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Carod-Artal FJ, Vazquez-Cabrera CB. 
“Mescalina y ritual del cactus de san Pedro: evidencias arqueológicas y etnográficas en el norte de Perú”. 
Historia Y Humanidades. 2006;42:489-98.
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    Abstract
    Summary. Introduction. The San Pedro cactus contains the alkaloid mescaline and other derivates of phenethylamine with hallucinogenic properties. This cactus was used throughout history by a number of different pre-Columbine cultures and civilisations that settled in northern Peru. In this article we review the ethno-archaeological and ethno-historical evidence of the ritual use of the San Pedro cactus in the pre-Columbine cultures, and these findings are compared with the information provided by current ethnographical studies. Development. The longer a cactus has been stored, the stronger and the higher its content in mescaline-derived alkaloids will be. Archaeological evidence has been found of the use of San Pedro for magicalreligious purposes in the following pre-Columbine cultures: Cupisnique (1500 BC), Chavín (1000 BC), Moche (100-750 AD) and Lambayeque (750-1350 AD). Today’s master shamans use San Pedro on altars (‘mesas’) erected for healing rites in order to treat enchantment and bad luck. The mesa follows a sophisticated ritual: ‘levantar’ (raise) or sniff tobacco with alcohol, ingest San Pedro, pinpoint the diseases, cleanse the evil and ‘florecer’ (flourish) the sick person. The mesa rite is performed in the early hours of Tuesdays and Fridays, which are sacred days in the Andean religions. San Pedro is sometimes replaced by an infusion of plants and seeds that contain hallucinogenic components, such as ayahuasca and the ‘mishas’ (Brugmansia sp.). Conclusions. The ancient tradition of using the San Pedro cactus for healing and hallucinogenic purposes has remained part of the culture in Andean shamanism up to the present day.
    Comments and Responses to this Article
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    Status: display
    kt
    Apr 17, 2011 1:59
    Odd and Interesting #
    The authors do some repeating of what a lot of Peruvian shamans and cactus people believe. The comment from the abstract stands out: 'The longer a cactus has been stored, the stronger and the higher its content in mescaline-derived alkaloids will be.' I've heard this being claimed for years but do not know of any study that has actually evaluated it.

    The summary of things that help a Peruvian shaman acquire the best san pedro are interesting though:
    • Storing for as long as a year, until after the cuttings have turned yellow
    • Harvesting from high altitudes
    • Harvesting from regions with boas or jaguars
    • Harvesting short spined pachanoi preferentially over longer spined pachanoi (which perhaps is why the longer spined forms predominate now?)
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