Salvia divinorum – History, Methods of Use, Psychological Effects
Salvia divinorum, known as S. divinorum or Salvia, is a powerfull hallucinogenic plant native to the northeastern Sierra Mazateca mountain region of Mexico where the native Mazatecs have used it for centuries as a healing & divining tool. Though this is the only known location where this perennial herb grows naturally, Salvia is cultivated in some areas of the United States.
Salvia divinorum is not likely to be found at a local nursery although it is one among many of the cooking & medicinal herbs in the mint family. It is also one among many that share the genus name Salvia; for example, Salvia officinalis, is also known as common sage. The psychoactive component (that which produces the hallucinogenic effects) of Salvia divinorum, Salvinorin A, is the most potent naturally occurring hallucinogen. Currently, neither Salvia divinorum nor its active ingredient Salvinorin A are listed as controlled substances in the United States, though there are efforts to criminalize Salvia & its active ingredients & classify them as Schedule I controlled substances. To date, Australia is the only country that has criminalized Salvia divinorum & its active ingredients.
History of Salvia divinorum
The first recorded mention of Salvia was made in 1938 by Jean B. Johnson, who heard of Mazatecs making a tea from the leaves of “hierba Maria,” which induced visions in users. In 1952, Roberto G. Weitlaner, Johnson’s father-in-law, reported the preparation of “yerba de Maria.” R. Gordon Wasson & Albert Hofmann acquired the first specimen of Salvia divinorum from the Mazatecs in 1962; they described it as “a less desirable substitute” for hallucinogenic mushrooms.
It was not until August 2002 that researchers discovered that Salvia divinorum acts at the kappa opiate receptor (KOR) site, where much of human perception is regulated. This puts Salvia divinorum in a class of drugs known as KOR agonists, which are thought to play psychotherapeutic roles in perception altering diseases such as schizophrenia & Alzheimer’s disease.
Salvia divinorum – Methods of Use
Only when enough of Salvia’s highly active compound, Salvinorin A, is absorbed through the oral mucosa & into the blood stream can a psychoactive effect be produced. There are several methods of ingesting Salvia with varying durations of hallucinogenic effects.
- Dried leaves of Saliva can be smoked like marijuana, in a bong, pipe, or as a joint, with effects lasting up to 15 minutes. Fresh leaves of Salvia can be chewed & swallowed or chewed as a quid.
- When chewed as a quid, the leaves of Salvia produce extractions of Salvinorin A before the leaves are removed from the mouth. The extractions are absorbed through the oral mucosa & produce visual hallucinations, lasting 1 to 2 hours; the longer the herb remains in the mouth, the stronger the effect will be.
- Salvinorin A extracts can be mixed in a drink or vaporized & inhaled
- When Salvia’s leaves are crushed & the extracted Salvinorin A can be mixed with water to make a drink. Since Salvinorin A is deactivated by the gastrointestinal system before entering the blood stream this method may produce a more moderate effect than other methods.
- Salvinorin A can also be vaporized & inhaled-Salvinorin A is heated on a piece of tin foil and the vapors are inhaled through a glass pipe.
Psychological and Physical Effects for Salvia divinorum
Resent research suggests that Salvia divinorum acts at the kappa opiate receptor (KOR) site of the brain where much of human perception is regulated. Although the Mazatec Indians have been using this herb for centuries with no obvious ill effects, it is still unclear whether Salvia divinorum causes long-term effects on the brain or on the rest of the body. There have been no reports of health problems or hospitalizations as a result of Salvia use, few dangers related to its use have been identified, & no evidence exists that it is addictive. Although the dosage ingested & the method of ingestion affects the user’s experience, some common effects include:
- Intense hallucinations, such as sensations of traveling through time and space, of floating or flying; sensations of twisting & spinning, heaviness or lightness of the body, and “soreness”.
- Less intense effects (that occur only when the eyes are closed) include visual hallucinations of various patterns & shapes. The hallucinogenic visions produced by this herb terminate when interrupted by noise or light
Salvia divinorum Physical effects include
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Lack of coordination
- Slurred speech & awkward sentence patterns
- Decreased heart rate
- Chills
Salvia Terminology
Many of the names used for Salvia divinorum indicate how the Mazatecs honor this herb for its healing & divination qualities; they believe it is the incarnation of the Virgin Mary. It has also been reported that visions of a woman are common during hallucinations. The genus name, Saliva, comes from the Latin word, salvare-meaning “to save,” while the specific name, divinorum, means “of the seers.”
Spanish
- Hojas de Maria Pastora
- Hojas de la Pastora
- Mazatec
- La hembra
- Hierba (yerba) Maria
- La Maria
- Ska Pastora
- Ska Maria Pastora
English
- Leaves of Mary, the Shepherdess
- Leaves (or herb) of the Shepherdess
- The Female
- Sage of the Seers
- Diviner’s Mint
- Diviner’s Sage
- Magic Mint
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