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Many cacti are known to be psychoactive, containing phenethylamine alkaloids such as mescaline.[1] However, the two main ritualistic (folkloric) genera are Echinopsis, of which the most psychoactive species occur in the San Pedro cactus group (including Echinopsis pachanoi, syn. Trichocereus pachanoi, Echinopsis Peruviana, syn. Trichocereus peruvianus and Echinopsis lageniformis, syn. Trichocereus bridgesii[2][3]), and Lophophora, with peyote (Lophophora williamsii) being the most psychoactive species. Several other species pertaining to other genera are also psychoactive, though not always used with a ritualistic intent.[4][5][6]


Species

Globular cacti

text
Peyote with flower

Other "peyotes"

Other

Other North American psychoactive and/or medicinal cacti.

Arborescent and columnar cacti

Echinopsis

text
San Pedro with flower

Other

Other South American psychoactive and/or medicinal cacti


See also

Traditional and Indigenous Uses

Several world regions have historically used psychoactive cacti for their properties, particularly Indigenous peoples from North America and South America, such as in Mexico and the Andes region. Archaeological studies have found evidence of use going back two thousand years.[17][18] In 2022, the Peruvian Ministry of Culture declared the traditional use of San Pedro cactus in northern Peru as cultural heritage.[19] Lophophora williamsii (peyote) is used by the Native American Church (aka Peyotism).

Legality

Further information: Legality of mescaline cactus by country

References/Sources

  1. ^ Bruhn, Jan G.; Hesham R. EI-Seedi; Nikolai Stephanson (2008). "Ecstasy Analogues Found in Cacti". Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. 40 (2): 219–222. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.689.4014. doi:10.1080/02791072.2008.10400635. PMID 18720674. S2CID 11251286.
  2. ^ Engel, Liam (2022). The San Pedro Appreciation Guide. The Mescaline Garden.
  3. ^ Engel, L. Barratt, M. Ferris, J. Puljevic, C. Winstock, A. (2023). "Mescaline, Peyote and San Pedro: Is sustainability important for cacti consumers?". Journal of Psychedelic Studies. 7 (2): 135–142. doi:10.1556/2054.2023.00252.((cite journal)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Bruhn, Jan G. (1973). "Ethnobotanical Search for Hallucinogenic Cacti1". Planta Med. 24 (8): 315–319. doi:10.1055/s-0028-1099504. PMID 4789553. S2CID 44528398.
  5. ^ Bruhn, Jan G.; Catarina Bruhn (1973). "Alkaloids and ethnobotany of Mexican peyote cacti and related species". Economic Botany. 27 (2): 241–251. doi:10.1007/BF02872994. S2CID 36480873.
  6. ^ Pummangura, S.; J. L. McLaughlin; R. C. Schifferdecker (September 1981). "Cactus Alkaloids. XLVII. β-Phenethylamines From the "Missouri Pincushion", Coryphantha (Neobessya) missouriensis". J. Nat. Prod. 44 (5): 614–616. doi:10.1021/np50017a022.
  7. ^ a b c "Partial List of Alkaloids in Trichocereus Cacti". Thennok.org. Archived from the original on 11 February 2009. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  8. ^ Ogunbodede, Olabode; McCombs, Douglas; Trout, Keeper; Daley, Paul; Terry, Martin (September 2010). "New mescaline concentrations from 14 taxa/cultivars of Echinopsis spp. (Cactaceae) ("San Pedro") and their relevance to shamanic practice". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 131 (2): 356–362. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2010.07.021. PMID 20637277.
  9. ^ a b c d e f "Descriptions of psychoactive Cacti". Users.lycaeum.org. Archived from the original on 15 July 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  10. ^ "Echinopsis tacaquirensis ssp. taquimbalensis". Desert-tropicals.com. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  11. ^ "Cardon Grande (Echinopsis terscheckii)". Desert-tropicals.com. Archived from the original on 5 April 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  12. ^ Forbidden Fruit Archives Archived 2005-11-28 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ "Erowid Cacti Vaults : Visionary Cactus Guide - Mescaline from Sawdust". Erowid.org. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  14. ^ "Austrocylindropuntia cylindrica". Desert-tropicals.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2008. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  15. ^ "Cane Cholla (Cylindropuntia spinosior )". Desert-tropicals.com. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  16. ^ "Archived copy". users.lycaeum.org. Archived from the original on 8 March 2001. Retrieved 17 January 2022.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. ^ Socha, Dagmara M.; Sykutera, Marzena; Orefici, Giuseppe (2022-12-01). "Use of psychoactive and stimulant plants on the south coast of Peru from the Early Intermediate to Late Intermediate Period". Journal of Archaeological Science. 148: 105688. Bibcode:2022JArSc.148j5688S. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2022.105688. ISSN 0305-4403.
  18. ^ El-Seedi, Hesham R.; Smet, Peter A. G. M. De; Beck, Olof; Possnert, Göran; Bruhn, Jan G. (2005-10-03). "Prehistoric peyote use: Alkaloid analysis and radiocarbon dating of archaeological specimens of Lophophora from Texas". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 101 (1): 238–242. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2005.04.022. ISSN 0378-8741.
  19. ^ El Peruano (2022-11-17). "Declaran Patrimonio Cultural de la Nación a los conocimientos, saberes y usos del cactus San Pedro".

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