(Trichocereus Pachanoi)
Introduction:
San Pedro (Trichocereus pachanoi) is a columnar cactus that often has 6-8 ribs, produces very fragrant flowers and is easily grown. The plant grows relatively fast; 10-40 centimeters per year.
The cactus occurs in the andrean parts of Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia and has been used shamanically for divination and healing for more than 3 millenia. The curanderos often add Brugmansia foliage to potentiate and alter San Pedro’s effects.
In 1953, Aldous Huxley described the mescaline experience in his illuminating writings; ‘the doors of perception’ and ‘heaven and hell’.
Effects:
Luxuriant visual- and auditory hallucinations, alteration in space- and time perception, disappearing of the subject-object barrier, emotional disturbances, insomnia. San Pedro has stimulating effects in lower- and sedative effects in higher doses.
Autonomic changes: nausea, pupillary dilation, increased
Pulse rate and blood pressure, elevated body temperature, profuse sweating, tremor. Mescaline also decreases the threshold for elicitation of the knee jerk.
Duration:
The effects appear within 2 hours and last for 4-12 hours.
Dosage and preparation:
The San Pedro cactus can be eaten fresh, or in its dried state, but it can also be prepared as a tea by boiling the plant material in water for half an hour.
When dried, 20-30 gram will be effective in producing psychedelic effects. When the taken fresh, 175-400 gram should be provided per person. Fresh cactus contains 0,12 % mescaline per weight, dried cactus 1-2 %. Mescaline itself is fysiologically active between 200-500mg.
 Figure: Fresh San Pedro slices
Botanical aspects :
T. pachanoi is a member of Cactaceae; subcategory Cereus. This cactus is indigenous to Peru (it grows between 2000-3000 meters), but now also cultivated in neighbouing countries (for example, Equador).
This columnar cactus that often has 6-8 ribs, produces very fragrant white flowers and can easily be grown.The plant grows relatively fast (10-40 centimeters per year in moderate climate) and can be propagated through cuttings and through seeds..
Figure: T. pachanoi
Figure: T. peruvianus
Phytochemistry :
The San Pedro-cactus contains, like many other cactii, alkaloids that are derived from the amino acids tyrosine, phenylalanine. The alkaloids can be divided into two main groups: the b-Phenyletylamines and the tetrahydro-isoquinolines.
Mescaline, which belongs to the b-Phenyletylamine group and considered to be the main active constituent, is present in 0.12 % in the fresh state and in 1-2 % in the dried state.
Table 1.30: b-Phenyletylamines derivatives (PEA's)
Table 1.31: Tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives (THIQ's)
Pharmacology :
The b-phenylethylamines are mainly responsible for the psychoactive effects; the tetrahydroisoquinolines (THIQ) are minor contributors.
Although mescaline appears to be the active compound, it has been suggested that its bioactivated metabolite, -trimethoxyphenyl-acetaldehyde, realy is responsible for the psychological symptoms.
Mescaline is structurally related to the neurotransmitters dopamine, adrenaline and noradrenaline and interferes with noradrenergic- and dopaminergic pathways. Mescaline is highly cross-tolerant with LSD and elevates free fatty acids in a similar way as adrenaline.
Anhalonidine produces sedativity in doses of 100-250mg., but doesn't cause central nervous system exitation. Anhalinine is less potent than anhalonidine, but acts in a similar way .
Ring closure of mescaline's terminal nitrogen with formaldehyde or acetaldehyde in vivo could also lead to the formation of tetrahydro-isoquinolines. These alkaloids appear to be somehow connected to the Parkinson's disease, because pretreatment with the acetaldehyde-condensed compound (1-methyltetrahydroisoquinoline) prevents some of the damaging effects of MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl1,2,3,6-tetra-hydropyridine), a selective neurotoxine that depletes dopamine.
Modifiers :
Potentiators of the mescaline experience:
- Atropine (Atropa belladonna, Datura- and brugmansia species).
- Amphetamine and amphetamine-like stimulants (Ephedra species).
- Diehazine (diparcol).
- MAO-inhibitors are dangerous, because tyramine is present!5
- Hashish or marihuana usually produces a positive feeling.
Antagonizers:
- Barbiturates (sodium amytal); very effective.
- Tricyclic anti-depressants; very effective
- Succinate
References
1. [Gottlieb]
2. [Hoffer/ Osmond, 1967]
3. [Hoffmann/ Schultes, 1973]
4. [Niesink/ Vries/ Hollinger, 1995]
5. [Ratsch, 1998]
6. [Shulgin, 1997]
7. [Snyder, 1996]
8. [Stafford, 1974]
9. [Wells, 1973]
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