What’s the Difference Between Peyote and Ayahuasca?
There are many different hallucinogens, each having its own unique set of effects, risks, and experiences it causes in users. While they can be very different in terms of how long they last, how they affect the user, and where they come from, some are similar in many ways, such as peyote vs ayahuasca. To understand the full risk of using these illegal drugs, including whether people can become addicted to magic mushroom gummies or face other serious problems due to hallucinogens available today, it’s helpful to better understand what these drugs are, how they affect the brain, and the issues they can cause when misused and abused.
Table of contents
» How Do Peyote and Ayahuasca Affect the Brain Differently?
» What Cultures Traditionally Use Peyote and Ayahuasca?
» Are Peyote and Ayahuasca Legal in the U.S.?
» What Are the Psychological Risks of Using Psychedelics?
» Key Takeaways on Peyote vs Ayahuasca
» Resources
How Do Peyote and Ayahuasca Affect the Brain Differently?
To start to understand the similarities and differences between peyote vs. ayahuasca, let’s explore what these two drugs are, where they come from, and how they affect the brain in people who take these drugs.
- Peyote is a type of cactus that contains a type of psychoactive substance known as mescaline, a hallucinogenic compound. When the clusters of this cactus around flowers are eaten raw, dehydrated, or dried, or brewed into tea, this psychoactive ingredient takes effect.
- Ayahuasca is also derived from a plant, in this case, a vine. The plant contains DMT, a psychoactive ingredient. Like some forms of peyote ingestion, it can be used by steeping it to make tea.
Because these two plants’ active ingredients are chemically different, it makes sense that they work by affecting the brain in different ways. In the case of peyote’s mescaline, users experience hallucinations that can include their sense of touch, sound, and sight, as well as feeling like they’re losing their identity or struggling to keep up with a warped sense of the passing of time. Users report that the effects come on slowly and mimic LSD, or acid, another well-known psychedelic.
However, peyote has a challenging chemical makeup that tends to cause many unwanted side effects in users, including extreme stomach upset, nausea, and vomiting, in addition to profuse sweating and rapid heartbeat. It’s also challenging to find, as it grows only in parts of the Southwest United States and Mexico. That’s a big part of the reason why it’s become a relatively rare drug to use, with some reports indicating it was responsible for only 116 of the 2.8 million reports of problems to poison control centers in one year.
Ayahuasca instead contains DMT, which works in the same way as mescaline by affecting serotonin receptors in the brain. With a high enough dose, this substance causes users to experience hallucinogenic effects. Ayahuasca is considered to be a stronger and more potent hallucinogen due to its DMT, with users reporting profound experiences and visions, such as communicating with other beings or even feeling like they’re in some other form of existence. However, it is also known to cause vomiting, upset stomach, diarrhea, and other severe GI distress.
Compared to synthetic or chemically made hallucinogens, such as acid, these two drugs are derived from natural plants and have been in use for a long time. Still, there are risks of using hallucinogens, such as possible links between LSD and psychosis and mental health problems.
What Cultures Traditionally Use Peyote and Ayahuasca?
While peyote vs. ayahuasca are today associated with hallucinogenic use in most circumstances, meaning they’ve become a recreational drug that people experiment with, it’s important to understand that ancient cultures recognized the effects of these natural substances and have used them in ceremonial ways for thousands of years.
Peyote and its active ingredient, mescaline, have been known as hallucinogens for thousands of years. Some research suggests that Native Americans and early Mexicans have used these drugs for many centuries, even as early as 3780 B.C., in ceremonial ways. Even today, some members of the Native American Church take this drug and are granted an exemption to use the illegal substance for ceremonial purposes.
While more research is needed, some studies have found interesting revelations in the traditional or ceremonial use of peyote among Native Americans. In one case, researchers looked at different groups of Navajo Native Americans: one group of Native American Church members who were regular peyote users, another group of people with past alcohol problems who had been sober for at least two months, and one other group of people who said they had only minimal use of drugs, including peyote and alcohol, in their past.
Neurological and psychological testing found that the group that regularly used peyote didn’t show a significant difference in neuropsychological testing when compared to the group that didn’t have past drug use. However, the group of people who had formerly struggled with alcohol use had “significant” deficits when compared to the other groups. Ultimately, the research suggested lifetime use of peyote wasn’t a factor with neuropsychological achievements, while drinking was a huge factor.
Ayahuasca also has a long history of use dating back to around 900 B.C. in Peru and parts of South America. Traditionally, ayahuasca vines are brewed with chacruna leaves to produce a potent tea used in ceremonial or sacramental contexts. It’s primarily tied to Amazonian cultures and was part of their healing traditions and shamans’ practices.
Are Peyote and Ayahuasca Legal in the U.S.?
One significant similarity between peyote vs. ayahuasca is that both are illegal in the United States at the federal level and many other countries due to their powerful hallucinogenic effects. Both mescaline and DMT are classified as Schedule I controlled substances, meaning they’re illegal and carefully controlled.
However, there are exemptions, mainly for those who say they’re using these drugs for ceremonial purposes, not recreational use. This includes members of the Native American Church, who are allowed to use, possess, and transport peyote when it’s intended for ceremonial purposes. In addition, some federal exemptions have been granted to religious groups for the use of ayahuasca when used for their religious ceremonies under a law known as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
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What Are the Psychological Risks of Using Psychedelics?
In most cases, the risk of true addiction to psychedelics is considered to be quite low, so the warning signs of addiction aren’t the most significant problems to look for. However, there are still risks of using psychedelics and hallucinogens, including:
- Fast heart rate
- High blood pressure
- Nausea, vomiting, and upset stomach
- Intense fear
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Paranoia
- Confusion
The long-term psychological impact of using psychedelics needs more research, but it’s clear this isn’t a risk-free type of drug.
Key Takeaways on Peyote vs Ayahuasca
- Many psychedelics have been used for centuries in ceremonial or traditional ways.
- Peyote vs ayahuasca are both plant-derived hallucinogens that cause hallucinations, profound changes in perceptions, and other psychological effects.
- Peyote is a type of cactus that contains the psychoactive ingredient mescaline.
- Ayahuasca is a vine that contains the psychoactive ingredient DMT.
- Both peyote and ayahuasca are illegal in the United States, though there are some exemptions for ceremonial use by specific groups of religions.
If you or someone you love is abusing and experimenting with potent psychedelics, you’re playing a dangerous game, and WhiteSands Treatment Center can help. Call us at 877-855-3470 to learn how we can help you find balance and joy in life again without the dangers of drug use.
Resources
- Discover Magazine – Peyote vs. Ayahuasca: What Is the Difference?
- Science Direct – Psychological and Cognitive Effects of Long-Term Peyote Use Among Native Americans
- United States Drug Enforcement Administration – Hallucinogens
If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.
About the Author
Jackie has been involved in the substance abuse and addiction treatment sector for over five years and this is something that she is truly eager about. She has a passion for writing and continuously works to create informative pieces that not only educate and inform the public about the disease of addiction but also provide solutions for those who struggle with drug and alcohol abuse.
