BT-098 · Cactaceae

Peyote

Lophophora williamsii

Evidence: TraditionalHigh riskRestricted in TürkiyeOverharvested

A peyote cactus can take more than 10 years to grow large enough to flower.

Other names: Peyotl, hikuli
Part used: Stem (button)
Region: North America
Use: Ritual and shamanic, Poisonous

Photo: Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

In short

What is Peyote?

Peyote (Lophophora williamsii) is a plant of the Cactaceae family. Traditions that use it: North America. Part used: stem (button).

What is Peyote used for?

Traditional use: In Mexico the Huichol (Wixárika) make a yearly pilgrimage to the Wirikuta desert for peyote. Scientific evidence: traditional. Contains mescaline, the same active compound as San Pedro.

Is Peyote safe?

Safety label: high risk. Causes severe nausea, vomiting and racing heart and carries psychiatric risks. Legal status: Restricted in Türkiye.

Traditional use

North America

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.

History

Peyote samples about 5,700 years old have been found in caves in Texas.

In nature

Where it grows: Desert scrub of northern Mexico and southern Texas.
Harvest season: All year; if the root is left, the plant regrows.
Local names: No Turkish folk name. Local names: peyote, peyotl, hikuli

Mix-up risk

Some similar small cacti (such as Ariocarpus) grow in the same area and carry different alkaloids.

Preparation

The top of the stem (button) is dried and chewed or made into tea.

What science says

Contains mescaline, the same active compound as San Pedro. Controlled clinical studies are very few.

Safety

High risk

Causes severe nausea, vomiting and racing heart and carries psychiatric risks.

Drug interactions

Medicine or substance	Why it matters
Antidepressants and MAO inhibitors	May change the effect of mescaline unpredictably.
Blood pressure and heart medicines, stimulants	Raises blood pressure and heart rate.

This list is not complete. If you take regular medication, ask your pharmacist or doctor before trying Peyote.

Legal status

Restricted in Türkiye

Its mescaline is a controlled substance.

Laws differ by country; check local rules before travelling with or buying any plant product.

Conservation

CITES: Appendix II (all cacti)
Note: The slow-growing cactus is declining in its Texas habitat through overharvesting and land use.
Alternative: Indigenous initiatives to create protected areas; no consumption for other purposes.

Culture bridge

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. Read the comparison →