Peyote: The Divine Cactus
Author: Anderson, Edward F.
Date: 1996-09-01T22:00:00+00:00
Keywords: mescaline; relgious; General; Psychedelic Library; freedom; Cultural Studies; Biological Sciences; Science; Nonfiction; use; Historical; sacramental; drug; Social & Cultural Studies; hallucinogenic; Native American Studies; Peyote; repair; hallucinogens; Ethnic Studies; Science & Nature; drugs; psychedelics; uses
Description: Dry whiskey, Divine herb, Devil’s root, Medicine of God, Peyote: for some people, to use it is to hear colors and see sounds. For many Native Americans, it brings an ability to reach out of their physical lives, to communicate with the spirits, and to become complete. For chemists, pharmacologists, and psychiatrists, the plant is fascinating in its complexity and in the ways its chemicals work upon the human mind. What is it in peyote that causes such unusual effects? Can modern medical science learn anything from Native Americans’ use of peyote in curing a wide variety of ailments? What is th
Publisher: University of Arizona Press

mechanism of action remains unclear.

the Spirit’s entry into the body.

Klondyke, AZ

© Peyote Way Church of God,
in peyote-inspired art, as in the pieces shown.

and creation myths are common themes ters as dopamine and serotonin, although their exact sidered to be a further act of purification, necessary for Archetypal stories

Cactus Creation:

bution and action in the brain of such neurotransmit-In fact, peyote often triggers vomiting, which is con-work in similar ways, by temporarily tilting the distri-matter how prepared a participant is.

, both drugs

LSD
microgram for microgram—than Still, swallowing the buttons isn’t easy or palatable, no While mescaline is about 4,000 times less potent—
riod of fasting, meditation, and silence.

exert their unusual effects.

day toxins, participants often undergo an extended pe-More difficult to describe is how, exactly, the drugs To prepare themselves and purge themselves of every-tual experiences.

ergy and consciousness underlying all existence.

deeply moving, even profound, introspective spiri-everyday, “consensual” reality to the unity of en-ber church.

others, kaleidoscopic perceptual changes, and beneath the form and beyond the description of 250,000-mem-in mood, feelings of empathy and kinship with participants, including the ability to glimpse bers of the
mem

Subjective effects can include rapid changes special powers of healing and insight onto tive American
synthetic psychedelics.

The ritual itself is believed to bestow use by Na-sacramental
and other

LSD
more manageable—than
absorbed in the peyote experience.

courts have affirmed the right to report as less disorienting—and hence the chanting and prayers of participants religious use of peyote, federal unique hallucinogenic properties, which many users intensified by a pulsating drumbeat or by And even though laws in 11 states eventually sought to ban Peyote and mescaline are best known for their The plant produces a trance-like state, which is fought back.

after ingestion, and run their course in about 12 hours.

30.

continued sacramental use of the plant. Still, nonbelievers the skin may feel dry and itchy. Peak effects hit 2-3 hours swallow from 2-20 buttons, and sometimes as many as can Church to preserve peyote rituals and provide for Normal coordination and reflexes are reduced, and tent for 12 hours or more, participants chew and In 1918 a group of peyotists formed the Native Ameri-and blood pressure and dilation of the pupils.

volves sitting and staring into a large fire inside a belief in Jesus.

caline triggers increased heart rate, body temperature, During a peyote ritual, which commonly in-tional peyote chants and meditation with prayer and In doses of 200-500 mg (about 10-20 buttons), mes-experience that spiritual force.

far north as Canada. Their teachings blended tradi-and other disorders.

buttons, a believer can absorb that power and Cheyenne, Shawnee, Blackfoot, and Sioux, and as experimental treatment of alcoholism, mental illness, divine powers in the cactus and that, by eating its to more than fifty American tribes, including the interest in the early 1900’s and was used in the Peyote users believe the Spirit placed its own carried a Christianized version of the ancient ritual in the lab, mescaline became the center of scientific where, and to whom—everywhere and forever.

prophets, such as Quanah Parker and John Wilson, As one of the first hallucinogens to be reproduced who created the universe and observes what happens, spreading north from Mexico on a large scale. Indian dently synthesized in 1918.

The peyote ritual centers on a belief in a Great Spirit During the American Civil War, peyote use began first isolated from the peyote cactus in 1896 and indepen-religion far underground. But it refused to stay there.

Named after the Mescalero Apaches, mescaline was S

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I

T

C

A

R

P

E

T

O

Y

PE
ries, they successfully drove the indigenous peyote-based trimethoxyphenethylamine).

They succeeded—to a point. Over the next four centu-

(3,4,5-

mescaline
ents, the most powerful of which is all aimed at wiping out Indian use of the plant.

