Peyote

Feeble, irregular, intermittent pulse with anxiety and shortness of breath, historically likened to a milder aconite-then-belladonna pattern

Nervous depletion with insomnia and failing mental power in those exhausted by prolonged stress or heavy tobacco use

Overview. Lophophora williamsii is a small, spineless, blue-green cactus native to the Chihuahuan Desert of northern Mexico and the lower Rio Grande valley of Texas. The exposed crown, called the button, is cut, dried, and either chewed or made into decoctions or tinctures; it is the plant part traditionally used both medicinally and ceremonially.

Clinical Notes. The eclectic literature describes anhalonium as acting on the heart somewhat like aconite at first, slowing and steadying a feeble or irregular pulse, then passing into a phase resembling belladonna with pupil dilation and altered perception, followed by drowsiness.

Conservation. Wild populations of Lophophora williamsii in Texas and northern Mexico are considered vulnerable to overharvesting because the plant grows extremely slowly and takes many years to reach a harvestable size; sustainable ceremonial supply is an active conservation concern.

Synonyms. Anhalonium lewini, Peyote This agent, one of the small cacti of Mexico, has been recommended for certain special conditions as an important heart remedy. It seems to act directly upon the nerve centers in a manner much like aconite, reducing the force and frequency of the pulse.