Bolivian Torch

Potent psychedelic compounds occur all throughout nature, from psilocybin-containing mushrooms to DMT-producing toads. We don’t know why they are there. Some claim that these mind-altering substances help to deter would-be predators. Others state that they were put there by a higher power to enable us to experience the divine. Mescaline is one such substance. The psychedelic alkaloid occurs in several species of cactus, and it's been used for thousands of years to induce altered states of consciousness. Join us as we explore the history of these life forms, their effects, and how to grow and consume them.

WHAT ARE MESCALINE CACTI?

Mescaline cacti grow in the Andes Mountains, Mexico, and the southwest United States, where they’ve been used ceremonially for almost 6,000 years. The psychoactive phenethylamine alkaloid mescaline underpins the psychedelic effects.

Academics believe the Native Americans of Texas and New Mexico were the first groups to use mescaline cacti for these purposes—evidenced by effigies discovered in the Shumla Caves of Texas. The Huichol people of Mexico and the Aztecs also used species of mescaline cactus for spiritual and ceremonial purposes.

The Spanish were the first people of the Old World to encounter these plant species. They wrote accounts of witnessing Mexican tribespeople consume preparations before engaging in night-long dances and trances.

Thousands of years after humans started using mescaline cacti for their hallucinogenic properties, Western scientists began unlocking their secrets. It was the German pharmacologist Arthur Heffter who first isolated and identified mescaline in 1897. The Austrian chemist Ernst Spath then synthesised the chemical for the first time just over two decades later.

Mescaline penetrated mainstream Western culture during the 1950s. Author and philosopher Aldous Huxley helped to drive mescaline into the collective psyche through his penning of Doors of Perception—a book detailing his experiences with the psychedelic. Entheogen enthusiast and psychiatrist Humphry Osmond and famed psychedelic chemist Alexander Shulgin helped the molecule gain further traction.

DIFFERENT SPECIES OF MESCALINE CACTI

Several different cactus species produce the mescaline molecule. Some of them are tiny and take an extremely long time to grow, others are towering giants that ascend with haste.

Peyote is perhaps the most famous of the mescaline cacti. The quintessential cactus grows in its native range from southwestern Texas to Mexico. Peyote is one of the most potent species of hallucinogenic cacti and contains 3–6% of the molecule when dried. Known by the scientific name Lophophora williamsii, the spineless cactus is extremely slow-growing. It can take up to three years to develop from a seed into a mature specimen. Even then, peyote rarely exceeds a height of 7cm and a diameter of 12cm. The cactus takes on the shape of a bulb-like “button” and occasionally blooms a single pink-white flower. Sadly, their slow rate of growth—along with overharvesting—has resulted in the cactus’ vulnerable conservation status.

Peyote (Lophophora williamsii)

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Lophophora decipiens is a separate member of the peyote family. This faster-growing version of peyote looks almost exactly the same and reaches a similar size. It’s native to the Mexican state of Coahuila and proves very difficult to find in the wild.

San Pedro (Echinopsis pachanoi) has been used traditionally within the Andes region for at least 2,000 years. It thrives at altitudes of up to 3,000m in the mountain ranges of Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile. The cactus grows much taller than the likes of peyote and takes on a columnar structure. It’s capable of growing an additional 40cm annually and tops out at 4–6m. San Pedro produces an abundance of yellow-brown spikes and blooms brilliant white flowers. The dried cactus contains approximately 2.4% mescaline.

Bolivian torch (Echinopsis lageniformis) is a species of mescaline cactus from the high deserts of Bolivia. The columnar species grows fast and reaches heights of 2–5m. It features eight ribs, each lined with brown spikes. Bolivian torch also has a rich history and is known as “wachuma” among indigenous people. It sits on the subtle end of the spectrum, containing only 0.56% mescaline when dried.

Echinopsis zamnesiana is Zamnesia's own breed of the world-renowned Echinopsis genus. While, at first glance, it may share a common look with other types of cacti, it has some subtle nuances that set it apart.

Standing head and shoulders above other mescaline cacti, this tall-growing, potent powerhouse is steeped in a rich history. With use dating back as far as 2,000 years ago, ancient shamans were said to utilise the Echinopsis cactus in rituals as a means to purge evil spirits and open the mind to divine ones. However, it has modern applications too. As a rich source of the psychoactive alkaloid mescaline, Echinopsis zamnesiana takes users on an intense introspective journey. 

Echinopsis ''zamnesiana''

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THE EFFECTS OF MESCALINE CACTI

Mescaline falls into the phenethylamine category of psychoactive substances, alongside the likes of MDMA. This classification separates mescaline from other natural psychedelics—psilocybin and DMT—that belong to the tryptamine class.

Following consumption, mescaline reaches the brain and begins latching onto serotonin receptor sites in the brain. The molecule has a particular affinity for 1A, 2A, 2B, and 2C receptors. Mescaline also interacts with dopamine receptors.

Mescaline is relatively weak compared to other psychedelics. It’s 4,000 times less potent than LSD, and 30 times less potent than psilocybin. Regardless, a high enough dose can still induce a profound altered state of consciousness. A full dose of 200–400mg is swiftly absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract, and effects begin to take hold around 30 minutes after ingestion. The peak of the experience occurs around two hours later, and effects can last up to eight hours.

Tripping on mescaline is a subjective psychedelic experience that will be slightly different between individuals. Common reports include seeing spirals, patterns, architecture, and animals. Synaesthesia (seeing sounds and hearing colours) and feelings of euphoria and interconnectedness are also common experiences.

This is how Huxley described the distorted sense of reality he experienced under the influence of mescaline: “Place and distance cease to be of much interest. The mind does its perceiving in terms of intensity of existence, profundity of significance, relationships within a pattern”.

HOW TO BUY MESCALINE CACTI

Not everyone can venture deep into the Andes in search of hallucinogenic cacti. Plus, threatened species such as peyote should be left to recover from overharvesting. Luckily, you don’t need to set out on the adventure of a lifetime to experience mescaline. As the cacti will be send straight to your door. We recommend researching the legal status of mescaline in your country before placing an order.

Before you buy, you’ll need to consider which cactus you like and what effects your prefer. Check out the Zamnesia shop for excellent cactus specimens across multiple species.

HOW TO GROW MESCALINE CACTI

You can enjoy the mescaline experience immediately by purchasing a mature cactus. However, growing your own is highly satisfying and adds something special to the experience. You can cultivate your own cactus from seed, or clone one using a cutting.

To grow a cactus from seed, you’ll need some well-draining potting soil topped with sand. Place your seeds in a propagator and keep them moist. It won’t take long for your seeds to germinate. Once they emerge, place them in separate pots on a well-lit window sill and water only when completely dry.

Growing a cactus from a cutting is equally as easy. Take your cutting and insert the dry base around 5cm deep into a completely dry cactus soil mix. Place the cutting in a dry spot out of direct sunlight. Your cactus will begin to root over the next 3–4 weeks. Once your baby has rooted, place it in direct sunlight and apply a small weekly feed of water mixed with nutrient solution.