Definition Day: 2C-B & MAOI
Two more terms worth slowing down on.
2C-B: a synthetic phenethylamine psychedelic with combined empathogenic and visual effects. Alexander Shulgin first synthesized it in 1974, called it part of his "magical half-dozen" of noteworthy phenethylamines, and described the effect as a "warm hug." A real safety note, not folklore: 2C-B is metabolized in part by the same MAO enzymes an MAOI blocks, and case reports link the combination to agitation.
MAOI (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor): an enzyme inhibitor that prevents the breakdown of DMT in the gut, which is what makes ayahuasca psychoactive when taken orally. Outside psychedelics entirely, MAOIs carry a genuine dietary restriction — combined with tyramine-rich foods like aged cheese or cured meats, they can trigger a real hypertensive crisis, not just an unpleasant interaction.
Full entries, plus 146 other terms, are in our Encyclopedia.