While psilocybin, LSD, and DMT dominate the psychedelic headlines, there’s one compound that remains wildly overlooked... despite its safety, history, and therapeutic potential.

And no, I’m not talking about MDMA, ibogaine, or 5-MeO-DMT.

I’m talking about mescaline.

My Favorite Psychedelic: Mescaline

A classic psychedelic through and through, and one of my personal favorites for both macro- and microdosing.

It’s been a powerful medicine for my personal growth, creative work, and yeah… the occasional recreational journey too (psychedelics don’t always have to be “work”).

Mescaline became especially important to me during my battle with mold toxicity. During that time, I reacted poorly to psilocybin mushrooms; they often made things worse (like brain fog), not better. When you’re dealing with immune dysfunction and fungal issues, avoiding anything of fungal origin can be critical.

So mushrooms were off the table. And with synthetics like LSD becoming harder to trust thanks to sketchy research chemicals and laced products, I leaned into mescaline.

The beauty of mescaline is that it is naturally occurring in cacti like peyote, San Pedro, and Peruvian torch (some of which are legal to buy, own, and grow in many places).

If you’re curious about exploring a different psychedelic compound—or legality is your biggest barrier—these visionary cacti might be exactly what you’ve been searching for.

What is Mescaline?

Mescaline (3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethylamine) is a naturally occurring psychedelic alkaloid found primarily in peyote (Lophophora williamsii) and San Pedro (Echinopsis pachanoi) cacti.[1]

Its traditional use dates back over 10,600 years (confirmed by San Pedro pieces and pollen found in Guitarrero Cave), making it one of the oldest known used psychedelics on Earth. [2]

Here are a few mescaline fun facts:

1. It was the first psychedelic compound to be isolated (in 1896), researched, and applied in psychiatry in the West. [3]
2. Arthur Heffter, a German pharmacologist, was the first person to test the isolated plant constituent on himself in 1896. [4]
3. Mescaline was first artificially synthesized in 1919 by Ernst Späth. [5]
4. First psychedelic to enter mainstream Western culture, and was one of two substances (alongside LSD) for which the term "psychedelic" was originally coined.
5. The author Aldous Huxley made mescaline’s psychedelic effects famous in his book, "The Doors of Perception.”

How Does Mescaline Work?

Despite its similar chemical structure to the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, mescaline is a serotonin 5HT2A/2C receptor agonist [6], just like LSD [7] and psilocybin. [8]

And while it binds to virtually all serotonin receptors, its psychedelic effects are primarily mediated through 5HT2A receptor activation, placing it squarely in the “classic psychedelic” category. [9]

However, mescaline also has other receptors that it interacts with that make it unique, such as:

• Dopaminergic D1/2/3
• Adrenergic A1a/2a [1]

How Does it Compare to Psilocybin & LSD?

Even though mescaline belongs to a different chemical family—mescaline being a phenethylamine and psilocybin/LSD being tryptamines—studies find their subjective psychedelic effects strikingly similar.

What differs is not the “type” of experience, but the potency, dosing, onset, and duration.

Mescaline is far less potent by weight, requiring hundreds of milligrams (200–500 mg) versus micrograms of LSD (50–200 μg) or tens of milligrams of pure psilocybin (20–40 mg).

• LSD is ~2,000× stronger than mescaline, while psilocybin is ~20× stronger.
• Onset is surprisingly similar across all three: roughly 20–40 minutes.
• But where mescaline truly stands apart is duration—often 10–12+ hours, much longer than psilocybin (~4–6 hours) and on par with a full LSD journey (8–12 hours). [6]

Mescaline Effects

At the standard psychedelic dosage range of mescaline 200-500+ mg, these are commonly reported effects:

• Intensified visual perception, especially of object shapes and patterns
• Hypersensitivity to touch and sound, including distorted pitch
• Brilliant, intensified colors and light
• Cartoon-like hallucinations (while maintaining mental clarity)
• Altered thinking, introspection, and changes in self-awareness
• A distorted perception of time, often feeling like it slows down
• Enhanced sense of smell
• Closed- and open-eye visuals, including vivid imagery
• Synesthesia (mixing of senses), often intensified by music
• “Geometrization” of 3D objects—the world appears flattened or Cubist
• Feelings of oneness and unity, and a uniquely empathic effect
• Changes in bodily perception, such as floating or feeling heavy
• Mystical or spiritual experiences, such as:
  • Communicating with God or deities
  • A sense of transcending time, space, and the physical body (out-of-body experience)[6]

Mescaline's Unique Effect (and What I love Most About It)

And while I said the research shows mescaline overlaps heavily with psilocybin and LSD effects, it has a standout quality (that I enjoy thoroughly) that science often glosses over. Mescaline is widely described as a “social psychedelic.”

