Types of Mescaline

PEYOTE Mescaline

Peyote, or Lophophora Williamsii, is certainly the most well-known of the mescaline containing cacti. It has appeared in literature and movies alike and is recognised for what it is globally. Drug culture or not.

Peyote is a slow growing button type cactus. It is greenish blue sometimes greyish green. Rather than spines, it has tufts of “wool” sprouting from regularly spaced aureole. It grows wild from central Mexico to northern Texas and has been used by indigenous peoples since the pre-Colombian era. An average dried button about 2cm in diameter weighs about two grams. It would take 6 – 10 of these buttons to get the desired effects.

Peyote flowers with an often solitary, but sometimes multiples of pleasingly symmetrical pink petalled flowers. They have bright yellow and saffron anthers that contain pollen. The flowers appear between March and May and are surprisingly crisp and firm for something that appears so delicate. Propagation is by seed once they have formed inside the fruit after being pollinated. Buttons can be broken off and left to dry slightly and be potted on scar down. Left to its own devices peyote will happily, albeit slowly, spread and spread.

HOW TO DOSE PEYOTE

Keep the above cautions in mind when looking to find your ideal dosage for the peyote cactus. On average, 27g of dried peyote or 125g of fresh cactus will make for about 300mg of mescaline.

In case you are not weighing a dry or a fresh plant, but instead measure by “buttons” (with each button measuring 2.5cm in diameter), you will need 8–10 buttons for the same dose, either dried or fresh.

SAN PEDRO Mescaline

San Pedro or Trichocereus pachinoi (Echinopsis pachinoi) has become a star in its own right with a number of strains available. Their fast growing nature has seen San Pedro cacti become very popular in the last decade.

San Pedro is a columnar type cactus that grows in clumps. It has 7 – 9 ridges along which grow aureole containing clusters of small spines. A well-buttressed column can grow to four metres and contain a substantial amount of mescaline. They propagate by seed, spreading from the base with new growth or pups, and can even sprout new plants from felled columns. Left unattended, San Pedro can spread considerably – especially when columns break and several pups spring up along its length.

During seasonal full moons, the night blooming San Pedro produces large, showy white flowers the size of dinner plates. First, large flower pods appear on their own stalk. Then, some nights later, often unexpectedly, the flowers burst open. This show lasts two nights before the flowers die back to the fruiting body.

PERUVIAN TORCH Mescaline

Peruvian Torch, or Trichocereus Peruvianis, is distinguished by its long spines that fade from base to tip in the colours of wildfire. These spines are ridiculously sharp and pierce the skin with no warning prick at all. Just straight in. Far sharper than a hypodermic. Keep out of reach of children.

Peruvian Torch grows so similarly to San Pedro that it does not need its own description. It is mainly set apart because the effects are noticeably more intense and deeper in context than San Pedro. It has a more generous girth and is grey-green in the flesh rather than dark green. It grows at a similar rate under the same conditions as other cacti in this genus.

ECHINOPSIS ZAMNESIANA Mescaline

As Zamnesia’s own cultivated strain of cactus, Echinopsis zamnesiana takes the finest parts of the Echinopsis genus to create a truly unforgettable psychoactive experience. This hugely popular type of cactus that will effortlessly blow the minds of all those that try it.

At first glance, you may be forgiven for thinking Echinopsis zamnesiana looks quite similar to other mescaline cactus varieties. It bears a shape similar to Echinopsis pachanoi and Echinopsis lageniformis, and there are small outcrops of spines that run the length of the cactus. However, the devil is in the details, quite literally. Echinopsis cacti were used in ancient shamanic rituals over 2,000 years ago to purge evil spirits and open the mind to more divine entities. Echinopsis zamnesiana is well-equipped for modern times too, as it provides huge psychedelic effects.

When cultivating Echinopsis zamnesiana, it tends to grow long and tall, meaning it needs plenty of room to stretch out. Overall, Echinopsis zamnesiana requires very little in the way of maintenance. This cactus performs well in a shaded area for a few weeks to get its bearings. Once settled, all that’s required is a light watering about twice a month for it to truly flourish. When ready, users can enjoy all the psychoactive power this cactus has to offer; rich in the alkaloid mescaline, there’s plenty to check out. 

BOLIVIAN TORCH Mescaline

Otherwise known as the Echinopsis lageniformis, Bolivian torch is a fast-growing mescaline cactus whose origins can be traced back to its native Bolivia. Much like other mescaline-bearing cacti, Bolivian torch has long been harnessed by the indigenous shamans of La Paz, who call this cactus “Achuma” or “Wachuma”. It is said to have been used in religious ceremonies; however, this cactus has become highly sought-after in modern times, and for some great reasons.

Tall-growing, Bolivian torch displays around 4–8 ribs on average, located on the trunk. This gives it a robust base and allows it to reach heights of up to 5 metres. Boasting a unique look, the cactus is adorned with nodes bearing up to 4 spines, with a length of up to 6–7cm each. This is an effortless cactus to cultivate. With very little maintenance needed, Bolivian torch is often favored by those looking for an easy way to grow mescaline cacti at home.

When it comes to effects, Bolivian torch features a potent cocktail of psychedelic substances, and overall has a higher mescaline level than the Peruvian torch and San Pedro cacti. With an average of just 0.3–0.4 grams of mescaline needed to experience effects, it can provide a compelling psychoactive experience that’s not for the faint of heart. 

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Trichocereus:

  • Bridgesii
  • Cuzcoensis
  • Fulvinanus
  • Macrogonus
  • Taquimbalensis
  • Terschekii
  • Validus
  • Werdermannianu

Most are distinguished by individual spine arrangements and overall stature. Some are thin with very prominent ridges. Others are chubby, and the ridges are less noticeable. Some have small aureole with many tiny spines. Some have well-spaced aureole with large needles. In all cases, care must be taken as every species is very, very sharp. All, however, give their own nuanced interpretation of the mescaline fuelled psychedelic experience.

HOW TO DOSE MESCALINE CACTI PROPERLY

Mescaline is a psychedelic substance that can be found in a variety of sacred cacti, including Peyote (Lophophora williamsii), the San Pedro cactus (Echinopsis pachanoi), and the Peruvian Torch cactus (Echinopsis peruviana). It is important to know that finding the right dosage of mescaline for a trip isn’t always straightforward, since there are numerous variables to consider. Here is all the information you need to know about mescaline cacti and how to dose them properly.

The effects of mescaline are comparable to those of LSD and mushrooms. It is not uncommon for psychonauts to consider their experiences and visions during a mescaline trip as deeply profound and life-altering.