Psychoactive cactus

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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 is the San Pedro cactus (Echinopsis pachanoi, syn. Trichocereus pachanoi), 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.^[2][3][4]

Ethnic Use[]

Several world regions have historically used psychoactive cacti for their properties, particularly Indigenous peoples from Central and South America, such as in Mexico and the Andes region. For this purpose (which includes commercial harvesting) cacti plants are specifically grown in the millions.^[5] Lophophora williamsii (peyote) is used by the Native American Church (aka Peyotism).

Species[]

"Peyotes"[]

• Lophophora williamsii (peyote)

Peyote with flower

Other "peyotes"

• Ariocarpus fissuratus
• Coryphantha compacta
• Pelecyphora aselliformis; strobiliformis
• Lophophora diffusa
• Ariocarpus retusus
• Ariocarpus agavoides; kotschoubeyanus; and other species
• Astrophytum asterias; capricorne; myriostigma; and other species
• Aztekium ritteri; and other species
• Coryphantha elephantidens; macromeris (var. runyonii); palmeri; and other species
• Echinocactus grandis; grusonii; platyacanthus; visnaga; and other species
• Epithelantha micromeris; and other species
• Leuchtenbergia principis'; and other species
• Lophophora species
• Mammillaria craigii; grahamii (var. oliviae); heyderi; (Dolichothele) longimamma; (Solisia) pectinifera; (Mamillopsis) senilis; sonorensis; and other species
• Obregonia denegrii
• Strombocactus disciformis
• Turbinicarpus laui; lophophoroides; jauernigii; pseudomacrochele; (Pelecyphora) pseudopectinatus; schmiedickeanus; and other species

Other North American psychoactive and/or medicinal cacti-

• Carnegiea gigantea
• Echinocereus salm-dyckianus (var. scheeri); triglochidiatus; and other species
• Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum; pringlei

Trichocereus[]

• Echinopsis lageniformis (syn. Trichocereus bridgesii) (Bolivian torch cactus)
• Echinopsis pachanoi (syn. Trichocereus pachanoi) (San Pedro cactus)
• Echinopsis peruviana (syn. Trichocereus peruvianus) (Peruvian torch cactus)

San Pedro with flower

Other South American psychoactive and/or medicinal cacti

• Armatocereus laetus
• Browningia spp.
• Epostoa lanata
• Matucana madisoniorum
• Neoraimondia macrostibas
• Trichocereus terscheckii
• Stetsonia coryne

Legality[]

See also[]

• Entheogenic drugs and the archaeological record
• List of Acacia species known to contain psychoactive alkaloids
• List of plants used for smoking
• List of psychoactive plants
• List of psychoactive plants, fungi, and animals
• N,N-Dimethyltryptamine
• Psilocybin mushrooms

References/Sources[]

External links[]

• Media related to Psychoactive cacti at Wikimedia Commons
• www.cactus-mall.com