Unlike psilocybin or DMT, which tend to turn you inward, mescaline often increases confidence, openness, and extroversion. People feel more talkative, socially connected, and empathic toward the world around them.

What’s especially unique is how grounded it feels. With psilocybin or LSD, reality can dissolve to the point where basic tasks—or even conversation—become impossible. You drift out of the body, language breaks down, and interaction fades.

Mescaline is the opposite. You tend to stay firmly in your body, mentally clear, oriented, and conversational (even when the hallucinations and visuals are utterly fantastic). The experience remains anchored in reality rather than obliterating it, at least at moderate doses.

Mescaline Dosage

Like all psychedelics, everything comes down to dose. Higher dose = deeper, longer, stronger effects.

Here’s a simple breakdown for pure mescaline:

• Microdose: 10–40 mg
• Threshold: 40–100 mg
• Light: 100–200 mg
• Standard: 200–300 mg
• Strong: 300–500 mg
• Heavy: 500–700 mg

One important caveat is that pure mescaline is extremely rare and difficult to source. Because of that, most people work with mescaline-containing cacti instead.

I’ll break down cactus-based dosing later; this is just to give you a foundational sense of how mescaline scales with dose.

Therapeutic Use

Remember how I said mescaline is wildly underrated? Well, even though it was one of the first psychedelics researched early on in the West, in the present day, it remains massively under-researched.

Compared to psilocybin and LSD, there are far fewer clinical trials, not because it lacks potential, but because it’s been largely overlooked.

That said, mescaline belongs to the "classic" psychedelic family, sharing overlapping pharmacological and neurological mechanisms with LSD and psilocybin. Due to these overlaps, some educated inferences can be made.

If LSD and psilocybin are showing strong results for psychiatric and emotional health, mescaline likely holds similar promise.

Early evidence and user reports of mescaline suggest it may support:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Addiction
• Trauma-related distress [1,10]

In other words, mescaline may be sitting quietly in the background while sexier psychedelics take the spotlight... despite having serious therapeutic potential of its own.

Where is Mescaline Found?

Mescaline is found in several cacti [6], but the real heavy hitters are Peyote and San Pedro.

While it also appears in smaller amounts in Peruvian Torch (0.8%, but likely lower) and the lesser-known Peyotillo (unknown), their mescaline content is so low that the volume of cactus required becomes impractical for real dosing.

For that reason, the focus stays on the two most reliable sources: Peyote and San Pedro.

Peyote (Lophophora williamsii)

Peyote is a small, spineless, button-shaped cactus native to central Mexico and the southwestern U.S.

Its use dates back at least 5,700 years (Shumla Caves, Texas), and it has been employed in the spiritual, healing, and divinatory traditions of ancient Mesoamerican cultures, such as the Aztecs.

When Spanish conquistadors and missionaries encountered peyote in the 16th century, they condemned it as witchcraft and devil worship, leading to centuries of suppression. But peyote never disappeared.

Today, it remains sacred to the Tarahumara, Huichol, and the Native American Church (protected by religious exemption).

Unfortunately, peyote grows painfully slow—often 15 years to mature—making it extremely vulnerable to overharvesting. It is now considered endangered, which is why other mescaline cacti (such as San Pedro) are the preferred sources.

Composition and Potency

Peyote contains the highest mescaline concentration of any cactus, roughly 3–6% by dry weight. [6]

Mescaline is the primary psychoactive compound, but peyote also carries 50+ additional alkaloids that likely contribute to its unique effects and medicinal profile.

Dosage and Preparation

Using a conservative ~3% mescaline baseline, here’s the equivalent dosage range for dried peyote:

• Microdose - 0.3-1.3 g
• Threshold - 1.3-3.3 g
• Light - 3.3-6.6 g
• Standard - 6.6-10 g
• Strong - 10-16 g
• Heroic - 16-23+ g

The psychoactive portion of peyote is called a “button," the crown of the cactus cut above the root. Buttons are eaten fresh, or dried, chopped, or powdered for storage.

They’re most commonly prepared as a tea by decocting fresh or dried buttons in water.

San Pedro (Echinopsis pachanoi)

San Pedro (Echinopsis pachanoi) is a nearly spineless, fast-growing columnar cactus that can reach up to 40 feet tall and usually has six ribs (though variations exist).

Native to the Andes of Peru at 6,500–8,500 ft, it has been used in healing, divination, and shamanic ceremonies for over 10,600 years, making it one of the oldest known psychoactive plants on Earth. Evidence from Guitarrero Cave shows it was intentionally transported and used by ancient cultures. [2]

Despite Spanish and Church suppression, its ceremonial role persisted. Its original name, Huachuma, was later Christianized to “San Pedro" (Spanish for "St. Peter"), symbolizing a spiritual gateway.

