I've had an idea for some time that I've yet to try. I was wondering if anyone had tried it or had any thoughts on the matter.
Now, it is my theoretical understanding that, the primary reason electronic cigarettes do not provide the effect of smoked tobacco is because e-cigs only vapourise nicotine, whereas tobacco smoke contains MAOIs that synergise with nicotine. I think it's a great shame that e-cigs haven't taken off but my intuition tells me that this is the real reason, no matter what people say. If we have the technology, why should people destroy their bodies when they don't have to. Vapourised nicotine + harmala alkaloids would be far, far less harmful than smoking plant matter, and there is no scientific reason that I know of to say it wouldn't work just as effectively in giving a decent, satisfying hit.
The MAOIs I am talking about are beta-carbolines, specifically harman and harmaline I think. At this point I don't believe that anyone knows the approximate dose of alkaloids that is present in the average puff, nor the particular ratio of different alkaloids (possibly not even what they all actually are). I wouldn't be too surprised if there were other, chemically distinct components with some small activity, but I haven't seen any of these discussed anywhere.
(As an aside, formaldehyde is supposedly present in at least some cigarettes, I wouldn't doubt that it could have some psychoactive properties, but that chemical is really not one you want to be putting in your body. OTOH people plenty of people drink lots of alcohol which is metabolised to acetaldehyde, a related compound)
My idea was to try putting these alkaloids in the same solution as the nicotine at steadily increasing doses, making notes as you go along. I also considered trying out tetrahydroharmine for a novel, possibly quite pleasant effect. By altering the ratio of these four different constituents you could produce unique smokes with different specific effects. I would imagine a THH heavy mix would give a warmer, relaxed hit for an evening at home alone or with friends, whereas a harmine or nicotine dominant mix would probably be a bit closer to a stimulant effect. That said I've never even tried this compounds so it's just conjecture.
I was going to try it out and tell you guys about it, but I never got around to it but I think it's so important that it should be tried.
I don't know if it would be overstepping the mark by suggesting this, but would anyone be willing to try this out and telling us how it goes? I think this could be an extremely fruitful avenue of research and relatively simple to explore.
Now, it is my theoretical understanding that, the primary reason electronic cigarettes do not provide the effect of smoked tobacco is because e-cigs only vapourise nicotine, whereas tobacco smoke contains MAOIs that synergise with nicotine. I think it's a great shame that e-cigs haven't taken off but my intuition tells me that this is the real reason, no matter what people say. If we have the technology, why should people destroy their bodies when they don't have to. Vapourised nicotine + harmala alkaloids would be far, far less harmful than smoking plant matter, and there is no scientific reason that I know of to say it wouldn't work just as effectively in giving a decent, satisfying hit.
The MAOIs I am talking about are beta-carbolines, specifically harman and harmaline I think. At this point I don't believe that anyone knows the approximate dose of alkaloids that is present in the average puff, nor the particular ratio of different alkaloids (possibly not even what they all actually are). I wouldn't be too surprised if there were other, chemically distinct components with some small activity, but I haven't seen any of these discussed anywhere.
(As an aside, formaldehyde is supposedly present in at least some cigarettes, I wouldn't doubt that it could have some psychoactive properties, but that chemical is really not one you want to be putting in your body. OTOH people plenty of people drink lots of alcohol which is metabolised to acetaldehyde, a related compound)
My idea was to try putting these alkaloids in the same solution as the nicotine at steadily increasing doses, making notes as you go along. I also considered trying out tetrahydroharmine for a novel, possibly quite pleasant effect. By altering the ratio of these four different constituents you could produce unique smokes with different specific effects. I would imagine a THH heavy mix would give a warmer, relaxed hit for an evening at home alone or with friends, whereas a harmine or nicotine dominant mix would probably be a bit closer to a stimulant effect. That said I've never even tried this compounds so it's just conjecture.
I was going to try it out and tell you guys about it, but I never got around to it but I think it's so important that it should be tried.
I don't know if it would be overstepping the mark by suggesting this, but would anyone be willing to try this out and telling us how it goes? I think this could be an extremely fruitful avenue of research and relatively simple to explore.
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