Peyote contains more than fifty psychoactive ingredi-the first set of anti-drug laws in the Western Hemisphere, right of states to control ritual peyote use.

they linked with cannibalism and witchcraft, and enacted by a 1990 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, affirming the S

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The Spaniards quickly outlawed “peyotism,” which Still, challenges continue to be mounted, strengthened S’

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diseases. But to the Spaniards, it was the first American capable of giving sight to the blind and healing incurable Peyote was believed to be a god-powerful medicine, RISKS & REALITIES

CACTUS & CONQUISTADORS
s peyote use has evolved over the years, non-hen the Spanish Conquistadors hit the New sacramental users have faced two potential World in the 16th century, they hoped to find dangers.

gold and glory during their adventures in the First, there’s the risk of bad trips, which mostly center Americas.

on a fear of dying or loss of control.

They found lots of the former and little of the latter Tranquilizers can be administered in extreme cases, along the way, and all kinds of stuff they hadn’t counted on but the only way to totally eliminate the at all, including corn, tobacco, potatoes, chocolate, and a possibility of panic with a drug as pow-strange
vision-inducing plant used by natives as erful as peyote is to avoid using it a religious sacrament and revered al-altogether.

most as a god.

A second risk linked to mescaline That’s when the problems
derives from the reality of street-drug started.

economics. That’s because it’s so ex-Because the Spaniards had
pensive to synthesize the drug that their own ideas about God and other drugs are often substituted—
usually LSD,
sacraments and wanted to share PCP, or amphetamine-based psychedelics.

them with their new subjects.

Real peyote is identifiable by its noxious taste, which And they did—every chance they got.

can trigger a vomiting that’s more relief than curse. And And the plant, which the natives called “peyotl,”

mescaline has a revolting taste of its own—and a sky-high turned into a major point of contention.

price tag reflecting the scarcity of supply.

And, to this day, it’s pretty much stayed that way.

Still, the drawbacks—price, taste, laws—haven’t stopped peyote and mescaline yet.

It was true to believers 400 years ago, and it seems no BACKGROUND NOTES
less true today: Conquistadors come and go, but peyote endures forever.

What all the excitement’s been about is a small, spine-And so, some users might tell you, does the aftertaste.

less cactus (known botanically as Lophophora williamsii) which grows in the deserts of Mexico and the

American Southwest. When the crown is sliced off and dried, it forms a hard, brownish disc
known as a “button,” which is chewed for its hallucinogenic properties.

Peyote buttons were chewed Cactus flower. Peyote, a.k.a.

This is one in a series of publications on drugs, behavior, and for religious purposes in Mexico Lophophora williamsii.

health published by Do It Now Foundation. Please call or write for centuries before the Conquista-
a list of current titles, or visit our web site at www.doitnow.org.

dors even knew Mexico existed. Early tales of peyote rituals among the Aztec and Toltec Indians date ceremo-nial use back some 3,000 years.

The cactus—and other “divine” plants, including psilo-Box 27568 ■ Tempe, AZ 85285-7568 ■ 480.736.0599
cybin mushrooms, morning glory seeds, and datura—
were employed for the purposes of healing, divining the DIN 133

All Rights Reserved

4/02
future, and producing visions during sacred rites.

future, and producing visions during sacred rites.

4/02

All Rights Reserved

DIN 133
were employed for the purposes of healing, divining the

—
cybin mushrooms, morning glory seeds, and datura and other “divine” plants, including psilo-

—

The cactus

480.736.0599

■
mpe, AZ 85285-7568

Te

■

Box 27568
nial use back some 3,000 years.

rituals among the Aztec and Toltec Indians date ceremo-dors even knew Mexico existed. Early tales of peyote

.

www.doitnow.org
a list of current titles, or visit our web site at centuries before the Conquista-health published by Do It Now Foundation. Please call or write for Lophophora williamsii.

for religious purposes in Mexico This is one in a series of publications on drugs, behavior, and Peyote, a.k.a.

Cactus flower.

Peyote buttons were chewed
properties.

chewed for its hallucinogenic known as a “button,” which is forms a hard, brownish disc
crown is sliced off and dried, it American Southwest. When the and the
of Mexico
which grows in the deserts

)

Lophophora williamsii
less cactus (known botanically as And so, some users might tell you, does the aftertaste.

What all the excitement’s been about is a small, spine-endures forever.

Conquistadors come and go, but peyote less true today:

S

E

T

O

N

D

N

U

O

R

G

CK

BA

It was true to believers 400 years ago, and it seems no stopped peyote and mescaline yet.

Still, the drawbacks—price, taste, laws—haven’t And, to this day, it’s pretty much stayed that way.

price tag reflecting the scarcity of supply.

turned into a major point of contention.

mescaline has a revolting taste of its own—and a sky-high And the plant, which the natives called “peyotl,”

can trigger a vomiting that’s more relief than curse. And And they did—every chance they got.

Real peyote is identifiable by its noxious taste, which them with their new subjects.

or amphetamine-based psychedelics.

,

PCP
sacraments and wanted to share

,

LSD
usually
often substituted—
other drugs are
their own ideas about God and pensive to synthesize the drug that the Spaniards had

Because
economics. That’s because it’s so ex-started.

derives from the reality of street-drug That’s when the problems

A second risk linked to mescaline most as a god.

altogether.

a religious sacrament and revered al-erful as peyote is to avoid using it vision-inducing plant used by natives as strange
possibility of panic with a drug as pow-at all, including corn, tobacco, potatoes, chocolate, and a eliminate the
totally
but the only way to
along the way, and all kinds of stuff they hadn’t counted on Tranquilizers can be administered in extreme cases, They found lots of the former and little of the latter on a fear of dying or loss of control.

