Nausea and knotted stomachs are commonly associated with the first stage of oral psychedelic ingestion, but not always. If the body is busy with other physical activity (like dancing, walking, or hiking) then the digestive unease will not seem as intense, but for some it will always be a problem. In traditional contexts the post ingestion period is usually spent chanting, meditating, singing, dancing, or in some other rhythmic musical exercise like the beating of drums or shaking of rattles. This helps to distract the mind from the stomach and keep the brain focused on the moment. It also helps to set the tone and tempo for the massive neurochemical event to come. The sickness is just the first stage of the journey, and even before it passes the trip may begin to creep in.
Physiologically there are early reactions to the ingestion of psychedelic amines which only seem to increase anxiety, such as an amphetamine-like rise in blood pressure and respiration. The vasoconstrictive effects of many psychedelics may make the limbs feel cold and the joints feel stiff, hence the onset of psychedelic "shivers." Since seratonin plays a very large role in mediating both digestion and blood pressure, these early symptoms clearly indicate that something is messing with the body's serotonergic systems, particularly TA (trace amine) and 5HT (seratonin) receptors in the peripheral nervous system and gut. Toxic response, nausea, high blood pressure, anxiety, increased respiration, shivers... these do not sound like the hallmarks of a fun night out. Indeed, Coming On and waiting to Come On are not pleasant moments, but this is the trial that all psychedelic initiates must go through: no pain, no gain. The simple dropping of LSD seems like nothing compared to the vile bitter brews of wild flora gulped down and chewed with vigor, then held-in against all inner revolt without the complete spewing forth of your guts. This is a significant rite of passage in some cultures, the make-or-break moment of shamanic training. Cleansing and purging is indeed a significant part of the psychedelic process, but we will get to that later in this section and again in the section on psychedelics and medicine.
Now there are ways to mediate the discomfort of Coming On, and again these are right out of the shamanic handbook. 1) Watch your diet the few days before you take the psychedelic. Don't eat meats or heavy meals on the day or two leading up to ingestion, and only eat lightly on the day you journey. Take this advice at your own risk. Diet plays an important role in how quickly the psychedelic molecule is absorbed into and metabolized by your body. An empty stomach and low-blood sugar will certainly lead to a pronounced amplification of the heavy somatic effects of psychedelics, so if you are looking for a powerful way to zonk yourself into the dreamtime lickety-split then fasting is the shamanic way to go. 2) Use biofeedback techniques, such as chanting and drumming and slow rhythmic breathing exercises to mediate the spikes in blood pressure and respiration (bone rattles and atonal drones anyone?). Yes, deep breathing and the rhythmic feedback of drumming, chanting, singing, or walking (at the correct tempo) will help to lower blood pressure, ease respiration, and keep the body's regulatory systems in harmony (excuse the pun
Though Coming On is filled with uneasy anticipation, it also typically gives way to frequent yawning and somatic heaviness as the drug first becomes active in the brain. These are the hallmarks of psychoactive amine interrupting action in the cortex, making the user feel like they're getting sleepy and want to lie down. This frequent yawning does not seem to apply as much if the user is engaged in physical activity while Coming On, such as dancing or walking. While the physiological usefulness of yawning is still under debate, it seems fairly clear that it aids in lowering cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure and aids in CSF re-circulation through the brain (which are not physiologically necessary if you are up and active). Since seratonin also mediates states of wakefulness and sleepiness in the brain, this early-stage yawning and somatic heaviness may be the first indication of a disruption in serotonergic efficacy in the cortex, meaning that the psychedelic molecule has hit the brain.
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