San Pedro cactus

Description:

Echinopsis pachanoi , commonly called San Pedro cactus , is a species of the family Cactaceae . It is used in traditional medicine for both human and veterinary use and is widely cultivated as an ornamental. It is sometimes confused with its close relative Echinopsis peruviana. Cactus columnar shrub bearing many branches from the base. From 3 to 7 m tall and usually without distinguishing the main trunk. Stems cylindrical, dark green, sometimes glaucous, 5 m long and 8-15 cm in diameter. Of 5-14 ribs, broad, rounded, with deep notches before each areola , they are whitish and close together. Of 3-7 spines (sometimes absent), brownish, 0.5 to 2 cm long. The flowers, white, born near the apex of the stem, are nocturnal and a strong fragrance of 19-24 cm long and 3-4 cm in diameter and floral tube pericarpel with black hairs. Fruit oblong, dark green, 5-6 cm long and 3 cm in diameter.

Habitat:

Native to the Andes in Peru . It grows at altitudes between 1,000 to 3,000 m. It is also found in Argentina , Bolivia , Colombia , Chile and Ecuador . two and is cultivated in other parts of the world.

Notes:

It has a long tradition in Andean traditional medicine. Some studies have found archaeological evidence of its use dating back two thousand years. It was used by the natives on religious holidays for their properties hallucinogenic due to the large number of alkaloids that have, especially mescaline. Prepared a drink called "aguacoya", "or" cimora "usually mixed with other entheogenic plants. Today it is widely known and used to treat nervous disorders, joint, drug addiction, heart disease and hypertension, 6 also has properties antimicrobial. After peyote, San Pedro has the largest concentration of mescaline. Mescaline has been used for several purposes. Traditionally it played a key role in religious rituals among Native Americans, who believe that this substance opened the spirit.