Peyote

In the same way that ololiuhqui was consecrated since ancient times as a visionary plant, Mexican and Otomian peoples, peyote represented the most important sacred to the native peoples of arid and semi-arid regions. 8  
It is a small cactus that was used since time immemorial to generate expanded states of consciousness and to make decisions, both socially and individually.
Among the Huichol it is known as hícuri or xicori. 
The Cora people of Tepic mountains call it huatari call it, and  the Tepehuane of Durango, kamaba. The Otomian peoples of the Mexican plateau, beyo, and the Mescalero Apaches, or ho u hos.
Its occurrence area stretches along the valleys and high plateaus of arid and semiarid Mexico (Rio Grande Valley, Tamaulpecan mountains, river Mezquital, Durango and Nayarit Sierras, etc), South and Central US (Texas, New Mexico). In general, it is adapted to limestone and clay soils of the Cretaceous formations in the aforementioned region.
The plant has very particular characteristics, it is small (typically a few centimeters in diameter), rounded and has no branches or leaves. Its flower is whitish pink, in which a reddish solid rosáceo- fruit and elongated shape develops.
Peyote contains nine alkaloids of the isoquinilina series and due to effects type  strychnine (toxic), and others effects type-morphine (sedative).

The combined effects of these compounds in the peyote are complex and depend on both the invididual who ingest it, to the context in which it is consumed and to the size of the dose.
The plant was described by Shagun in 1560, as a Chichimecas «narcotic» cactus ritually used. Jacinto de la Serna mentioned peyote in 1626 and the first botanical description was made ​​in 1638 by Francisco Hernandez, a Spanish naturalist, calling it Peyotl Zacatensis . This researcher noted that native peoples  divided peyote into two types: males and females.
The Huichol classify them into two varieties, one is more active and bitter, with smaller hubs and abundant in the area, which they call Tzinouritehua-hicouri or Peyote of the Gods, and another, of weaker effect, which they call Rhaitoumuanitarihua-hicouri or Peyote of the Goddess).
According to Rouhier quoted by Weston La Barre, 1970, the latter would be the juvenil phase of the first one.
The Huichols have a tutelary goddess of peyote called Hatzimouika, while for the Tarahumara, peyote is the God of man, hikuli walula saliami .
According to the Tarahumara traditions, peyote is a plant that sings. The way to find it is precisely by hear her singing. Then while she is in the bags she keeps singing.
During ceremonies peyote  also sing her songs.
Peyote is quite hard to find when you are looking for it... a person who is not accustomed may not recognize her despite being in the middle of a cluster of peyote. Once you see one, another appears and so on, until all peyotes appear like stars. If you have trouble finding them do the following: when you find one just eat it. When the effect put a little dizzy, you hear a sound like wind in a certain direction. Go over there ... .of where the sound comes, and you will find many peyote plants. (testimony of a lipan) 9  
You can get power by visiting the peyote field in Texas, and saying you want to to help heal people and get medicine. There should spill tobacco. The next morning, when the morning star appears, the person must return to the field where he put the tobacco and when approaching he will hear a jingle bell ringing. If there is a snake, you must grab it (as it is wrapped up the Medicine), remove it, and take a peyote button from that place. Then you go to another cluster and take another button ... Perhaps, when you go to grasp the fourth button you will find the snake again and you must remove it.  
The first effect of the ingestion of peyote is challenging both mentally and physically. It helps to cope with strenuous physical exertion, such as running and ceremonial dances.
Some people become euphoric and others come into depressive  states. In almost all cases, peyote acts as a suppressor of sleep. The ceremonial peyote sessions are usually done at night, and in them the participants can stay 10-12 hours awake.
Physiologically it produces visions of colors and unusual olfactory and auditory perceptions. Many observers have noted an increase in visual acuity and, perhaps for the most sensitive people, some photophobia (discomfort caused by light).
It is consumed in conjunction with a diet of sweet foods, corn soaked in sugar water, fruit and sweet meats and sweets. On the contrary, it is considered incompatible with alcohol or salt.
Normally, the peyote is consumed in group. 
A native oto Weston La Barre pointed out that:
« peyote does not work outside the groups, I know because I’ve tried . «
I is also used commonly for visions, to divine the future and as an aid to decision making. (to be continued)
From "Peoples, Drugs and Serpents", Danilo Antón, Piriguazú Ediciones