Two cacti of mescaline
North America’s peyote and the Andes’ San Pedro carry the same molecule and sit at the heart of ceremonies thousands of years old on two continents.
Side by side
| Peyote | San Pedro cactus | |
|---|---|---|
| Latin name | Lophophora williamsii | Echinopsis pachanoi |
| Family | Cactaceae | Cactaceae |
| Region | North America | Andes |
| Part used | Stem (button) | Stem |
| Use | Ritual and shamanic, Poisonous | Ritual and shamanic, Healing, Poisonous |
| Scientific evidence | Traditional | Traditional |
| Safety | High risk | High risk |
| Legal status in Türkiye | Restricted in Türkiye | Restricted in Türkiye |
Peyote
In Mexico the Huichol (Wixárika) make a yearly pilgrimage to the Wirikuta desert for peyote. In the US and Canada it is a sacrament in Native American Church ceremonies.
Peyote samples about 5,700 years old have been found in caves in Texas.
Science: Contains mescaline, the same active compound as San Pedro. Controlled clinical studies are very few.
Safety: Causes severe nausea, vomiting and racing heart and carries psychiatric risks.
San Pedro cactus
On Peru’s northern coast and in the highlands, healers serve huachuma in all-night “mesa” ceremonies to see the cause of illness and break sorcery.
Stone carvings at Chavín de Huántar (1st millennium BC) show figures holding this cactus, pointing to a tradition of over 3,000 years.
Science: Contains mescaline. Its clinical effects have been studied far less than those of psilocybin and LSD.
Safety: Causes severe nausea, vomiting and racing heart and carries psychiatric risks. Dangerous for people with heart disease or a history of psychosis.
Last reviewed: · Türkçe
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