Laura Smith
Mescaline is a naturally occurring psychedelic drug that can be derived from cacti such as peyote and San Pedro. It has been used for thousands of years, with evidence of its use dating back 5700 years. Mescaline induces a psychedelic state with effects such as altered thinking processes, an altered sense of time and self-awareness, and visual phenomena. Psilocybin, also known as magic mushrooms, is another psychedelic substance with similar effects. It has been used in various cultural contexts, including by the Aztecs, who referred to the mushrooms as Teonancatl, meaning divine flesh. Both substances have been the subject of scientific study to explore their potential therapeutic benefits and influence on mental well-being.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Chemical name | Mescaline: 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethylamine |
| Psilocybin: prodrug that transforms into psilocin | |
| Common sources | Mescaline: cacti |
| Psilocybin: mushrooms | |
| Preparation | Mescaline: cactus heads are cut away and left to dry, then submerged in hot water or chewed |
| Psilocybin: mushrooms are chewed, cooked, boiled into a drink, or eaten raw | |
| Effects | Mescaline: altered senses of vision, hearing, time and space |
| Psilocybin: heightened sensory awareness, impaired judgment, euphoria, profound self-realization, visual changes | |
| Therapeutic use | Psilocybin: undergoing research for its therapeutic influence |
| Duration of effects | Mescaline: 12 hours |
| Psilocybin: shorter than mescaline | |
| Overlap | Both interact with serotonin receptors in the brain and have similar effects |
| No significant differences in effects when given at equivalent doses, according to a study |
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What You'll Learn
Mescaline and psilocybin are both hallucinogens
The effects of mescaline and psilocybin on the mind and body are remarkably similar. Both interact with serotonin receptors in the brain, providing a myriad of perception-altering effects, including intense euphoria, profound self-realization, and changes to perception, comprehension, and visual acuity. The duration of their effects also differs, with mescaline's effects lasting about 12 hours, followed by LSD, and then psilocybin.
The preparation methods for these substances vary as well. Mescaline is traditionally prepared by cutting the heads of peyote cacti, drying them, and then either submerging them in hot water to make a drink or chewing the dried buttons directly. Psilocybin mushrooms, on the other hand, can be cooked, boiled into a drink, eaten raw, or prepared in various other ways to mask their bitter flavour.
While both substances have a long history of use in different cultures, they have also been the subject of recent research interest. A 2023 study published in Neuropsychopharmacology compared the effects of mescaline, LSD, and psilocybin in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over trial. The study found no significant differences in the effects of these drugs when given at equivalent doses, with participants reporting similar subjective acute drug effects and physical effects across all three substances.
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Mescaline is derived from cacti, psilocybin from mushrooms
Mescaline is a hallucinogenic substance derived from cacti, specifically the peyote cactus (Lophophora williamsii). It is also found in some other members of the Cactaceae plant family and the Fabaceae bean family. Mescaline has a long history of use, particularly by Native Americans in Mexico for religious and ceremonial purposes. It was first identified in 1896 and later popularised by Aldous Huxley in his 1954 essay "The Doors of Perception". Mescaline is known for its ability to alter one's senses of vision, hearing, time, and space, often resulting in an altered state of consciousness and a dream-like state.
On the other hand, psilocybin is derived from certain species of mushrooms, commonly known as "magic mushrooms" or "shrooms". These mushrooms belong to the genus Psilocybe, with P. cubensis being the most common variety found in tropical areas. Psilocybin-containing mushrooms are also found in other genera, including Panaeolus, Inocybe, Pluteus, Gymnopilus, and Pholiotina. They have been used by humans for thousands of years and are often associated with recreational and spiritual experiences. Psilocybin is a prodrug, which means it transforms into the molecule psilocin once ingested. Psilocin is responsible for the psychedelic effects of these mushrooms, causing hallucinations and an inability to discern fantasy from reality.
While mescaline and psilocybin share some structural similarities in their chemical compositions, they are derived from different natural sources. Mescaline is obtained from cacti, specifically the peyote cactus, which is native to southwestern North America and northwest Mexico. In contrast, psilocybin is derived from certain species of mushrooms, primarily those within the Psilocybe genus. These mushrooms are found in various parts of the world, including North America, Europe, Asia, South America, Australia, and New Zealand.
The effects of mescaline and psilocybin also differ. Mescaline induces hallucinations, alters senses of vision and hearing, and distorts one's perception of time and space. Psilocybin, on the other hand, causes hallucinations and an inability to discern fantasy from reality. Additionally, psilocybin creates short-term increases in tolerance, making it difficult to misuse. The psychological consequences of psilocybin use can vary depending on the environment and the user's state of mind.
In terms of legality, both mescaline and psilocybin are considered controlled substances in many parts of the world. Mescaline is listed as a Schedule III drug in Canada and is prohibited internationally by the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Psilocybin-containing mushrooms, or magic mushrooms, are classified as Schedule I controlled substances by the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). However, some states and municipalities in the US have decriminalised psilocybin, and it has been explored for its potential therapeutic benefits in treating depression, anxiety, and mood disorders.
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Mescaline was first identified in 1896
Mescaline, also known as mescalin or mezcalin, is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound with hallucinogenic effects. It was first identified in 1896 and has been used by various cultures for centuries. Mescaline occurs naturally in several cacti species, including peyote (Lophophora williamsii) and San Pedro (certain Echinopsis species). Its chemical name is 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethylamine, and it bears a structural resemblance to amphetamines. The hallucinogenic dose of mescaline is about 0.3 to 0.5 grams, and its effects typically last about 12 hours. It is often consumed orally and can be taken recreationally, spiritually, or medically.
