Many

cacti A cactus (: cacti, cactuses, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae (), a family of the order Caryophyllales comprising about 127 genera with some 1,750 known species. The word ''cactus'' derives, through Latin, ...

are known to be

psychoactive A psychoactive drug, psychopharmaceutical, mind-altering drug, consciousness-altering drug, psychoactive substance, or psychotropic substance is a chemical substance that alters psychological functioning by modulating central nervous system acti ...

, containing

phenethylamine Phenethylamine (PEA) is an organic compound, natural monoamine alkaloid, and trace amine, which acts as a central nervous system stimulant in humans. In the brain, phenethylamine regulates monoamine neurotransmission by binding to trace ami ...

alkaloid Alkaloids are a broad class of natural product, naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. Some synthetic compounds of similar structure may also be termed alkaloids. Alkaloids are produced by a large varie ...

s such as

mescaline Mescaline, also known as mescalin or mezcalin, and in chemical terms 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethylamine, is a natural product, naturally occurring psychedelic drug, psychedelic alkaloid, protoalkaloid of the substituted phenethylamine class, found ...

. However, the two main ritualistic (folkloric) genera are ''

Echinopsis ''Echinopsis'' is a genus of Cactus, cacti native plant, native to South America, sometimes known as hedgehog cactus, sea-urchin cactus or Easter lily cactus. , there are about 20 accepted species, ranging from large and treelike types to small ...

'', 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''), and '' Lophophora'', with

peyote The peyote (; ''Lophophora williamsii'' ) is a small, spineless cactus which contains psychoactive alkaloids, particularly mescaline. is a Spanish word derived from the Nahuatl (), meaning "caterpillar cocoon", from a root , "to glisten". p. ...

(''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.

Species

Globular cacti

*''

Lophophora williamsii The peyote (; ''Lophophora williamsii'' ) is a small, spineless cactus which contains Psychoactive cactus, psychoactive alkaloids, particularly mescaline. is a Spanish word derived from the Nahuatl (), meaning "caterpillar Pupa#Cocoon, cocoon" ...

'' (peyote) Lophophora williamsii pm

Other "peyotes" *''

Ariocarpus fissuratus ''Ariocarpus fissuratus'' (formerly known as ''Anhalonium fissuratus'') is a species of cactus found in small numbers in northern Mexico and Texas in the United States. Common names include living rock cactus, false peyote, chautle, dry whiskey a ...

'' *'' Coryphantha compacta'' (syn. ''C. palmeri'') *''

Pelecyphora ''Pelecyphora'', pincushion cactus or foxtail cactus is a genus of cactus, cacti, comprising 20 species. They originate from Mexico and the United States. Common species include the Missouri foxtail cactus ''Pelecyphora missouriensis, P. missour ...

aselliformis'' *''

strobiliformis'' *'' Lophophora diffusa'' *''

Ariocarpus retusus ''Ariocarpus retusus'' is a species of cactus, from the genus ''Ariocarpus'', found mainly in Mexico. It is one of the largest and fastest-growing species in this genus known for a slow rate of growth. Despite its slow growth, often taking ten ye ...

'' *'' 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''; '' (Pelecyphora) pseudopectinatus''; '' schmiedickeanus''; and other species

Other

Other North American psychoactive and/or medicinal cacti. *''Carnegiea gigantea'' *''Echinocereus salm-dyckianus'' (var. ''scheeri''); '' triglochidiatus''; and other species *''Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum''; ''pringlei''

Arborescent and columnar cacti

''Echinopsis''

*'' Echinopsis lageniformis'' (syn. ''Trichocereus bridgesii'') (Bolivian torch cactus) *'' Echinopsis macrogona'' (syn. ''Trichocereus macrogonus''), > 0.01-0.05% Mescaline *'' Echinopsis pasacana'' ssp. ''atacamensis'' *''

Echinopsis pachanoi ''Trichocereus macrogonus'' var. ''pachanoi'' (Synonym (taxonomy), synonyms including ''Trichocereus pachanoi'' and ''Echinopsis pachanoi'') is a fast-growing columnar cactus found in the Andes at in altitude. It is one of a number of kinds of ...

