^ That is a pretty subjective judgement right there.
Many (all) substances are toxic in very high doses. Notice this research you just linked used (in rats) 10mg/kg injected MDMA every 2 hours for 4 times total. For a 70kg person, that would be = 700mg x 4 = 2.8g !! Considering an average dose = 100mg, thats = 28 times an average dose. I think its quite possible one would die before ingesting that dosage, specially if tolerance-free.
You can also find neurotoxicity data for ibogaine and harmaline also using extreme doses, for example this publication:
Degeneration of purkinje cells in parasagittal zones of the cerebellar vermis after treatment with ibogaine or harmaline
E. O'Hearn, M.E. Mollivera
Neuroscience Volume 55, Issue 2, 1993, Pages 303-310
(linked here =
is harmaline toxic? - Harmalas - Welcome to the DMT-Nexus)
Now whenever we get such researches, the question is of course: Does that tell us anything about HUMANS, and ocasional recreational/therapeutic use in reasonable doses?
This isnt an easy question to answer. In the case of harmalas, while harmaline is usually only found in small amounts in b. caapi, it nevertheless IS found, and there have been neurological studies with people using ayahuasca (which contains different harmalas) regularly for decades, with no sign of damage.
MDMA has some more researches showing potential toxicity, but its not clear cut, again, how that related to typical recreational dosage. Im not at all an expert in MDMA and neither a doctor, but maybe others here who researched more this subject can share their thoughts.
In any case, toxicity doesnt necessarily relate to something being "sacred" or not (for example indigenous people using datura/brugmansia plants as sacred allies, and yet scopolamine/atropine are very toxic and dangerous).
The whole "sacred" word anyways will require one to take a specific stance that maybe not all here will subscribe to.
I can say that personally, I am not a fan of MDMA. I know of it's therapeutic potential in certain cases, and I know it has helped a lot of people open up emotionally, plus the fun aspect. For me, though, it always felt very superficial, empty. It felt too "artificial" (unrelated to its synthetic nature, more like a subjective judgement im making), like an over-release of serotonin that is compensated the next day with a very crappy hang over. Also there seem to be a lack of long-lasting insights for me, its more like, momentary fun. For that reason I dont take it anymore.
With the classic psychedelics, I dont usually have any hangover (at most being tired the next day, but that is often related with just not sleeping well because ive spent the night up), I get tons of insights that are long-lasting and life-changing, it feels (and according to published data, it is) very benign to my body and mind in the dosages I use. They aren't always fun, in fact often its hard work, but this makes it much more rewarding.
I think MDMA can be specially good for people who might not yet be ready to open up to the psychedelic world, but need some emotional liberation, to eliminate some psychological/emotional barriers and work with themselves. Also couple's therapy, and PTSD.
For those using MDMA recreationally, please take the typical safety cares. Often MDMA related casualties are because of hyperthermia or dehydration, so take breaks if dancing for long, and drink water or similar refreshing drinks (dont over-drink, there are also cases of over-hydration). Also another concern for MDMA is purity. We have been finding more and more cases of supposed MDMA that is actually methamphetamine, so that is a very dangerous issue because methamphetamine doses are very different, and so are effects. Check here:
WARNING to europeans: Methamphetamine sold as MDMA! - Announcements and Suggestions - Welcome to the DMT-Nexus
For this, it would be very recommended to get some colorimetric tests, and micro-dose any batch for first time.
Other safety recommendation is to avoid excessive redosing. Redosing during a session increases MDMA hangover and most likely toxicity too. Take one main dose and maybe max one redose per session.
Also, regarding MDMA and DMT, there are some threads about it, it seems to be very hit-and-miss. Please make sure not to smoke changa on MDMA for the potential dangers of MAOIs in changa and MDMA. Never mix MDMA with SSRIs or MAOIs.
