Peyote (Lophophora williamsii) is a type of hallucinogenic cactus that belongs to the Cactaceae family. Also called mescal button, it only grows naturally in the limestone-rich soils of the Chihuahuan Desert of southern Texas and northern Mexico. During the Huichol pilgrimage peyote is ingested fresh, after its harvest in a communal ritual after the pilgrimage.

History & Stats

The buttons that are removed from the crown of the peyote cactus are either chewed by the user or soaked in water, which is then swallowed. In some cases, the peyote buttons are dried and ground into a powder, which is then put into a capsule or sprinkled on top of a marijuana joint or cigarette and smoked. Depending on dosage and metabolism, mescaline can be detected in blood for up to 24 hours and in urine for several days.

• The Huichol people of Mexico, for instance, use peyote to connect with their deities and gain insight into the spiritual realm.
• The strongest hallucinations involve loss of time-space context, depersonalization, and what many describe as the presence of the divine.
• In arid regions of central Mexico, southern Texas, and southern New Mexico, grows a special small round cactus called peyote.
• Mescaline makes you want to talk to people — as opposed to magic mushrooms that tend to have the opposite effect, promoting you to separate from the group to be alone with your thoughts.
• However, ongoing grassroots efforts seek to preserve both the plant and the sacred knowledge surrounding it.

Mescaline: Peyote, San Pedro, & Peruvian Torch Cactus

The first signs of danger are the inability to function normally without the drug and the insistent use of mescaline to experience its effects even in the face of risks and warnings. In short, peyote effects include the ones that dopamine and noradrenaline would produce at a greater dose, euphoria, excitation of the brain, and altered mental status. With the usage of this drug, the brain becomes desensitized to the effects of mescaline and causes tolerance. This leads to the person requiring more and more of the drug to achieve the desired effects. Peyote drug has been used by native Americans for thousands of years in religious ceremonies and to treat certain physical ailments. A healer or roadman, who is similar to a priest or a minister, assists in a peyote ceremony where members use the plant to facilitate communication with the Great Spirit or Creator.

How does peyote affect Physical, spiritual, and emotional Healing?

• The name Lophophora williamsii is based on this fuzzy or hairy characteristic and means “I have tufts.” When peyote flowers, the bloom is light pink.
• If you are concerned that a friend or loved one may be using peyote outside of a sanctioned religious or spiritual setting, it is important to understand the effects and ramifications of this traditional drug.
• Your health insurance company will only pay for services that it determines to be “reasonable and necessary.” The treatment center will make every effort to have all services preauthorized by your health insurance company.

Any substance listed as a Schedule I substance is subject to production, possession, and consumption restrictions. The peyote cactus plant grows predominantly in Mexico and the southern parts of the U.S., specifically the southwestern areas of the U.S., including the Great Sonoran Desert. It is found primarily in the Sierra Madre Occidental, the Chihuahuan Desert and in the states of Nayarit, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, and San Luis Potosí. Peyote looks like small button-shaped protrusions that are found on the tops of cactus plants. These buttons are usually dried and chewed, or mixed in water to make a hallucinogenic drink. They are also ground into a powder and taken in capsules or smoked with tobacco and cannabis.

The biggest problem with the consumption of peyote is related to the psychological alterations it produces. These can cause changes in personality and states of excessive euphoria that could put the life of the user at risk if they are not under proper supervision. Yes, insurance may cover treatment for peyote use, especially if it is part of a recognized mental health disorder or substance use issue. Coverage typically depends on the individual’s diagnosis, treatment plan, and the specific insurance provider. Many insurance plans cover therapy, outpatient care, and residential treatment for substance use and co-occurring mental health conditions.

Unlike many other cacti, peyote is distinct for its lack of spines, what is peyote and its round or pillow-shaped body ranges from greenish-gray to blue-green. Its surface presents ribs arranged in circular patterns, contributing to its unique appearance. The potential to lead to ego death, and side effects like paranoia and anxiety could cause other mental health effects.

What are the Effects of Peyote?

6Peyote was probably one of the first psychedelic plants to reach mainstream US culture in the 1950s. It was popularized by Aldous Huxley and Humphry Osmond, and started to be shipped across the southern US border thanks to improvements in interstates and postal infrastructure. It was sold over the counter in bohemian areas of the US, such as the East Village in NYC, possibly laying the groundwork for the drug addiction treatment counterculture movement of the 1960s and ‘70s. 7Peyote is illegal in many countries; although it can be legally grown in most places if it is not ingested.

Alcohol Use Disorder

If you or someone you love is experiencing problems related to compulsive peyote use, other hallucinogens, or any other drug, we are here for you. Greenhouse Treatment Center’s team of qualified and compassionate staff members can help you attain recovery and learn the skills you’ll need to sustain it once you leave our facility. Call us right now at to learn more about our inpatient rehab near Dallas, including the levels of addiction treatment we offer, the treatment admissions process, insurance coverage, and handling the cost of rehab. If you follow the 6Ss of psychedelic use and avoid taking peyote if you have a family history of mental health issues, there appears to be very little chance of long-term psychiatric issues. The legal status of peyote in the US can be confusing, but by and large, the consumption of peyote is illegal—it is, after all, a Schedule I substance.