Andean cactus draws Westerners, sparks ethical debate
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Thousands of people from the U.S. and increasingly from Europe, are traveling to South America and participating in huachuma ceremonies, rituals involving the Andean cactus, Echinopsis pachanoi.
For centuries, people in the Andes mountains have used huachuma to address both physical and mental health issues, with evidence of its use dating back 8,000 years. Traditional healers, called curanderos, learn through long apprenticeships and use the cactus in altar ceremonies to understand a patient’s suffering.
The growing interest from Westerners coincides with a broader “psychedelic renaissance” and research into mescaline, the psychoactive compound in huachuma, for conditions like depression and anxiety. Participants in huachuma ceremonies report lasting improvements in mental health and a quieting of internal criticism, describing the experience as fostering empathy and connection. Unlike some other psychedelic experiences, huachuma ceremonies typically take place during the day, with participants remaining mobile and able to interact with each other.
However, the increasing popularity of huachuma raises ethical concerns. As with ayahuasca, there is a risk of commercialization and cultural appropriation, with Western retreats potentially profiting without benefiting the Indigenous communities who have traditionally stewarded the plant. Ethical practitioners emphasize the importance of cultivating huachuma, learning directly from Andean teachers, and supporting those communities, treating the cactus with the respect one would give an elder or teacher.
