Follow @Erowid on Instagram!
Lesson Learned
Cacti - T. peruvianus
Citation:   Steppenwolf. "Lesson Learned: An Experience with Cacti - T. peruvianus (exp18374)". Erowid.org. Oct 23, 2002. erowid.org/exp/18374

 
DOSE:
T+ 0:00
0.5 g oral Harmala Alkaloids (capsule)
  T+ 0:30 27.5 g oral Cacti - T. peruvianus (dried)
BODY WEIGHT: 145 lb
Here is my experience with the Peruvian Torch Cactus:

I purchased thirty grams of torch cactus from the internet. Following the recommendation of a veteran torch cactus user from experience vault of Erowid, I grind up the dried cactus and fill roughly 80 gel caps. I set a weekend aside and decide to trip and camp at a local state park. However, when I get there, there are no more camps sites available. Since I have done Peyote and San Pedro with minimal effects, I decide to continue with the experiment even though I have concerns over how I will get home should the trip hit hard.

I take one capsule of harmala (1/2 gram) on an empty stomach. About a half hour later, I find a secluded place to ingest the cactus. I consume approximately 70 of the pills. Nausea starts to kick in. I curl into fetal positions salivating and spitting, suppressing the volcano inside of me, reinforcing to myself 'This is my medicine.' As the nausea lightens, I sit up and go into a meditative position knowing that there is nothing in the cactus that can hurt me. About an hour and a half latter, I feel well enough to stroll around, enjoy the outdoors, and take a swim in the river. I feel the breeze hit my spine in a way that tells me the drug is coming on.

I walk up towards the parking lot and go into the bathroom. I look in the mirror and there is no question about it, I am tripping. My face is distorted, strange colors are coming into view, and the wa wa wa feeling is all about me. I start to walk towards my car and the nausea kicks back in. I go into the bushes and vomit. It was very painless and seems as natural as coughing. I hop in my car and drive to the beach area. Driving is not difficult and I take my time. At the beach, the river is beautiful. I go in the water. I let the current carry me as dragonflies hover on the waters surface and I am happy. I get out and lie in the sun and listen to my discman. Then I get up and run. My body feels slender and healthy, I feel like a child. Time starts to pass and I know I should get going.

I go back to the parking lot and get into my car. I start driving the forty miles back to my apartment. It has been over five hours and believe the cactus should be wearing off, but do not recall having a peak. I tell myself, 'Maybe you don't peak on mescaline', but I know this is naive. As I start driving, I am having more and more trouble understanding the roads and where I am. It was like 'boom!' and I would not know what street I was on or if I was lost. Other traffic starts to jump at me and jump away. Everything is flashing, and it is frightening. I realize the flashing is related to my eyes blinking and I feel the panorama view of my vision, even though my eyelids are over them. I pull over near a hotel and debate about getting a room. I speak to someone they tell me I'm five mile from my home. I believe I can make.

I get back on the road. I feel like I am losing it. My entire body is shaking. I am screaming out, 'God help me.' I am suppressing the peak and it is so I hard. I know if I go over the top bad things will happen. It is like holding back a roller coaster at the top of its largest hill. Finally, I get to my apartment. I explode with tears, wailing out as I collapse onto my bed. I lose sense of time and space. There is nothing now except knowledge of my existence. I eventually calm down. Make some phone calls and bike around town. I stay up most of the night and feel the drug eventually dissipate after about three days.

This drug hit way harder than anything I expected. I want to apologize to everybody out there because it might as well have been you or your family that was on the road with me that day. I still get shaken up knowing that I could have destroyed my life or worse yet, the life of someone else. I beg everybody to take these drugs seriously and plan ahead. Needless to say, I will never take a chance like this again.

As a side note, I have used psychedelic drugs for several years now. For those who are inexperienced with drugs, I recommend the using naturally occurring substances such as shrooms or cactus. I would never do E because you never know what your really getting and even if you were getting pure MDMA there are still questions about its use effects on the brain. I have used LSD over a dozen times and I have had my fill. In actuality, I am really afraid if I used acid again they would have to come get me with the butterfly nets. But whatever, good tripping everybody. Peace:)

Exp Year: 2002ExpID: 18374
Gender: Male 
Age at time of experience: Not Given
Published: Oct 23, 2002Views: 40,275
[ View PDF (to print) ] [ View LaTeX (for geeks) ] [ Swap Dark/Light ]
Cacti - T. peruvianus (69) : Alone (16), Difficult Experiences (5), General (1)

COPYRIGHTS: All reports copyright Erowid.
No AI Training use allowed without written permission.
TERMS OF USE: By accessing this page, you agree not to download, analyze, distill, reuse, digest, or feed into any AI-type system the report data without first contacting Erowid Center and receiving written permission.

Experience Reports are the writings and opinions of the authors who submit them. Some of the activities described are dangerous and/or illegal and none are recommended by Erowid Center.


Experience Vaults Index Full List of Substances Search Submit Report User Settings About Main Psychoactive Vaults