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classification of drugs >>> peyote, nutmeg, cava-cava >>>

Peyote, Nutmeg, Cava-Cava

Before LSD was invented the mescaline was the only typical hallucinogenic substance known to scientists.

History and usage

Many from the cacti, which grow in both Americas, possess psychoactive properties, but the most famous one is the “Lophophora williamsii”. This cactus, called by the local people “mescal” or “peyote”, grows in the desert-like areas from Central Mexico to the river of Rio Grande. There is some archeological data that the people knew about the peyote even 8000 years ago. Because of its specific characteristics it has played a vital role in religious beliefs and rituals for centuries. After the conquistadors took their part in the world history the usage of peyote soon became illegal.

At the same time, using psychological research, scientists very persistently were trying to find the active “beginning” of the peyote. In 1900 they already knew that it was the alkaloid, called mescaline – transparent oil, soluble in water, alcohol and chloroform. The structure of the mescaline was revealed completely in 1919 by a doctor who synthesized it in a chemical lab. This was one of the first syntheses of alkaloids; although it looks very simple this synthesis was a real success back then. There were also some other alkaloids that were isolated – for example lophophorine, which has strychnine-like characteristics. These alkaloids also take some part, although quite a little one, in the general effect of the peyote. In 1925 everything that could be known for the peyote and the mescaline was already revealed; today the mescaline and LSD are used as perfect examples for hallucinogenic substances.

But there is also another large group of people, which still uses the peyote in the traditional way. In the 19^th century the “peyote cult” had a lot of participants from the Indian tribes, who lived north of Rio Grande and soon this cult took over the Great Plains. This cult gathered in itself the traditional shamanism and the morals of Christianity. According to the Indians the Christian God was the same thing as their Great Spirit, who created the world and left a particle of his power in the peyote and Jesus was the one who gave it to the people. The peyote was used when people gathered on Saturday in the traditional tents, where under its influence they prayed and sang, and in the morning the ceremony finished with a general breakfast. The main values appreciated by this religion are love, care for the family, self-respect and total denial of alcohol.