Researchers at California University of Science and Medicine Release New Data on Traditional Medicine (The Ethnopharmacological Use of Mescaline for Psychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review).

This article focuses on a systematic review examining the use of mescaline, the primary bioactive alkaloid in Peyote and San Pedro cactus, within traditional medicine and its potential psychiatric applications. The review analyzed 10 suitable studies from an initial 2,770 references, reporting therapeutic effects on depression, well-being, nicotine dependence, alcohol use, and obsessions, alongside common side effects such as hypertension, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Due to limited and variable-quality literature, the review highlights the need for further research to clarify mescaline’s safety profile. It also recommends collaboration between the Native American Church and regional health institutions to establish a registry for standardized data collection on mescaline’s effects in populations where Peyote use is prevalent. [Extracted from the article]