The use of mescaline, a psychedelic substance derived from the peyote cactus, appears to be associated with improvements in depression and anxiety, according to a new preliminary study published in the journal ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science.
The research provides evidence that the clinically beneficial effects of mescaline are related to specific facets of the psychedelic experience.
A growing body of research suggests that use of classic psychedelics can have lasting positive effects.
But, despite its centuries-long ceremonial use among Native American tribes, mescaline has received relatively little attention in comparison to other substances, such as psilocybin.
“The psychiatric benefits of certain classic psychedelics (e.g., psilocybin) have been well studied in recent years, paving the way for more research into other classic psychedelics.”.
For the study, the researchers used internet advertisements to recruit 452 adults from around the world who had used mescaline at least once.
“Nevertheless, the results from our study indicate that when administered in a naturalistic setting, mescaline may facilitate unintended improvements in self-reported depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use disorders,” they added. »
