Native people use peyote as a healer and an amulet. Peyote can be powdered and drunk as tea. Fresh buttons are eaten during ceremonies. Peyote is used as a healing medicine by many tribes, and is said to cure tuberculosis, pneumonia, diabetes, colds fevers and pain. Peyote is a small spinelesscactus that grows primarily in Southern Texas and Northern Mexico – its scientific name is lophophora wiliamsii.
The narcotic effect from the plant comes from eight alkaloids contained in the plant – mescaline being the most commonly known.
Mescaline is not habit forming and is unique in that consciousness is not lost during its use.