Americas.

First, there’s the risk of bad trips, which mostly center gold and glory during their adventures in the dangers.

World in the 16th century, they hoped to find sacramental users have faced two potential hen the Spanish Conquistadors hit the New s peyote use has evolved over the years, non-S

R

O

D

A

ST

I U

Q

N

CO

& S

U

T

C

CA

S

E

I

T

I L

REA

&

S

SK

RI

Peyote was believed to be a god-powerful medicine, capable of giving sight to the blind and healing incurable The ritual is believed to bestow the ability to glimpse beyond the diseases. But to the Spaniards, it was the first American

“drug problem.”

form of everyday reality to the unity of energy and consciousness underlying all existence.

THE FIRST ‘WAR ON DRUGS’

Still, challenges continue to be mounted, strengthened The Spaniards quickly outlawed “peyotism,” which ACTIONS & EFFECTS
by a 1990 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, affirming the they linked with cannibalism and witchcraft, and enacted right of states to control ritual peyote use.

the first set of anti-drug laws in the Western Hemisphere, Peyote contains more than fifty psychoactive ingredi-all aimed at wiping out Indian use of the plant.

ents, the most powerful of which is mescaline (3,4,5-They succeeded—to a point. Over the next four centu-trimethoxyphenethylamine).

ries, they successfully drove the indigenous peyote-based PEYOTE PRACTICES

Named after the Mescalero Apaches, mescaline was religion far underground. But it refused to stay there.

first isolated from the peyote cactus in 1896 and indepen-During the American Civil War, peyote use began The peyote ritual centers on a belief in a Great Spirit dently synthesized in 1918.

spreading north from Mexico on a large scale. Indian who created the universe and observes what happens, As one of the first hallucinogens to be reproduced prophets, such as Quanah Parker and John Wilson, where, and to whom—everywhere and forever.

in the lab, mescaline became the center of scientific carried a Christianized version of the ancient ritual Peyote users believe the Spirit placed its own interest in the early 1900’s and was used in the to more than fifty American tribes, including the divine powers in the cactus and that, by eating its experimental treatment of alcoholism, mental illness, Cheyenne, Shawnee, Blackfoot, and Sioux, and as buttons, a believer can absorb that power and and other disorders.

far north as Canada. Their teachings blended tradi-experience that spiritual force.

In doses of 200-500 mg (about 10-20 buttons), mes-tional peyote chants and meditation with prayer and During a peyote ritual, which commonly in-caline triggers increased heart rate, body temperature, belief in Jesus.

volves sitting and staring into a large fire inside a and blood pressure and dilation of the pupils.

In 1918 a group of peyotists formed the Native Ameri-tent for 12 hours or more, participants chew and Normal coordination and reflexes are reduced, and can Church to preserve peyote rituals and provide for swallow from 2-20 buttons, and sometimes as many as the skin may feel dry and itchy. Peak effects hit 2-3 hours continued sacramental use of the plant. Still, nonbelievers 30.

after ingestion, and run their course in about 12 hours.

fought back.

The plant produces a trance-like state, which is Peyote and mescaline are best known for their And even though laws in 11 states eventually sought to ban intensified by a pulsating drumbeat or by unique hallucinogenic properties, which many users religious use of peyote, federal the chanting and prayers of participants report as less disorienting—and hence courts have affirmed the right to absorbed in the peyote experience.

more manageable—than LSD and other sacramental use by Na-The ritual itself is believed to bestow synthetic psychedelics.

tive American
special powers of healing and insight onto Subjective effects can include rapid changes members of the
participants, including the ability to glimpse in mood, feelings of empathy and kinship with 250,000-mem-beneath the form and beyond the description of others, kaleidoscopic perceptual changes, and ber church.

everyday, “consensual” reality to the unity of en-deeply moving, even profound, introspective spiri-ergy and consciousness underlying all existence.

tual experiences.

To prepare themselves and purge themselves of every-More difficult to describe is how, exactly, the drugs day toxins, participants often undergo an extended pe-exert their unusual effects.

riod of fasting, meditation, and silence.

While mescaline is about 4,000 times less potent—

Still, swallowing the buttons isn’t easy or palatable, no microgram for microgram—than LSD, both drugs matter how prepared a participant is.

work in similar ways, by temporarily tilting the distri-In fact, peyote often triggers vomiting, which is con-bution and action in the brain of such neurotransmit-

Cactus Creation: Archetypal stories and creation myths are common themes sidered to be a further act of purification, necessary for ters as dopamine and serotonin, although their exact in peyote-inspired art, as in the pieces shown.

© Peyote Way Church of God, Klondyke, AZ
the Spirit’s entry into the body.

mechanism of action remains unclear.