In the s, the attention of biomedical researchers abruptly switched to a newly synthesized molecule with similar hallucinogenic properties but fewer physical side effects: lysergic acid diethylamide, or LSD. First synthesized by Swiss scientist Albert Hofmann in , LSD went on to become a recreational drug of choice in the s hippy era. And, like mescaline, it teased psychiatrists without delivering a cure. Jay traces the chronology of mescaline use. The alkaloid is found in the fast-growing San Pedro cactus Echinopsis pachanoi that towers above the mountainous desert scrub of the Andes, and the slow-growing, ground-hugging peyote cactus Lophophora williamsii native to Mexico and the southwestern United States.
Archaeological evidence suggests that the use of these cacti in rites of long-vanished cultures goes back at least 5, years. Europeans first came across peyote after Spain conquered Mexico in the early sixteenth century. Attempts, largely by missionaries, to suppress its use were not successful. In fact, peyote rituals eventually spread to Native Americans of the US plains, such as the Osage Nation, after they were forced into reservations.
Mescaline and peyote are now banned under US drug laws, but such ceremonial use is exempted. Before the twentieth century, just a handful of people outside Indigenous American cultures had tried the extracts; but their reports sparked medical, spiritual and recreational interest for many decades. The powers of endurance needed to take the drug became more widely known: it induces hours of nausea and often vomiting before the hallucinations begin.
In contrast to alcohol, Jay notes, mescaline gives you the hangover first. The hallucinations are now thought to be caused mainly by mescaline binding to and activating serotonin receptors in the brain. In traditional ceremonial use, the hallucination phase has been reported as consistently transporting. But outside these cultures, those eager to experiment have had disconcertingly unpredictable experiences.
The pharmaceutical company Parke—Davis in Detroit, Michigan, which had been investigating botanical sources of potential drugs from South America and elsewhere, took note. The company was seeking an alternative to cocaine, whose addictive properties had become apparent; it began offering peyote tincture as a respiratory stimulant and heart tonic in A flurry of scientific trials began. There was scant regard for ethics and safety — for the scientists, who frequently tested the mescaline themselves, or for test subjects.
In one, a young, unnamed chemist chewed peyote buttons and then noted down his symptoms: nausea followed by pleasant visions over which he had some control, then depression and insomnia for 18 hours. They hoped that mescaline, as a hallucinogen, might provide insight into the psychotic phenomena associated with schizophrenia. In later studies, people with schizophrenia could easily tell the difference between their own hallucinations and those induced by the drug.
The pace of trials picked up after synthetic mescaline became available. Yet trial outcomes did not become more reliable or illuminating. Over the next couple of decades, theories that mescaline might reveal the biological basis of schizophrenia or help to cure other psychological disorders were serially dashed.
Crystals of mescaline seen under a scanning electron microscope. Psychiatrists and psychologists jumped onto that bandwagon. They administered it to writers, artists, philosophers; presented them with intellectual stimuli; and observed their responses. But as before, no pattern emerged. French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre entered a grotesque hell, whereas British writer Aldous Huxley tripped into a magnificent world of expanded consciousness, described in his influential book The Doors of Perception.
Jay reports other, more surprising, enthusiasts. Smith promoted the use of peyote during services, to induce the religious ecstasy he said he had experienced at ceremonies of various Native American nations.
During the Second World War, mescaline saw use in the infamous human experimentation programme of the Third Reich. Although hallucinations are an expected or even desired effect of hallucinogenic drugs, sometimes people find them much more troubling or frightening than expected.
Although they typically know hallucinations that occur in a mescaline intoxicated state are not real, they can cause a lot of confusion and distress. Tachycardia , or rapid heart rate is defined as a heart rate of over beats per minute bpm. While there may not be severe physical consequences of tachycardia, a fast heart rate can sometimes create anxiety, which can further speed up heart rate.
People can feel panicky, particularly if they are worried that using the drug is causing heart problems. Less common effects included seizures, loss of consciousness, and vomiting. While these more serious effects aren't common, it is important for people to be aware that taking these substances do carry these risks.
Some possible signs that someone might be using mescaline include:. Mescaline is sometimes confused with the Mexican alcoholic beverage mezcal, which, despite drug folklore, is made from agave not cactus and does not contain mescaline.
The worm that is sometimes found in a bottle of mezcal does not, as often purported, induce a mescaline high because it does not contain the drug either. Although mescaline is not particularly well-known as a street drug, it holds a special place in drug culture, particularly among people who use psychedelic drugs who may believe that, like magic mushrooms and marijuana, psychedelic cacti are sacred plants and should be revered due to their origination in nature.
There is no current research suggesting that mescaline use leads to physical dependence, psychological dependence, or addiction. Tolerance does take place, however, and tends to occur quite rapidly. Tolerance means that people need to take more of the drug in order to achieve the same effects. With repeated use, tolerance can occur in as little as three to six days.
Cross-tolerance with other drugs such as LSD and psilocybin may also be possible. The amount of time mescaline stays in the system depends on factors such as an individual's metabolism, hydration levels, body mass, and overall health. Mescaline can be detected in urine for between two to three days but can be detected by hair follicle tests for up to 90 days. Mescaline does not appear to be addictive, although further research is needed to determine if addiction is possible. That said, any substance that distorts a person's perceptions of reality is potentially harmful, as they can more easily misinterpret reality, or have accidents.
In terms of toxicity, however, evidence may point to mescaline carrying a lower risk than many other recreational drugs. Just because mescaline is "natural" does not mean that it is safe to use.
Quitting mescaline does not lead to physical symptoms of withdrawal, but people may experience psychological symptoms that lead them to seek out the drug.
People sometimes utilize substances such as mescaline to self-medicate, to avoid life's problems, or to cope with stress. Giving up mescaline use may require addressing underlying psychological issues first. Treatment for substance misuse and addiction often involves cognitive-behavioral therapy CBT , a process that addresses the underlying thought patterns that contribute to maladaptive behaviors.
It is not uncommon for a combined approach that includes CBT with individual psychotherapy, group therapy, and support groups. Antidepressants , anti-anxiety medications, and other medications may be used to address the symptoms of underlying psychological conditions. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned about your mescaline use.
You can also contact SAMHSA's national helpline at or search their online treatment locator for a referral to mental health services in your area. Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic aspects of peyote and mescaline: clinical and forensic repercussions. Curr Mol Pharmacol. Peyote and mescaline exposures: A year review of a statewide poison center database.
Clin Toxicol Phila. Psychedelics and mental health: a population study. Illicit peyote use among American Indian adolescents in substance abuse treatment: a preliminary investigation. Subst Use Misuse. Narconon International. Signs and symptoms of mescaline abuse. Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association. Workplace drug testing. Drug Enforcement Administration.
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