Science & Research
Peer-reviewed studies on meditation, 5-MeO-DMT, and the role of preparation and integration
Ancient practice, modern inquiry. This page shares peer-reviewed research related to meditation, 5-MeO-DMT, and the psychological processes that support preparation and integration. The purpose is not to reduce sacred work to science, but to offer a credible, accessible foundation for readers who want to understand what modern research is beginning to observe. Current findings are encouraging, but research on 5-MeO-DMT remains early and should be interpreted with care.
Meditation & the Brain
Meditation Changes Brain Structure
What they studied:
People completed an 8-week mindfulness program, and researchers compared brain scans before and after.
What they found (simple):
Increased gray matter in areas related to:
memory
emotional regulation
self-awareness
Participants also reported reduced stress
Why it matters:
Meditation doesn’t just “feel good”, it physically changes the brain in ways that support stability and awareness.
Meditation Improves Mental Health and Emotional Regulation
What they studied:
A large review of many mindfulness studies.
What they found (simple):
Reduced anxiety, depression, and stress
Improved emotional regulation
Increased ability to observe thoughts without reacting
Why it matters:
This supports meditation as a real preparation practice — helping people stay grounded before and after deeper experiences.
5-MeO-DMT (Bufo-Related Research)
5-MeO-DMT and Improvements in Depression & Anxiety
What they studied:
Researchers observed participants in a structured group setting who inhaled vaporized 5-MeO-DMT. Participants completed standardized psychological questionnaires measuring depression, anxiety, and stress before and after the experience.
What they found (more specific):
Participants showed significant reductions in:
depression
anxiety
stress
These improvements were observed within 24 hours after the session
The strongest improvements were reported in participants who had high scores on “mystical-type experiences” (feelings of unity, transcendence, or deep meaning)
Why it matters:
This suggests that the quality and depth of the experience, not just the substance, may play a major role in psychological outcomes. In other words, how the experience is held and interpreted matters.
5-MeO-DMT and Increases in Mindfulness & Life Satisfaction
What they studied:
This study followed 42 participants across multiple locations who inhaled vapor from dried toad secretion containing 5-MeO-DMT. Researchers measured psychological outcomes before, within 24 hours after, and 4 weeks after the experience.
What they found (more specific):
Within 24 hours:
noticeable reductions in depression, anxiety, and stress
At 4 weeks:
increased life satisfaction
increased mindfulness traits, especially:
non-judgment (less self-criticism)
present-moment awareness
Participants also reported a lasting sense of meaning and psychological openness
Why it matters:
This study shows that changes were not just immediate, some effects continued weeks after a single experience, particularly in areas closely related to meditation practice (awareness, non-reactivity, and acceptance).
Psychedelics and Meditation Work Together
What they studied:
This is a review of multiple studies and emerging research examining how mindfulness-based practices and psychedelic experiences interact.
Instead of testing one group, the researchers analyzed patterns across existing data to understand whether these two approaches share mechanisms — and whether they may enhance each other when combined.
What they found (more specific):
Both meditation and psychedelics appear to work through similar psychological mechanisms, including:
• increased present-moment awareness
• reduced attachment to thoughts (sometimes called “decentering”)
• antidepressant-like effects on mood
Psychedelics were shown to:
• increase mindfulness capacities even without prior training
• deepen states like ego-dissolution, which are linked to therapeutic outcomes
Meditation training was shown to:
• intensify the depth of the psychedelic experience
• help individuals stay more present and engaged during it
• When combined, early evidence suggests a “synergistic effect” — meaning the benefits may be stronger together than either alone
Why it matters:
This study helps explain why this model works structurally, not just intuitively:
▫️ Meditation builds the capacity to stay present and navigate the experience
▫️ Psychedelics can rapidly open access to deeper states of awareness
▫️ Together, they may reinforce the same underlying processes:
• awareness
• acceptance
• emotional flexibility
In simple terms:
➔ Meditation helps you hold the experience
➔ The experience helps you access deeper awareness faster
➔ Together, they may create more stable and lasting change
Rather than separate paths, meditation and psychedelic experiences may be working on the same system, from different directions.
✦ Temple of Spirit Alchemy is a registered nonprofit spiritual organization in the State of Texas, devoted to meditation, spiritual growth, and sacred ceremonial practice.