Incilius alvarius, historically called Bufo alvarius and commonly known as the Sonoran Desert toad, produces a secretion containing 5-MeO-DMT, a potent, naturally occurring psychedelic compound. Unlike ayahuasca, the experience is typically extremely rapid and relatively short in duration.

WHAT IS THE EXPERIENCE LIKE?
5-MeO-DMT can produce profound alterations in awareness, perception and sense of self. People commonly describe experiences ranging from intense emotional release and feelings of interconnectedness to temporary dissolution of the ordinary sense of identity—often called “ego dissolution.” The intensity can arise within minutes and can be overwhelming even though the primary psychedelic effects are comparatively brief.

Possible effects include increased heart rate and blood pressure, nausea, dizziness, loss of coordination, anxiety, fear or temporary confusion. Because awareness and motor control can become profoundly altered, an appropriate environment, careful screening and supervision are particularly important.
 

RESEARCH & RESPONSIBLE USE
5-MeO-DMT is being investigated scientifically for possible applications involving depression, anxiety and other mental-health conditions. Preliminary research has reported potentially beneficial outcomes, but the evidence remains limited and clinical research is ongoing.

There is also an important ecological consideration. Increased interest in toad-derived 5-MeO-DMT has raised concerns about disturbance, harvesting and trafficking of Sonoran Desert toads. Synthetic 5-MeO-DMT is chemically identical to the principal psychedelic molecule found in the secretion and does not require harvesting from an animal; researchers have increasingly highlighted it as an alternative from both conservation and standardization perspectives.