Unlike peyote, San Pedro grows quickly (~1 foot per year), propagates easily from cuttings, and is highly sustainable, which is why it’s my preferred mescaline cactus.

Composition and Potency

San Pedro contains about 1–2% mescaline by dry weight [11] on average (with large natural variation). [12]

Using ~1% mescaline content as a baseline, this is the dosage breakdown:

• Microdose - 1-4 g
• Threshold - 4-10 g
• Light - 10-20 g
• Standard - 20-30 g
• Strong - 30-50 g
• Heroic - 50-70+ g

Dosage and Preparation

Mescaline is concentrated in the green outer skin (chlorenchyma) of the San Pedro cactus. [12]

Considering this, the best method of consumption is to use a fresh cutting.

The process is fairly simple:

1. Remove the cactus spines
2. Remove the waxy outer skin (epidermis)
3. Discard the inner core (parenchyma, vascular bundle, and the pith) while keeping the green layer (clorenchyma)
4. Dry the green layer (clorenchyma), grind it, and use it as capsules or tea.

Notes on consumption:

• Take on an empty stomach to minimize nausea and maximize absorption
• Ginger tea before consumption helps with stomach discomfort

Safety, Side Effects, and Legalities

Mescaline and mescaline-containing cacti are widely regarded as among the safest psychedelics, supported by a long history of ceremonial use and the absence of documented fatal overdoses in the scientific record.

Modern research and traditional use both suggest:

• Low toxicity
• No known lethal dose in humans (the estimated LD50 is ~880 mg/kg, meaning the average 140 lb human would need ~60,000 mg, that's 300x the standard dose)
• No evidence of addiction or habit formation—in fact, mescaline may have anti-addictive properties
• No observed long-term harm in large populations of ceremonial users [13]

That said, mescaline is not for everyone, and responsible use means understanding the contraindications.

It may be unsafe or inadvisable for people with:

• A history of psychosis, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia
• Significant cardiovascular conditions or high blood pressure
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Strong gastrointestinal sensitivity (cactus can irritate the gut)
• A family history of severe mental illness

Rx Interactions

It’s best to avoid mescaline if you’re currently taking any of the following types of medications:

• Antipsychotics
• Cardiac medications
• Stimulants/amphetamines
• MAOI
• Alcohol
• Benzodiazepines
• Tramadol
• Arylcyclohexylamines

Side Effects

Mescaline isn't always a walk in the park, be it synthetic or cactus-based. At 200 mg+ of mescaline (or cactus equivalent), side effects become common and may include:

• Increased heart rate
• Restlessness or agitation
• Muscle tension/stiffness
• Poor coordination
• Shaking or twitching
• Dilated pupils
• Excess saliva
• Elevated body temperature
• Tingling or “pins & needles”
• Rare: slowed heart rate

*Stomach effects:

• Nausea and occasional vomiting
• Loss of appetite

*These digestive effects are more common with peyote and San Pedro due to extreme bitterness, not mescaline itself. [14] Pure mescaline causes significantly less nausea in studies. [15]

Many people reduce nausea by mixing the cactus with juice, gelatin, or capsules to mask the bitterness.

Illegality

Mescaline and peyote (religious exemptions in some regions) are illegal in many countries, including the United States. [16]

However, San Pedro and Peruvian Torch are legal to buy, own, and grow.

But, as always, check your local regulations.

Sourcing

Pure mescaline is extremely rare, and honestly, not something I’d trust if I found it.

Peyote is endangered and reserved for Native American Church members. That leaves San Pedro because of its legality (in the United States), sustainability, and a widely available mescaline cactus.

You can find all of my preferred San Pedro nurseries and product vendors inside my Psychedelic Sourcing Master List.

Mescaline and Psychedelic Cacti

Mescaline and the visionary cacti that carry it remain one of the most underrated psychedelics on Earth. Which is strange… because few compounds offer this blend of safety, accessibility, depth, and usability.

For me, mescaline has become a lifelong ally. Its rare “social” quality, the ability to remain clear-headed, conversational, and functional, makes it one of the most fascinating psychedelics to work with, especially with others.

I return to it again and again.

For microdosing, it sharpens focus, deepens flow states, and unlocks creative clarity.

For macrodosing, it has delivered profound personal and spiritual insights (the kind that actually change how you live).

And perhaps most importantly, it walked with me through one of the hardest seasons of my life: my long battle with mold toxicity and chronic illness. When other medicines weren't appropriate, mescaline stayed steady.

If you’ve ever worked with mescaline—synthetic or through peyote or San Pedro—I’d love to hear your experience.

And if you haven’t, does something in you feel curious now?

Hit reply and let me know.

Onjae