Trichocereus variety potency: Torch vs San Pedro

[Alfa]

I still need to get use to this forum software. I just accidentally deleted a thread due to a glitch. The thread was about the mescaline content of San Pedro (Trichocereus Pachanoi) vs Peruvian Torch (Trichocereus Peruvianus). Since it is an essential topic, let's dedicate this thread to the difference in potency of all Trichocereus species. In other words:
What is the most potent Trichocereus?

Peruvian Torch is said to contain more mescaline than Trichocereus Pachanoi, but opinions about this are going both ways.
I've read that mescaline contents depends upon the amount of sun that the Trichocereus get and also by stress.
Potency is not only a matter of mescaline, but other alkaloids as well.

Please post your views and findings. To those who's contributions have disappeared: please be so kind to repost them.

[Nature Boy]

SWIM is likely to be experimenting with both within the next few months. Will post opinions.

[genaro]

I heard other trichocereus might have similar (or even greater) amount of mescaline than torch and pedro, is that true?

Here's a (non-exhaustive) list of mescaline containg species of trichocereus

trichocereus bridgesii
trichocereus cuzcoensis
trichocereus fulvilanus
trichocereus macrogonus
trichocereus strigosus
trichocereus taquimbalensis
trichocereus terscheckii
trichocereus validus
trichocereus wedermannianus

Anyway "What is the most potent Trichocereus?" will be a very hard question to answer as it seems that people from many countries of south america will call "san pedro" many different species of active mescaline containing trichocereus (not only pachanoi) so when you buy from the internet there is still some risk that what you get is another active specie (bridgesii for instance) that was sold as "san pedro"...so to answer the question one would first need to be able to accurately identify the specie that was sold to him for sure.

Also, just a tip: rather than putting your all money in 100g of each cactus, it would be suitable to buy only 30-50g of each of those species and then compare the effects of each at a 30-50g dose level, always using the same dosage so you can compare the potency from one to another (this way one would quickly find out which ones are the most potent without spending to much money...and neurones as you won't be using strong doses).

[Cyano]

The potency varies from specimen to specimen. If one buys a Bridgesii, for instance, and it it very potent, that does not have to mean that all Bridgesiis are very potent. Some Pachanois are said to be more potent than lots of Peyotes. Sow some seeds, find out which are the most potent and selecet these for further cultivation.
Swim cannot confirm that Peruvianus is more potent than Pachanoi. He bought both and tested them. The only thing he noticed is that Peruvianus did not produce the drowsiness that comes with consuming Pachanoi. May this is because Peruvianus seems to contain less other alkaloids besides mescaline than Pachanoi. But, because Swim did buy those cacti, he does not know under which conditions they were grown or how old they were. To really compare both species they should be grown under the same conditions and have the same age when harvested.

[genaro]

good point!

[Leafteaner]

SWIM has enjoyed both pachanoi and peruvianus from multiple vendors, and in general has not found a dramatic difference in potency. Usual dosage has been about 12-14" fresh. His strongest trip was actually from the pachanoi. He is trying 14" of peruvianus next weekend and will report back about the experience..

When it comes to alkaloid extractions, SWIM has used both fresh pachanoi and dried, powdered peruvianus. The yeilds with the dried peruvianus were about 30% higher. Just based on his experience it varies too much between each specimen to definitively say.

[plantshaman]

There is a theory about Peruvian torch and san pedro . This theory is that if you where to consume a piece of pachanoi with the same amount of mescaline as peruvianus (this may mean more or less one or the other to compensate for the potency diffrence) ..... The user would have more visuals when taking peruvianus because something about the other alkaloids in san pedro somehow dulls the visual aspects ....

Swim has tried both in all sorts of dosses growing conditions etc etc .... He doesn't have the lab tests to back it up but swim thinks this is true bassed on his own experiences. both species have produced wild visuals , both have sent him intergalatic into deep rich meaningful experiences. SWIM does note that while mental effects may be less on a small does of peruvianus relative to a large dose of san pedro, ,small dose peruvian visuals may be totaly wild and as good or better then high dose pedro.even though pedro's mental may be mind melting the visuals are just sort of mild most the time. high dose peruvianus can lead to visuals that mind blowing so watch out ! Highdose san pedro the visions are typicaly just a little bit more mild.

can't say for sure where i found this info but it was probably spiritplants forum. After i told SWIM about it he said it made perfect sense.

Reputation Comments on this post:

informative post with points made from previously unconsidered positions