The history of mescaline use dates back thousands of years. Peyote, for example, has been used by Native Americans and in cults centred around the southwestern United States and northwest Mexico for centuries. In the 16th century, a Spaniard observed the effects of mescaline on the Indians of the Mexican desert plain, noting that it induced visions and provided courage and sustenance during hunts.
The first synthesis of mescaline in a laboratory setting was achieved in 1919 by Ernst Späth using 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl chloride. Since then, several other synthetic methods have been developed. Mescaline gained fame in popular culture through Aldous Huxley's 1954 essay "The Doors of Perception", where he detailed his experiences under the influence of mescaline, describing "a slow dance of golden lights" and "sumptuous red surfaces swelling and expanding from bright nodes of energy."
While mescaline has a long history of traditional use, it has also been the subject of scientific study. Peyote, in particular, has been scientifically studied in the 19th and 20th centuries, leading to the isolation of mescaline as its primary psychoactive compound. Mescaline's effects on the brain are attributed to its action as a partial agonist at serotonin 5-HT2A receptors, impacting various neurotransmitter systems.
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Psilocybin is a prodrug that converts to psilocin in the body
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring tryptamine alkaloid found in over 200 species of mushrooms. It is also known as 4-phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (4-PO-DMT) and has hallucinogenic and serotonergic effects. The effects of psilocybin include euphoria, changes in perception, a distorted sense of time, and perceived spiritual experiences. It can also cause adverse reactions such as nausea and panic attacks.
Psilocybin is a prodrug, which means that it is biologically inactive on its own but is converted by the body into an active form. In the case of psilocybin, the active form is psilocin. Psilocybin is metabolized in the intestines, liver, kidneys, blood, and other tissues and bodily fluids. When psilocybin is ingested, it undergoes dephosphorylation, losing a phosphate group to become psilocin. Psilocin is a close analogue of serotonin, a monoamine neurotransmitter, and acts as a non-selective agonist of the serotonin receptors.
Psilocybin-containing mushrooms typically contain around 1% of their dried weight in psilocybin and psilocin combined. The mushrooms can be eaten fresh, cooked, or brewed into a tea. Psilocybin chocolate has also become popular as a way to mask the bitter flavor of the mushrooms. In addition to the mushrooms, synthetic psilocybin is available as a white crystalline powder that can be processed into tablets or capsules or dissolved in water.
The effects of psilocybin can vary depending on dosage, set and setting, and individual expectations. Low doses of psilocybin are considered to be 5 to 10 mg, while intermediate or "good effect" doses are around 20 mg. High or ego-dissolution doses range from 30 to 40 mg. Microdosing involves even smaller doses of less than 2.5 mg. Psilocybin has gained therapeutic relevance in recent years, and its potential in mental health is being explored. However, it is important to approach the use of any drug with caution, as there are risks involved.
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Both substances have therapeutic potential
Mescaline and psilocybin mushrooms have been used for ethnomedical and spiritual rituals for centuries. Mescaline, the active component of peyote and San Pedro cacti, was first identified in 1896 but rose to fame in 1954 through Aldous Huxley's essay "The Doors of Perception". Psilocybin, the active component of Psilocybe mushrooms, is also known as "magic mushrooms" or "shrooms". These mushrooms are usually consumed raw, cooked, or boiled into a drink and have been used by Mazatec shamans from southwest Mexico for centuries.
Both substances are classic serotonergic psychedelics, or hallucinogens, that change a person's awareness of their surroundings and alter their thoughts and feelings. They are currently being investigated as therapeutic tools for the treatment of various psychiatric disorders. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study in healthy participants compared the acute effects of mescaline, LSD, and psilocybin to detect potential pharmacological, physiological, and subjective/phenomenological differences. The study found that the acute subjective effects of 500 mg mescaline, LSD, and 20 mg psilocybin were comparable across various psychometric scales.
Another study explored the migraine-suppressing effects of psilocybin, while other research has investigated classical psychedelics as therapeutics in psychiatry for substance use and mood disorders. The involvement of oxytocin and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the context of potentially therapeutic mechanisms underlying the effects of psychedelics has also been discussed. BDNF increase following the administration of classic psychedelics has been shown to promote neuroplasticity.
Overall, mescaline and psilocybin mushrooms have therapeutic potential that is being explored through various studies. These substances have been used for centuries in ethnomedical and spiritual rituals, and modern research is now uncovering their potential benefits for treating psychiatric disorders and other conditions.
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Frequently asked questions
Mescaline and Psilocybin are both part of the same class of psychedelic compounds, but they have different sources and methods of preparation. Mescaline is derived from cacti, while Psilocybin is found in certain species of mushrooms. Mescaline is traditionally prepared by cutting and drying the cactus heads, then either submerging them in hot water or chewing them directly. Psilocybin mushrooms, on the other hand, can be cooked, boiled into a drink, or eaten raw.
Both Mescaline and Psilocybin interact with serotonin receptors in the brain, resulting in similar perception-altering effects, including intense euphoria, visual changes, and profound self-realization. Psilocybin may induce higher diastolic blood pressure, while Mescaline has a longer duration of effects, lasting about 12 hours.
Mescaline is naturally found in cacti such as the peyote cactus (Lophophora williamsii), which is native to the southwestern United States and northwest Mexico. Psilocybin, on the other hand, is found in certain types of mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms or 'shrooms', which are native to tropical and subtropical regions of the United States, Mexico, and South America.
