He Shou Wu (MAO-B effects?)

[Trevor James]

Hi there gigantic newbie here! Good thing I seem limited to this section still. I mean I need to take baby steps here I feel and it is pretty neat how the forum seems to make me do just that. I am coming from Bluelight btw and there is simply too much drug use going on there I don't personally agree with yet I am understanding and wasn't argumentative towards use that I viewed as unskillful.

Anyways I should do an intro in the coming weeks but this is a concern I have and have had before but never really looked into it enough to know for sure what the deal and risks are.

I am nowhere near ready to explore DMT. But like a substituted tryptamine (is that what they are called? Lol) 4-HO-MET might be being taken here in the near future by me and I take this Fo-ti (He Shou Wu) herb daily for wellness and in the past I know I was taking it when I took miprocin. I wondered but never found out if the he shou wu may have interacted somehow with it.

I should learn more about herbal MAO interactions probably before taking something like one of Shulgin's tryptamines not to speak of DMT I know.

I really don't want to stop taking it daily but I am aware the interaction it might have is too substantial to overlook?

Perhaps I would need to stop taking the Fo-ti for a couple weeks before using anything like mentioned here? Surely I need to do more homework. Will post anecdotal notes in time.

 

[kerelsk]

I would definitely be careful taking MAO-A inhibitors with a new-fangled substituted tryptamine. I believe 4-HO-MET has some reports of being used with smoked rue, but I don't think I heard anything about full-dose MAO-inhibiting harmalas. I would be cautious still even smoking rue with the MET as I know for myself the thought that this could go awry is enough to turn my emotions towards the shakier.

MAO-B inhibitors are less of a problem for psychedelics in general as I understand, since that enzyme system is supposed to focus more on the degradation of dopamine/other bodily phenethylamines, and the main thing we're trying to avoid with the MAO-A inhibitors is serotonin syndrome due to buildup in the synaptic clefts.

If you have good information that Reynoutria (=Fallopia/Polygonum) multiflora is purely a MAO-B inhibitor, or a weak one at that, I don't think you'd have problems combining with very small, tentative doses of 4-HO-MET to test if any problems arise.

Personally I have some 4-AcO-MET and I really don't care for it. I find it's has a similar electricity in my nerves as mushrooms, but does not provide much of any of the deep thoughts, universal connection, insight, just a bunch of 'ok' visuals that seem much more human-oriented than the 'otherness' of mushrooms. Also you don't have to worry about taking MAOIs on psilocybin. It's more potent but I haven't heard of anyone dying. Terence McKenna and other have said that it's not a good time on large doses, but afterwards no damage done it seems.

When it comes to mixing with these new chems, you're kind of on your own, so do be careful.

 

[bismillah]

I think (don't quote me) MAO-B doesn't target tryptamines the way MAO-A does. But, if anything, your trip will be a little stronger and a little longer. Like you said—baby steps. Start with a small dose and work your way up, and you'll be fine regardless.

You can check the psychonaut wiki or Erowid for dangerous interactions other drugs might have with MAOIs.