cacti confusion...

[mushroommaster7]

i recently picked a book from Borders, entitled " Psilocybin, Magic Mushroom Grower's Guide"... which by the way is an awesome book... but check out this passage i found about mescaline... it kind of confused me...

"These compounds contain the basic indole structure characteristics of most hallucinogens found in nature, including various amides of lysergic acid, N,N- dimethyltryptamine, harmine and it's analogues, and ibogaine. The most notable exception to this basic structure is mescaline, which chemically is 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenylethylamine, and hence is in the same class as amphetamine (a-methylphenyl-ethylamine)"

now, i was under the influence that mescaline is one of earth's most powerful hallucinogens... is this book inferring that it is a stimulant? and is that correct?

[mushroommaster7]

your talkin to yourself dude

[Mr. Clean]

To my knowledge, in lower dosages, its a mental and physical stimulant. I beleive it was once used as an aphrodisiac by the natives of Mexico..It's also used as an antiseptic, to rub on cuts, bites, etc.

You can read more on the many different uses for cacti below--->

http://users.lycaeum.org/~iamklaus/m...dicinal%20uses

[mushroommaster7]

a mental and physical stimulant? yeah i'm about to read that, thanks alot man

[rocketman]

i find a much higher stimulant effect in the whole cactus as opposed to extracted mescaline.

[cheech]

mescaline is in the same "family" (chemically) as the amphetamines, hence it's stimulant props.

[mushroommaster7]

yeah i guess i noticed that... mescaline-methylphenylthylamine....

ritalin-methylphenydate... i see,

i feel mislead in a way... but i'm still going to experience cacti one day....

[partially_veiled]

Originally Posted by mushroommaster7

now, i was under the influence that mescaline is one of earth's most powerful hallucinogens... is this book inferring that it is a stimulant? and is that correct?

Actually yes, both answers are correct. Cacti are stimulating (can't speak personally about pure Mescaline, as I've not dosed pure Mesc...but from what I've heard/read, this also holds true for the Xtals), yet they are also a serious hallucinogen. I think maybe you just misread this quote a little bit.

The exception that they are referring to here is the fact that MOST naturally occurring psychedelics are Indole based alkaloids (Psilocybin, Lysergic Acid Amides, DMT, etc.), all of which are formed on the same basic "chemical skeleton" (one that's shared by the neurotransmitter Serotonin). However, unlike these Indoles, Mescaline is Phenethylamine alkaloid, which shares its "chemical skeleton" with such neurotransmitters as Dopamine & Norepinephrine/Epinephrine. Many stimulants, such as Ephedrine and Methamphetamine, are also Phenethylamines...therefore it makes sense that Cacti/Mescaline give rise to stimulation as well as hallucinations. Epinephrine is another name for Adrenaline, so if you look at this stuff chemically it all makes a lot of sense.