Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Who wouldn’t want to improve their mood, have more energy, enhanced concentration, a more efficient workout and an improved sense of wellbeing? That is what dietary supplements sold under the name “Eria Jarensis” promise to deliver. Eria Jarensis is an orchid, an extract of which contains N,N-Dimethylphenethylamine (DMPEA), an interesting molecule to be sure. Why? Because it is a chemical derivative of phenethylamine that occurs naturally in the human body, formed from the amino acid phenylalanine found in the diet.
Phenethylamine (PEA) is a central nervous system stimulant and a booster of dopamine and serotonin, both of which are mood enhancers. It also stimulates the release of norepinephrine a hormone and neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in the body's "fight-or-flight" response by increasing energy levels and regulating alertness, arousal, attention, and mood. Phenethylamine has even been linked with feelings of love, a story that is trotted out every Valentine’s Day because the compound occurs naturally in chocolate. All that sounds pretty good, so why not take PEA as a supplement? For the simple reason that it is very quickly degraded by monoamine oxidase, an enzyme found in body tissues. To circumvent this problem, there have been all sorts of efforts to synthesize molecules similar to phenethylamine that would not be degraded by monoamine oxidase. The most famous of these are amphetamine and methamphetamine which are indeed stimulants but come with a host of side effects including addiction. As a consequence, they are illegal.
N,N-Dimethylphenethylamine is chemically similar to phenylethylamine and differs only by the attachment of two methyl groups to the nitrogen atom. This prevents it from being easily broken down by monoamine oxidase. Whether it has stimulant effects similar to other phenethylamine derivatives is not known because there have been no clinical trials. Neither is there evidence that it is a “fat burner,” a substance that is supposed to boost the body’s metabolic rate leading to more calories burned at rest. Anecdotally, athletes have claimed that DMPEA helps them push through tough training sessions while also providing mental clarity and mood enhancement.
It is possible that this orchid extract has some benefits, but it is up to its promoters to come up with the evidence which so far hasn’t happened. As far as legalistics go, the compound is sort of in limbo because it is actually approved as a flavour additive in foods such as baked goods, soups and gravies. The World Antidoping Agency (WADA) has banned its use, but presently marketing of Eria Jarensis extract is not illegal and numerous versions are available online as dietary supplements. As is the usual case with such products, you don’t know if what is on the label is an accurate description of what is in the bottle. Caveat emptor.
Who wouldn’t want to improve their mood, have more energy, enhanced concentration, a more efficient workout and an improved sense of wellbeing? That is what dietary supplements sold under the name “Eria Jarensis” promise to deliver. Eria Jarensis is an orchid, an extract of which contains N,N-Dimethylphenethylamine (DMPEA), an interesting molecule to be sure. Why? Because it is a chemical derivative of phenethylamine that occurs naturally in the human body, formed from the amino acid phenylalanine found in the diet.
Phenethylamine (PEA) is a central nervous system stimulant and a booster of dopamine and serotonin, both of which are mood enhancers. It also stimulates the release of norepinephrine a hormone and neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in the body's "fight-or-flight" response by increasing energy levels and regulating alertness, arousal, attention, and mood. Phenethylamine has even been linked with feelings of love, a story that is trotted out every Valentine’s Day because the compound occurs naturally in chocolate. All that sounds pretty good, so why not take PEA as a supplement? For the simple reason that it is very quickly degraded by monoamine oxidase, an enzyme found in body tissues. To circumvent this problem, there have been all sorts of efforts to synthesize molecules similar to phenethylamine that would not be degraded by monoamine oxidase. The most famous of these are amphetamine and methamphetamine which are indeed stimulants but come with a host of side effects including addiction. As a consequence, they are illegal.
N,N-Dimethylphenethylamine is chemically similar to phenylethylamine and differs only by the attachment of two methyl groups to the nitrogen atom. This prevents it from being easily broken down by monoamine oxidase. Whether it has stimulant effects similar to other phenethylamine derivatives is not known because there have been no clinical trials. Neither is there evidence that it is a “fat burner,” a substance that is supposed to boost the body’s metabolic rate leading to more calories burned at rest. Anecdotally, athletes have claimed that DMPEA helps them push through tough training sessions while also providing mental clarity and mood enhancement.
It is possible that this orchid extract has some benefits, but it is up to its promoters to come up with the evidence which so far hasn’t happened. As far as legalistics go, the compound is sort of in limbo because it is actually approved as a flavour additive in foods such as baked goods, soups and gravies. The World Antidoping Agency (WADA) has banned its use, but presently marketing of Eria Jarensis extract is not illegal and numerous versions are available online as dietary supplements. As is the usual case with such products, you don’t know if what is on the label is an accurate description of what is in the bottle. Caveat emptor.
