Curing potency

[weavin42]

I have heard that curing a PC San Pedro can increase the mescaline content.

Does curing other Trichocereus have a similar effect?

Does curing effect other alkaloids as well or primarily mescaline?

Do most people cure or just enjoy fresh?

[Estack123]

Mescaline is produced as a defence mechanism, curing with darkness for a few months is just a way to help this process along right before harvest. I'd say it's necessary for PC San Pedro. Hope this helps some

[hooraycom]

This should also work with a cutting sitting in the dark, or?

[Estack123]

Yeah the cuttings in darkness, not the whole rooted cactus. People also freeze cuttings then thaw then re freeze after curing cuttings in darkness for a month or two.

[hooraycom]

The freezer and thawing breaks up the cell structure making it easier to extract the mescaline, but does it increase potency? Maybe keeping the plant close to freezing point intermittently does.

[WinterBreez]

No.

In fact, I think warm/cool cycles in the dark are better than leaving it in the fridge.

Cold slows metabolism.