'' (syn. ''Trichocereus pachanoi'') (San Pedro cactus) *'' Echinopsis peruviana'' (syn. ''Trichocereus peruvianus'') (Peruvian torch cactus) *'' Echinopsis scopulicola'' (syn. ''Trichocereus scopulicolus''), 0.82% mescaline by dry weight in the outer green layer. *'' Echinopsis spachiana'' (syn. ''Trichocereus spachianus''), Mescaline; Mescaline *'' Echinopsis tacaquirensis'' subsp. ''taquimbalensis'' (syn. ''Trichocereus taquimbalensis''), > 0.005-0.025% mescaline *'' Echinopsis terscheckii'' (syn. ''Trichocereus terscheckii'', ''Trichocereus werdemannianus'') > 0.005-0.025% Mescaline; mescaline 0.01%-2.375%Forbidden Fruit Archives
* '' Echinopsis valida'' (syn. ''E. validus''), 0.025% mescaline *'' Echinopsis werdermannianus'' Flowering San Pedro cactus

Other

Other South American psychoactive and/or medicinal cacti * ''

Austrocylindropuntia cylindrica ''Austrocylindropuntia cylindrica'' (syn. ''Opuntia cylindrica''), the cane cactus, is a species of flowering plant in the family Cactaceae. Distribution and Habitat It is native to Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, and it has been introduced to t ...

'' (syn. ''Opuntia cylindrica''), Mescaline *''Armatocereus laetus'' *'' Browningia'' spp. * '' Cylindropuntia echinocarpa'' (syn. ''Opuntia echinocarpa''), Mescaline 0.01%, DMPEA 0.01%, 4-hydroxy-3-5-dimethoxyphenethylamine 0.01% * '' Cylindropuntia spinosior'' (syn. ''Opuntia spinosior''), Mescaline 0.00004%, 3-methoxytyramine 0.001%,

tyramine Tyramine ( ) (also spelled tyramin), also known under several other names, is a naturally occurring trace amine derived from the amino acid tyrosine. Tyramine acts as a catecholamine releasing agent. Notably, it is unable to cross the bl ...

0.002%, 3-4-dimethoxyphenethylamine. *''Epostoa lanata'' *''Matucana madisoniorum'' *''Neoraimondia macrostibas'' *'' Opuntia acanthocarpa'' Mescaline *'' Opuntia basilaris'' Mescaline 0.01%, plus 4-hydroxy-3-5-dimethoxyphenethylamine *''

Selenicereus grandiflorus ''Selenicereus grandiflorus'' is a cactus species originating from the Antilles, Mexico and Central America. The species is commonly referred to as queen of the night, night-blooming cereus (though these two terms are also used for other speci ...

'' *''Stetsonia coryne''

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. In 2022, the Peruvian Ministry of Culture declared the traditional use of San Pedro cactus in northern Peru as

cultural heritage Cultural heritage is the heritage of tangible and intangible heritage assets of a group or society that is inherited from past generations. Not all heritages of past generations are "heritage"; rather, heritage is a product of selection by socie ...

(peyote) is used by the

Native American Church The Native American Church (NAC), also known as Peyotism and Peyote Religion, is a Syncretism, syncretic Native American religion that teaches a combination of traditional Native Americans in the United States, Native American beliefs and eleme ...

(aka Peyotism).

Legality

References

External links

*
www.cactus-mall.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Psychoactive Cacti Entheogens Herbal and fungal hallucinogens Flora of the Chihuahuan Desert Flora of Texas Flora of New Mexico Flora of Northeastern Mexico Flora of the Rio Grande valleys Flora of Zacatecas Native American Church Native American religion Huichol Plants used in traditional Native American medicine Psychedelic phenethylamine carriers Cacti of the United States Cacti of Mexico

Species

Globular cacti

Other

Arborescent and columnar cacti

''Echinopsis''

Other

See also

Traditional and Indigenous uses

Legality

References

External links