This is of the main receptors in the brain that responds to serotonin as well as many psychedelic compounds. The events following compound binding are not well understood (417).

This stands for 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine, a powerful psychedelic that is found in the venom of the Sonoran toad. The toad venom is gathered on a mirror, left to dry, vaporized, and then smoked. It was first synthesized in 1936 and became illegal in 2012 (417). Pollan describes his experiences with this drug in Chapter 4.

Ayahuasca is a psychedelic tea made from plants native to the Amazon. This tea was also used as a sacrament by cultures indigenous to the Amazon (415).