The Ethnopharmacological Use of Mescaline for Psychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review
International Journal of Molecular Sciences March 28, 2026 Jonathan Shaw, Aidan Yong, Jacky Lee et al.
Mescaline, the main active compound in Peyote and San Pedro cactus, has a long history in traditional medicine and is gaining renewed clinical interest. A systematic review of 2770 references found only 10 studies suitable for analysis. Reported therapeutic effects included improvements in depression, well-being, nicotine dependence, alcohol use, and obsessions. Bayesian analysis showed frequently reported side effects like hypertension, headache, nausea, and vomiting. The existing literature is limited and highly variable, preventing firm conclusions about mescaline's psychological and somatic effects. More research is needed on its safety. Collaboration between the Native American Church and hospitals is recommended to create a registry for standardized data collection on mescaline's effects in prevalent populations.