Mescaline is a psychoactive compound found in multiple cacti species. Each species provides its own interpretation of the mescaline experience. How do the effects differ from species to species? We searched it out.
With a bit of chemical knowledge you can make high-quality extracts at home with readily available household products. For example, mescaline hydrochloride is a white crystalline powder that actually consists of pure mescaline. For these methods you need acids and alkalis and therefore you have to be extremely careful.
Mescalineacetate is a sticky orange-colored resin that usually consists of 97% pure mescaline. The acetate version contains all the alkaloids that the cactus has to offer. It is also food safe and it is less dangerous to make than the hydrochloride. Whether you ultimately prefer pure mescaline or nuanced mescaline depends on your personal preference. But why not try both if you have enough cactus?
The main effect of mescaline is an enhanced sense of emotional and mental flow. The visual acuity increases and colors become more intense. Naturally growing green plants appear to be wild fluorescent and the sky seems to show a unique play of colors. There is a distinct sense of "being in the now," which is significantly enhanced by a noticeable decrease in mental noise.
On the psychedelic peak, which can last for hours, each person will experience a unique reaction to mescaline. Some of them cruise pleasantly, with the pupils dilated and a blissful smile on the face, inspired by personal hallucinations. Others have to move because the intensity is overwhelming. In this case, it is wise to seek nature to experience the silence and splendor. Or dance on it!
Members of the Peyote and Trichocereus family can differ considerably in their interpretation of the central mescaline motif. The health of the plant also plays a role in the density of the alkaloids. Well-groomed cacti are often more powerful per gram than ignored cacti and they also grow faster.
| Current Name | Old Name | Also Known As |
|---|---|---|
| Aztekium ritteri | ||
| Cereus jamacaru | ||
| Echinopsis lageniformis | Trichocereus bridgesii | Bolivian Torch |
| Echinopsis peruviana | Trichocereus peruvianus | Peruvian Torch |
| Echinopsis pachanoi | Trichocereus pachanoi | San Pedro |
| Echinopsis cuzcoensis | Trichocereus cuzcoensis | |
| Echinopsis deserticola | Trichocereus fulvilanus | |
| Echinopsis macrogona | Trichocereus macrogonus | |
| Echinopsis spachiana | Trichocereus spachianus | |
| Echinopsis strigosa | Trichocereus strigosus | |
| Echinopsis tacaquirensis subsp. taquimbalensis | Trichocereus taquimbalensis | |
| Echinopsis terscheckii | Trichocereus terscheckii | |
| Echinopsis valida | Trichocereus validus | |
| Echinopsis werdermanniana | Trichocereus werdermannianus | |
| Eriosyce islayensis | Islaya minor | |
| Gymnocalycium calochlorum | ||
| Gymnocalycium comarapense | ||
| Gymnocalycium gibbosum | ||
| Gymnocalycium horridispinum | ||
| Gymnocalycium netrelianum | ||
| Gymnocalycium riograndense | ||
| Gymnocalycium striglianum | ||
| Gymnocalycium uebelmannianum | ||
| Gymnocalycium valnicekianum | ||
| Gymnocalycium vatteri | ||
| Lophophora williamsii | Peyote | |
| Lophophora diffusa | ||
| Myrtillocactus geometrizans | ||
| Opuntia acanthocarpa | ||
| Opuntia cylindria | ||
| Opuntia basilaris | ||
| Opuntia echinocarpa | ||
| Opuntia ficus-indica | ||
| Opuntia imbricata | ||
| Opuntia spinosior | ||
| Pachycereus gaumeri | Pterocereus gaumeri | |
| Pelecyphora aselliformis | ||
| Pereskia corrugata | ||
| Pereskia tampicana | ||
| Pereskiopsis scandens | ||
| Polaskia chende | ||
| Stenocereus beneckei | ||
| Stenocereus eruca | Machaerocereus eruca | |
| Stenocereus stellatus | ||
| Stenocereus treleasei | ||
| Stetsonia coryne | ||
| Turbinicarpus lophophoroides | ||
| Turbinicarpus pseudomacrochele | ||
| Turbinicarpus pseudopectinatus | Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus |