What Is Changa? The Psychedelic You’ve Likely Never Heard Of (Yet)

Discover the effects of this relatively young psychedelic

Artwork depicting the DMT-containing chacruna plant by Mita Lozano.

The field of psychedelics is rooted in tradition. Ayahuasca and psilocybe mushrooms have been used in shamanistic ceremonies for hundreds, if not thousands of years. However, as the field of psychedelics develops, so do new ways to explore the realms of consciousness. One novel and potentially lesser known psychedelic that is not rooted in tradition is Changa.

What is Changa?

Changa is a smokeable mixture containing the psychoactive substance dimethyltryptamine (DMT). The mixture most often comprises a blend of psychotria viridis (aka chacruna), which contains DMT, and banisteriopsis caapi, which contains a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAO-I).

This smokeable blend was spearheaded by Australian psychonaut Julian Palmer in the early noughties, and was used as an alternative to crystallised DMT. The issue with smoking the freebase version of DMT was that the effects came on hard and fast — smoking DMT in its crystallised form can be a tumultuous ride.

Changa was developed as a remedy to this; the addition of an MAO-I prevents the breakdown of DMT. If users want to experience the mind-altering effects of DMT without the intense onset, or want to ‘break through’ on a…