San Pedro Cactus: The Complete Growing Guide

The mescaline-containing San Pedro cactus – Trichocereus pachanoi
The San Pedro cactus, also known as Trichocereus pachanoi or torch cactus, is a columnar cactus from South America, named and described by Britton & Rose. Also known as huachuma, it is one of many mescaline-containing cacti found throughout the Andes Mountains of Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile. In recent history, San Pedro has been overshadowed by peyote, also known as Lophophora williamsii. Given the concerns around the conservation status of peyote and the preservation of cultural practices, San Pedro is often suggested as an alternative for those who are curious about mescaline.
“San Pedro” can be used to also refer to Trichocereus peruvianus (Echinopsis peruviana) or Peruvian torch, Trichocereus bridgesii (Echinopsis lageniformis) or Bolivian torch, and Trichocereus macrogonus (Echinopsis macrogona). What we know as Trichocereus pachanoi is officially known as Echinopsis pachanoi, but most collectors, cultivators, and experts on the group continue to use Trichocereus.
Trichocereus pachanoi is a ubiquitous cactus. It is used for landscaping in combination with other arid plants in minimalist gardens, and regularly sold in garden centers to many who are unaware of its entheogenic properties. However, there are those who are aware! In fact, there are Trichocereus collectors and breeders the world over. Collectors trade cactus cuttings internationally and swap seeds. The global cultivation of Trichocereus pachanoi has also led to the creation of many cultivars, including “Juul’s Giant”, “Landfill”, and, notably, the Australian “Fields” and “Yowie”. That pretty, emerald green, almost spineless columnar cactus in your neighbor’s front yard may be the sacred entheogen huachuma, the cactus used in ceremonies in South America for millennia.
The active ingredient in huachuma is the phenethylamine, mescaline. Mescaline, more specifically 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethylamine, is a plant alkaloid; it is considered one of the classic hallucinogens alongside the psychedelic compounds LSD (derived from the ergot fungus) and psilocybin (from psilocybin mushrooms). But unlike the tryptamine alkaloids, which act on serotonin receptors, mescaline is a phenethylamine that acts on dopamine receptors, producing hallucinogenic effects. The effects of mescaline include altered thinking processes, an altered sense of time and self-awareness, and closed- and open-eye visual phenomena.
With the recent interest in microdosing, there has been interest in using mescaline for microdosing. Microdosing is the act of consuming sub-perceptual (unnoticeable) amounts of a psychedelic substance. Many individuals who have integrated microdosing mescaline into their weekly routine report higher levels of creativity, more energy, increased focus, and improved relational skills, as well as reduced anxiety, stress, and even depression. Some enthusiasts also report that microdosing mescaline has helped them heighten their spiritual awareness and enhance their senses. More information on microdosing mescaline can be found in the Ultimate Guide to Mescaline.

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