Other Cacti And Plants That Contain The Psychedelic Chemical Mescaline

The peyote cactus is not the only plant that contains mescaline. There are actually numerous plants (mostly cacti) that contain this chemical. Some examples of other mescaline-containing plants include Lophophora diffusa, Trichocereus pachanoi (also called the "San Pedro cactus"), and Trichocereus peruvianus (also called the "Peruvian Torch").

Even though Lophora diffusa and Trichocereus cacti contain mescaline, they don't necessarily produce the same psychedelic effects as peyote. This is because Lophora diffusa and the Trichocereus cacti contain additional psychoactive chemicals that can alter the effects mescaline has on the brain, producing different psychological effects.

Another cactus that contains mescaline is referred to by Native Americans as peyotillo, or "little peyote." This cactus (scientific name Pelcyphora aselliformis) is smaller than regular peyote cactus plants and does not contain as much mescaline. Native Americans use it for medicinal purposes.

While peyote is primarily found in the southwestern United States and regions of Mexico, Trichocereus plants are often found in the Andes Mountains of Peru in South America. Artifacts depicting peyote use and fossils of peyote plants have been found in various regions of the world dating back to approximately 8500 B.C. It is unknown, however, at what point in time people started using these cactus plants for their psychedelic properties.

creatures floating in the air, or buildings made out of strange things like bones or other body parts. Objects often appear to change shape or appearance rapidly. The user often feels like an alien in entirely new surroundings, and may feel as if he or she is floating or weighted down by some strange gravitational force. Light and colors are greatly intensified, and other sensations can be distorted (e.g., "seeing" sounds or "hearing" colors). Time is often perceived as passing more slowly. Often users experience intense feelings of love and understanding. It is common for them to believe they are communicating with God or other deities, and able to transcend the limits of earth, time, and space. It is for this reason that mescaline is often used during religious ceremonies, particularly by Native Americans, and that peyote is called the "divine" or "sacred" cactus.

Peyote and mescaline can also produce auditory hallucinations—hearing things in an altered way (often slowed down, with distorted pitch) or hearing sounds that are not really there. Some users report having conversations with objects, such as trees. Mescaline can also enhance the sense of smell. Hunger is often suppressed by peyote and mescaline, so reports of altered taste are not well documented.

The following passages are examples of the distorted thought patterns experienced by people who take mescaline:

"The telephone pole and I chatted for quite a while. He has been around for only a few years, but has seen a lot of change in the city block where he resides. He is a happy pole, much happier than some of the older ones in the urban neighborhoods. He is particularly fond of the buses that stop at the bus stop a few yards away. He has made friends with several of them, and thinks that I would enjoy them as friends as well. I think he is right. I embraced the telephone pole as we said our goodbyes, and I hope to return someday to talk with my newfound friend."

"I watched the music pour out of the speakers from my stereo as if the music itself were some sort of fluorescent plasma. In faster parts of the music, the plasma flows like a raging river, but in the slower parts it is like a slow trickle. As the plasma hits the walls and ceiling, it bounces off, oftentimes splattering into an infinite number of plasma droplets that go off in all directions. When the lyrics begin, I can see the words in 3D block letters jumping out of the plasma river. The singer's voice is distorted and has a slight echo, but I can still make out the words. The guitar sounds like it is being played in a concrete cathedral, and the bass guitar causes everything in the room to appear blurry, almost as if it were vibrating very fast. Then come the drums...oh, the amazing drums. They sound extraordinarily clear and loud, but it doesn't hurt my ears. They pulse in my heart and my head, and I can feel my internal organs bouncing about inside me in rhythmic perfection. Time seems to have grinded to a halt. My CD player reads that we are a minute into the song, but it has felt like hours."

Continue reading here: History of Peyote and Mescaline Use Ancient and Modern

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