Peyote Cactus in Native American Traditions

The Drug’s Uses, Effects, and Legality

Oct 28, 2009 Aimee Larsen Stoddard

Native Americans have used peyote since before recorded history. They revere the cactus as a sacred plant. But what exactly are the uses, effects, and legality of peyote?

The hallucinogenic peyote has been used in Native American cultures for thousands of years. Radiocarbon dating of peyote samples suggests that the cactus was used nearly 10,000 years ago.

The word “peyote” comes from the Nahuatl (Aztec) word “peyotl.” Peyote is a small, spineless cactus that grows extremely slowly. Peyote is native to southwestern Texas and central Mexico and is found primarily in the Chihuahuan Desert. It often grows among scrub, especially where there is limestone.

Peyote is an entheogen, a psychoactive substance that is usually from a plant, which is taken to induce a spiritual experience. The cactus contains many psychoactive alkaloids, the most potent of which is mescaline.

Native American Uses of Peyote

Many Native Americans consider peyote to be a sacred plant that allows them to communicate with deceased relatives and with God and to treat people suffering from spiritual or psychical maladies.

Native peoples use peyote to treat illnesses, such as diabetes, colds, fevers, and asthma, as well as for pain, such as toothaches and joint problems. American Indians also use peyote, which has antibacterial properties, to cure infections.

Native American Church and Peyote Use

Peyote is the sacrament of the Native American Church (NAC), which was established in the 1880s, though not formally incorporated until 1918. The NAC is the most widespread Native American religion. The NAC has about 250,000 members from 50 different tribes.

The NAC combines Indian and Christian elements. Some tribes personify peyote as a God called Mescalito and others associate peyote with Jesus. Right living is called the “peyote road,” which includes values like love for others, devotion to family, hard work, and abstention from alcohol and recreational drugs.

Peyote Use in Ceremonies

Native Americans ingest peyote during ceremonies. Peyote ceremonies are all-night affairs that are never recreational, but are intense and often trying spiritual experiences that force participants to look deeply within themselves.

Peyote rituals incorporate singing, rattling, and drumming. Sometimes, the peyote buttons, the part of the cactus that grows above ground, are eaten fresh. Peyote has an unpleasant, bitter taste. Other times the buttons are dried and taken in capsule form. Sometimes peyote is brewed into a tea.

Physical and Spiritual Components of the Peyote Experience

The effects of peyote are dependent upon a number of factors. The atmosphere in which peyote is ingested and the mindset of the person taking the drug play a big part in the cactus’s effect. The amount of peyote a person ingests and the potency of the particular cactus are also factors.

When a person first ingests peyote, nausea and vomiting as well as anxiety are common. After these initial peyote effects have subsided, many people report experiencing a state of deep introspection, reflection, and contemplation. The effects of peyote can last for up to 10 to 12 hours.

Toxicity of Peyote

There have not been many long-term studies on the effects of peyote. However, the studies that have been carried out suggest that peyote is not habit forming and that there are no mental or behavioral consequences from repeated use of the cactus.

John H. Halpern, M.D., of the McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School, conducted a study to analyze the effects of long-term peyote use among Navajo members of the Native American Church. The research suggested that Navajo people who used peyote repeatedly had a healthier outlook on life and showed no signs of neurological damage.

Legality of Peyote

The U.S. government classifies peyote as a Schedule 1 drug. This means that it is illegal to possess, sell, or use peyote in the United States.

However, the 1994 amendment to the American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 allows Native Americans, who belong to federally recognized tribes, to use peyote in religious ceremonies. A few states also permit non-American Indians to use peyote in religious ceremonies.

Readers might also enjoy reading more about peyote legal issues, the cactus drug San Pedro, or Native American vision quests.

Source:

Truth about Peyote in Eye of Beholders, DeseretNews.com

The copyright of the article Peyote Cactus in Native American Traditions in Alternative Spirituality is owned by Aimee Larsen Stoddard. Permission to republish Peyote Cactus in Native American Traditions in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Peyote Cactus Buttons

Payote Cacti with Roots

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