Peyote, the divine cactus
By: Edward F. Anderson.
Publisher: University of Arizona Press
Published: 1980
Place of publication: Tucson
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 248
Subjects: Peyotism; Indians of North America -- Religion; Indians of North America -- Rites and ceremonies; Peyote
Notes: Includes bibliographies and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction -- Peyote in Mexico. The Spanish conquest and peyote -- The use of peyote by Indians in Northern Mexico -- Notes to chapter -- Peyote in the United States. Indian traditions concerning the origin of peyotism -- White men’s accounts of the origin of peyotism --  The Indian condition -- The attraction of peyotism -- Spread of peyotism within the United States -- Notes to chapter -- Ceremonies. Preparations for the ceremony -- The basic plains ceremony -- Some variations of peyote ceremonies -- Visions -- Christian influences -- Peyote music -- A Navajo V-Way Ceremony -- Some comments about the Navajo V-Way Ceremony -- Notes to chapter -- The peyote user’s experience. Phases of the experience -- Important aspects of the experience -- Visions in the experience -- Adverse reactions -- Notes to chapter -- Medical use. Use by Indians -- Early use by white men -- Possible antibiotic actions -- Psychiatric uses of peyote and its derivatives -- Notes to chapter -- Pharmacology. Physiological effects of some of the peyote alkaloids -- Physiological action of mescaline -- Dosages -- Toxicity of mescaline -- Tolerance -- Cytogenetic effects of peyote -- A comparison of mescaline, LSD, psilocybin, and marijuana -- Notes to chapter -- Chemistry. Alkaloids -- Alkaloids of peyote -- Peyote alkaloids in other cacti -- Chemical differences between the two species of peyote -- Mescaline -- Structure-activity relationship of mescaline -- Biosynthesis of peyote alkaloids -- Notes to chapter -- Botany. Botanical history -- Common names of lophophora -- Plants confused with or called peyote -- Morphology -- Biogeography -- Ecology -- Characteristics of peyote populations -- Evolution of peyote -- Cultivation -- Notes to chapter -- Legal aspects. Definitions of narcotics, drugs, and addiction -- Religious freedom -- Legal classification of peyote -- Notes to chapter -- Epilogue : the divine cactus -- Appendix A. Peyote systematics -- Appendix B. Peyote alkaloids -- Appendix C. Public law and regulations.