At first glance, the peyote and ayahuasca plants may seem similar, but a closer look reveals the intricacies that set them apart. Are they, in fact, the same thing, or do they belong to entirely separate realms?
Learn the unique differences between the side effects and origins of the peyote and ayahuasca plants, two powerful conduits to altered states of consciousness.
Harvested peyote that a person can ingest for psychedelic experiences. (Credit: Photo Spirit/Shutterstock)
Photo Spirit/Shutterstock
Peyote, a thornless cactus, contains the psychoactive compound known as mescaline as its primary hallucinogenic component. Its bitter buttons, which cluster around a central flower, can be eaten raw or dried (crunchy like potato chips) or steeped to make tea.
As a vestige of 1960s drug policy, peyote and mescaline remain Schedule I controlled substances, like heroin and LSD.
Huxley’s account of his experience, 1954’s The Doors of Perception, popularized psychedelic experimentation in general ...
