Healing the blind

[Opiyum]

Recently a friend told me he has a buddy that is blind and is interested in trying both 4-aco-dmt and N,N-DMT and is hoping that I will be the one to introduce him to these substances. I personally have never met this person so I can't speak to his intentions other than he hasn't done a psychedelic since he became blind a few years ago. Having never met this person is a little worrisome. That's my number one rule when it comes to these sorts of introductions and with the added safety risk I not sure how to move forward.

A big part of me wants to share these magical substances with this person, (assuming blind people will have visions in the same way a sighted person will; haven't looked into that yet)) but another part is worried about unforseen consequences. How does one go about easing psychic pain from a panic attack in someone that can't see and is mostly a stranger?
There are also the selfish reasons for me to go through with this as it will be very interesting to learn about a blind person's reaction to DMT.

My friend said he would make sure to set this session in a safe place with a sitter but I don't really agree with his methods on most occasions. In a nutshell I find him to be a somewhat reckless psychonaut who thinks he has more experience with psychedelics than he actually does. Mostly uninformed and extremely over confident, doesn't mix well. All this makes me think I would have to be involved throughout, which is how I prefer it anyway. Part of what I am trying to figure out is if there are any extra precautions I should take or methods I should employ.
I'm interested in any advice, comments, questions or criticisms. How would you proceed with an inquiry like this? What, if any, safety guidelines would you impose?

Lastly if anyone knows of any papers published on psychedelic research I would really appreciate a link. I'll be looking eventually on my own but right now I just don't have more than 30 minutes a day to spend on the computer.
Thanks in advance for any replies.

 

[Enoon]

My first response would be: meet the guy yourself, get to know him. Talk to him about your concerns etc. and see what he has to say about that. I would try to communicate as much as possible, that should establish a good base from which to decide what actions you want to take - if you want to sit for him and how to do it - what he prefers and how to respond to anything he might go through, no?

I think this way you'll get a feel for how he deals with his blindness and if there are deeper problems involved that could become an issue during a trip, or if he is comfortable with his state. As for easing pain, I don't think it makes much difference whether a person is blind or not. You comfort them by whatever means are adequate. Either by talking or by being present, by holding their hand, their shoulder, by giving them a hug, by putting on good music etc. If you get a feel for the person I think you'll know how to respond. Just be your empathic self.

I would also be interested in his reaction to spice, so do keep us updated.

cheers
Enoon

 

[closet-chemist1010]

^Great advice enoon
could not have said it better myself.

How well do you know this friend of yours?
Do you trust him?
his judgement? from what i've heard so far, probably not.

Also as enoon said, getting to know the guy would be your best bet, enoons point about how comfortable this man feels about his current state of being could be a huge factor of the end result, I would make sure to pick his brain as much as possible about that without making to obvious.

If you decide to go through with it, this thought crossed my mind.
I have heard a person who has lost their sight, may have their other senses heightened. You say he lost his vision only a couple of years ago, so i am not sure how much this would affect him, but music and incense may help him have an amazing experience.

Happy travels

 

[jamie]

I bet they will have visions in the same mannor as the rest of us, since they had sight at once point so the visual cortex will have been wired etc based on prior vision. The eyes are not really the generator of what we see I dont think, the visual cortex probly plays more of a role, which is intact in blind people.

I used to work with a guy that was color blind and he apparently taught himslef to to distinguish different colors while on LSD..when he came back down it was all just shades of grey but he could link each shade to whatever color it was while on acid..that was what I was told anyway.

 

[godling]

wow... so funny... i have been interested in this for some time... i assume that there is no update on whether or not this has taken place?....

i also wonder about those who have been blind their entire lives... i mean, how do you explain the color purple and its different hues or another color to someone who doesn't know color... do blind people dream in color?... anyways, if dmt works in the sense that a blind being who has never known color could finally see colors beyond words... what a gift that would be...

 

[ms_manic_minxx]

Definitely get to know him and chat first!

But beyond that, the most comforting things are often tactile... a hand or a hug. That's pretty universal. :d