Posted by velaguff on July 31, 2002, at 12:56:14
As I've posted earlier, I'm intrigued by the AD possibilities of phenylethylamine (PEA). Cocoa powder contains 66/100 of 1% by weight of PEA, measured in grams, 100g Cocoa = 660mg PEA. When I was in college in the early 80's, there was a rumor going around that chocolate would make you high, if you ate enough. I ate a whole pound, didn't do a thing for me. Chocolate contains several psychoactive ingredients, but PEA is chief among them. Some people, especially women, seem to get a "chocolate high". I'm not saying they're just under the sway of the placebo effect (who knows?) but PEA is supposedly almost all destroyed in the digestive tract. I personally known quite a few women who swear that chocolate gives them a unique kind of "high", plus a sensual mood, and relief from depression (unfortunately, it's fattening). Men, if they get relief from any food, seem to get it from meat (particulary beef). Anyway, I mixed 25g cocoa powder with 4oz DMSO (skin-penetrating solvent, but quite benign), and a half-ounce of water. Mixed in blender. I wanted to see if I could "ingest" chocolate without eating it, thus leaving the PEA intact to reach the charred ruin of my alcoholic brain. I must of looked quite comical, standing there in my shower stall, applying this mixture to practically all of my body except my face. Unlike the archaic unenlightened vaudevillians of old, I was not in "blackface", but in "blackbody". This wasn't a practical AD approach, mind you, just an experiment. After smearing it on, I left it on for about 3 minutes. DMSO produces, in me at least, an uncomfortable (but not painful) burning & tingling sensation. I tasted the garlickly taste of DMSO in my mouth (by penetrating the skin, it gets into your saliva), but also a DEFINITE taste of chocolate; the cocoa was penetrating. I showered off the residue, it rinsed off easily. I'm very cynical, and the placebo effect isn't likely, but I admit it's possible. But I definitely feel that I did experience a nice peaceful feeling, with increased motivation. Lasted about 1.5 hours. Now, consider: pure PEA is 150 times stronger than cocoa. Mix that with the more practical DMSO gel, add peppermint oil to prevent bad breath (and body odor, the garlickly smell also gets out through one's sweat), and you might be onto something. The gel would rub in without dripping off, no need to shower afterwards, and at the much higher strength, much less would be needed. Might last longer, too.
poster:velaguff
thread:114637
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020731/msgs/114637.html