While the mechanism underlying her therapeutic response is unknown, it may be explained, in part, by the epistemological or ‘noetic quality’ of mystical states, occasioned by 5-MeO-DMT (39). These psychological states are characteristic of psychedelics, namely serotonergic compounds (39); have been shown to correlate, mediate, and predict therapeutic efficacy (40); and include feelings of transcendence, ego dissolution, and ineffability as well as unity, love, and peace (41). Thus, people have rated mystical experiences in their top five most important life events, in terms of personal meaning and spiritual significance, next to giving birth or losing a loved one (42, 43). These effects can persist up to 30 years after taking a psychedelic (44). In the present case study, the subject described the mystical effects of 5-MeO-DMT as both substantial and enduring.

Supplementary Dataset

“It was the most profound and frightening experience of my life. It’s hard to put it into words… beautiful and challenging I guess…feeling everything and nothing at once. That insight has stayed with me.” Other possible mechanisms of change, from a psychological standpoint, include re-processing and transforming traumatic material. Toad toxins and toad color amine content have the strongest pharmacological effects in toad venom. Bufotalin (C26H36O6, BTL, and Figure 2) is one of the most important active compounds. Yang et al 9 separated toad venom spirit, 3-butyl-2-acyl arginine acetate, from the toad skin.

• Incorporating moderated mediation models, as statistical analyses, is also encouraged in future work.
• This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.
• Self-reported improvements further reflected clinician-observed changes in global functioning.
• Huang 46 found that BL, at a concentration of 0.01 μmoL/L, inhibits the growth of human leukemia cells HL60 and apoptosis occurs after 24 h in the cells.
• Toad venom, produced by intravenous injection, of 75% ethanol extract in mice for 14 days showed an LD50 of 0.60 g/kg 66.
• Alternatively, the benefits of 5-MeO-DMT may have only lasted for three months.

Despite being a frequent target for milking, these toads still carry cardio toxic bufotoxins which have been linked to deaths. Because severe clinical sequelae, including death, occurred early in the first day after ingestion, close observation and monitoring should be implemented in all patients, particularly early in the course of poisoning. Most patients (75%) admitted to the hospital had a median stay of 2 d (range 0.5–5 d). During the admission evaluation, one patient developed sinus bradycardia of 30–50 beats/minute, two developed bradyarrhythmia (specific type not recorded); however, all three patients were stable.

Data Availability

• About 50 varieties of medicines are used in the clinical treatment of various complicated diseases in China, such as “Liushen pills” which was popular in the whole world.
• She held the dose for 10 s, exhaled slowly and consistently, and lied down with an eye mask on.
• Altogether, one potential explanation for these results is that chemical pollutants in anthropogenic habitats may enhance the production of bufadienolides, which may be either a non-adaptive constraint or an adaptive response.
• Exposure to large amounts of toxin may cause cardiovascular and respiratory symptoms, such as paralysis and seizures, increased salivation, vomiting, hyperkalemia, cyanosis, and hallucinations 10.
• Therefore, our findings suggest that phenotypic plasticity at the level of individuals may play an important role in the enhanced chemical defences of toads living in anthropogenic habitats.
• In most cases, there is yet insufficient knowledge to identify which of these two mechanisms are responsible, although such knowledge would be crucial for predicting and dealing with the eco-evolutionary consequences of anthropogenic environmental change3,4,5.
• The medicinal parts of toads mainly include their venom, skin, and clothing.

The abnormal EKGs at presentation showed sinus bradycardia in most patients with bradyarrhythmia in a few patients. Together with EKG results during hospitalization or EKG during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in three patients who died, the common finding was sinus bradycardia and rarely bradyarrhythmia. Moreover, no tachyarrhythmia was detected in any of our patients. However, because of the retrospective nature of our study, we might have missed some transient events such as ventricular tachyarrhythmia during CPR or hospitalization. With 36 patients studied over a 5-year period, including patients ranging from infants to older individuals, this is one of the largest studies of toad poisoning cases reported to date.

Cane toad toxin in alternative medicines

Twenty-six patients cooked toads before eating, 3 patients did not cook and 7 patients did not have the detail of cooking noted in their records. Two patients reported that they had underlying diseases (one with schizophrenia and the other with an unspecified psychiatric condition). Natural habitats worldwide are increasingly modified by human-induced environmental change; for example, agricultural and urban areas have taken up about 40% and 5% of the Earth’s land surface, respectively1,2.

Treatment of malignant tumors in clinical application

Effects of bufadienolides on a decrease of ocular pressure appear to be very strong, with quick action and caused by Na+/K+ ATPase inhibition in corneal endothelium cells, ciliary body, and iris. This rarely described effect of bufadienolides could be used as a basis for further research of a toad’s venom and its effects on ocular surface and pharmacological potential. The toxic effect of bufadienolides on the cornea with consequential corneal oedema and ocular hypotension was probably caused by the inhibition of Na+/K+-ATPase, which is a well-known effect of the toad’s venom 14. Na+/K+-ATPase is a part of corneal endothelial cells and has an important role in maintaining corneal clarity through active pumping 15, 16. It is also a part of the ciliary body epithelium and iris where it controls the rate of aqueous humor formation. It consists of α1 and α2 subunits which are present in the ciliary body epithelium.

Cinobufacini injection

Point estimates from statistical models were considered significantly different from zero when their 95% confidence intervals (CI) did not overlap zero. The common toad produces venom (bufotoxin) that is produced in the parotid gland of the toad as well as in the skin. This toxic compound is a potent inhibitor of Na+/K+-ATPase activity. Physiological effects of bufotoxin are similar to those of digitalis and cause increased heart rate and muscle contractions. A 67-year-old female patient was admitted to the emergency service because of sudden vision loss and a burning sensation in both eyes after she had been exposed to the poison of a toad.

Toxin on the skin

From a clinical standpoint, 5-MeO-DMT shows signals of benefit to mental health and well-being (3, 4). However, there is a paucity of evidence in the field, particularly for trauma- and stress-related psychopathology. The effect of RBG, in toad venom, on cardiac function is stronger, followed by BL and CBG. Studies have shown that the impact of CBG on anesthesia, blood pressure, and normal cardiac function is not obvious; however, there is a positive effect on the artificial blood loss-induced hypotension of the drug. There is an increase in cardiac output and an increase in arterial pressure, but the impact on the heart rate is not obvious 25. The inhibitory effect of the toad venom on Na+-K+ ATPase in red blood cells is very strong, and leads to an increased myocardial intracellular Na+ concentration.

The treatment approach to patients with suspected toad venom poisoning is described. The majority of patients with toad venom poisoning bufotoxin effects on humans have detectable digoxin concentrations. Prevention of gastrointestinal absorption is recommended with emesis, gastric lavage, activated charcoal, and cathartics. Bradyarrhythmias can respond to atropine or may require pacemaker placement. Antiarrhythmic drugs may be considered for ventricular arrhythmias. Immediate administration of digoxin specific Fab antibody (initial dose of ≥ 380 mg) has been reported to be life saving.4,8 Dosing of digoxin specific Fab should not be based on the concentration because of partial cross reactivity.