible as yoga. As a part of that mission, I not only research and write about it, but I also offer a trauma-informed certified breathwork training with an international Breathing Space accreditation, and I facilitate private and group sessions. If you’d like to book a session with me online or in-person, or join in a Whitby Breathwork or Sayulita Breathwork class, please reach out here.

* If you want to find out more about DMT in the human body, it’s effects, and it’s potential connection to Breathwork, you can watch DMT Quest Documentary (we have no affiliation with this link or video). 

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