QAnon’s Adrenochrome Quackery
QAnon’s Adrenochrome Quackery
Mescaline is not produced by the body, but the two scientists wondered if some substance with a similar molecular structure is produced under some circumstance, possibly causing schizophrenia. Since adrenaline shares a basic molecular structure with mescaline, it was a candidate for involvement. It was clear that adrenaline itself, the famous “flight of fight” hormone that is present in everyone’s bloodstream could not be the culprit, but perhaps some error in its metabolism could produce a mind-altering substance.
A literature search of the chemistry of adrenaline revealed that in the lab it can be oxidized to a compound called what is adrenochrome, with the “chrome” ending deriving from the Greek word for colour since adrenochrome has a dark violet hue. At this point, the psychiatrists in somewhat of a foolhardy fashion tested the effects of this chemical on themselves. Indeed, adrenochrome produced hallucinations!
Maybe, Hoffer and Osmond theorized, adrenaline is also oxidized in the body to what is adrenochrome, and due to some faulty biochemistry, the adrenochrome builds up and triggers schizophrenia. Since adrenaline is known to form in the body by the addition of a methyl group (a carbon atom with three hydrogens) to its precursor, noradrenaline, Dr. Hoffer postulated that the B vitamin, niacin, being a methyl acceptor, would stall this reaction. Furthermore, vitamin C, an antioxidant, might prevent adrenaline from being oxidized to adrenochrome. Thus was born the “Adrenochrome Hypothesis of Schizophrenia.”
Drs. Hoffer and Osmond reported successful treatment of schizophrenics with megadoses of niacin and vitamin C, but a number of follow-up studies by others failed to confirm any benefit. The Adrenochrome Hypothesis faded into the background, but the reputed hallucinogenic effect of adrenochrome probably stimulated Hunter Thompson to include the drug in his novel. Adrenochrome also made it into the 1998 movie version of the book, and then in 2017 starred in a totally forgettable film, “Adrenochrome,” in which a young American veteran confronts some psychos in California who are on a murderous spree to extract the psychedelic compound from their victim’s adrenal glands.
