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THE PSYCHEDELIC PINEAL + 77 placed into liquid nitrogen. This instant deep freeze stops all breakdown of tissues from that point onward. We found no DMT in these pineal glands. If there were any, it is possible the long delay in processing the tissue, several days in some cases, resulted in its loss before analysis. Finally, psychedelic drugs may affect the pineal gland, and thereby use it and DMT formation as an intermediary in their action. There are LSD receptors on the pineal gland, and mescaline raises serotonin levels in the pineal. Beta-carbolines accelerate melatonin for- mation, in addition to their previously described property of magnifying and prolonging DMT effects. And DMT is the most potent of several psychedelics that stimulate pineal melatonin production. DMT promoting the formation of its own possible building blocks is similar to the kindling process, in which a tiny match can start a huge bonfire. The match begins by burning paper, which then lights larger twigs. Burning twigs ignite branches until ultimately, a raging blaze ensues. Simi- larly, the various circumstances we've discussed that are conducive to endogenous DMT production may begin with just a little bit of newly formed material. These conditions could begin a process of making even more by raising levels of necessary precursors. Finally, there is a "flash point" for a full psychedelic burst of pineal DMT. The psychedelic "fire" burns it- self out after it has run its course and exhausted the supply of raw materials. This "DMT hypothesis of pineal function" allows us to tie up several loose ends left by the melatonin hypothesis of pineal function. One of these questions I have already discussed is why the pineal gland possesses such a potent defense system against stress. The melato- nin hypothesis does not adequately answer this. The DMT hypothesis, however, provides a much more satisfactory explanation. That is, the body so ruthlessly defends the pineal gland so that we are not disabled by ev- eryday levels of stress releasing psychedelic levels of DMT. Another mystery unsolved by the melatonin hypothesis relates to the pineal gland's unique location. The pineal gland is not even made of brain tissue. Rather, it comes from specialized cells originating in the roof of