ariocarpus fissuratus – false peyote
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Ariocarpus fissuratus False Peyote
FAMILY: Cactaceae
GENUS: Ariocarpus
SPECIES: Fissuratus
COMMON NAMES: Chaute, Dry Whiskey, False Peyote, Hikuli Sunami (Tarahumara, false
peyote), Living Rock, Living Star, Pata De Venoda (Spanish, deer paw), Star Cactus, Star Rock,
Tsuwiri (Huichol)
Ariocarpus fissuratus is a small cactus that grows only a few centimeters in height and about 4-6
inches in diameter. Its nodes end in pointed triangles, giving the cactus a star-like appearance. The
flowers are pink-violet in color. Other similar species of Ariocarpus are also known as false
peyote, and were possibly used as peyote substitutes. These little cacti are often mistaken for rocks
in the stony desert in which they grow and are therefore difficult to find (Hofmann et al. 1992, 35).
A. fissuratus is found only in New Mexico, northern Mexico and southwest Texas. It may be grown
from seed, and requires well-drained cactus soil and partial or full sun most of the day to thrive
(Ratsch 1998, 67). Growth may be accelerated significantly by grafting to a base stock such as
Trichocereus pachanoi.
TRADITIONAL USES: A. fissuratus is usually referred to as false or dangerous peyote, and has
been known in the Americas since pre-Columbian times. This cactus was very possibly used as a
peyote substitute when peyote was unavailable. The Huichol strongly warn against consuming A.
fissuratus, and associate it with dark sorcery. They believe that those individuals who do not
properly purify themselves at the start of the peyote hunt pilgrimage by admitting all of their sexual
encounters outside of marriage may mistake A. fissuratus for real peyote, the consumption of which
will result in a deliriant-hallucinogenic state. The Tarahumara, meanwhile, consider A. fissuratus tobe even more powerful than peyote (Furst 1971).
TRADITIONAL PREPARATION: A. fisseratus is consumed fresh, macerated in water, or dried,
until effects are noticed. Some Huichol shamans, who use the cactus as an ally, take two of the
triangular projections at a time to produce psychotropic effects. The tips of the projections are
smoked for recreational purposes among some indigenous groups. A. fisseratus is said to have been
used by people along the Texas-Mexico border as an additive to chicha, or maize beer. This
combination is said to make one temporarily crazy and uncontrollable (Harvard 1896 cited in
Ratsch 1998, 67).
MEDICINAL USES: A. fisseratus, and the related A. retusus may have been used to treat malaria
by some peoples in Mexico. The related A. kotschoubeyanus is used as an external medicine to treatwounds. Certain reports of the consumption of A. fisseratus also mention that it has strong narcotic
pain-killing properties (Voogelbreinder 2009, 91).
http://entheology.com/plants/ariocarpus-fissuratus-false-peyote/http://entheology.com/plants/trichocereus-pachanoi-san-pedro-cactus/http://entheology.com/plants/trichocereus-pachanoi-san-pedro-cactus/http://entheology.com/plants/peyote-lophophora-williamsii/http://entheology.com/peoples/huichol-indians-of-mexico/http://entheology.com/peoples/who-are-the-tarahumara/http://entheology.com/plants/trichocereus-pachanoi-san-pedro-cactus/http://entheology.com/plants/peyote-lophophora-williamsii/http://entheology.com/peoples/huichol-indians-of-mexico/http://entheology.com/peoples/who-are-the-tarahumara/http://entheology.com/plants/ariocarpus-fissuratus-false-peyote/ -
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TRADITIONAL EFFECTS: A. fissuratus has been found to contain several phenethylamines,
along with several other alkaloids. The effects appear to be similar to those of consuming the anti-
cholinergic tropane alkaloids found in Datura, and include disorientation, dissociation, confusion
and possible intense hallucinations (Bruhn 1975).
A famed Huichol shaman by the name of Ramon Media Silva describes the effects of consuming A.
fissuratus in comparison to peyote as follows: When you eat it, you become crazy; you fall into the
canyons, you see scorpions, snakes, dangerous animals, you are unable to walk, you fall, you oftenfall to your death by falling from the cliffs. The Huichol say that the effects of eating this cactus
are very dangerous, especially for those who are not strong and experienced. The Huichol even say
that eating this cactus may cause permanent insanity (Furst 1971).
REFERENCES
Bruhn, J.G. Phenethylamines of Ariocarpus Scapharostus. Phytochemistry 14 (1975): 25092510.
Engelmann. Ariocarpus Fissuratus. Ariocarpus Living Rocks of Mexico. Web. 11 Apr. 2011.
.
Furst, P.T. Ariocarpus Retusus, the False Peyote of Huichol Tradition. Economic Botany 25
(1971): 182187.
Hofmann, A., Ratsch, C., Schultes, R., Plants of the Gods: Their Sacred, Healing, and
Hallucinogenic Powers. Rochester: Healing Arts Press, 1992.
Ratsch, Christian., The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants: Ethnopharmacology and its
Applications. Rochester: Park Street Press, 1998.
Voogelbreinder, Snu, Garden of Eden: The Shamanic Use of Psychoactive Flora and Fauna, and the
Study of Consciousness. Snu Voogelbreinder, 2009.
http://entheology.com/research/alkaloid-groups-a-brief-overview/http://entheology.com/plants/datura-innoxia-toloache/http://entheology.com/research/alkaloid-groups-a-brief-overview/http://entheology.com/plants/datura-innoxia-toloache/