Salvia

What is Salvia Divinorum?

Salvia divinorum, commonly referred to as simply Salvia, is a plant known for its psychoactive properties. Some basic Salvia facts:

• Belongs to the genus Salvia, also known as sage, and is native to areas of Mexico.
• Street names for Salvia divinorum include Diviner's Sage, Sally-D, Lady Salvia, Maria Pastora, Ska Pastora and Diviner's Mint.
• Salvia is legal in the United States.
• When smoked, chewed or ingested in tincture form, the user experiences strong psychedelic effects.
• Salvia leaves infused with Salvia extract create much more intense effects. Salvia extracts are usually available in 5x, 6x and 10x concentrations.
• Current research shows that Salvia divinorum is not physically or psychologically addictive, and overdoses have not been reported.

Effects of Salvia

Salvia use has grown significantly within the past few years; however its psychoactive properties were first documented in the 1930s. People who have used Salvia describe the following types of effects:

• Out of body experiences
• Spiritual awakenings
• Sense of traveling to other times, planets or dimensions
• Vivid imagery
• Feelings of weightlessness
• Hyperawareness of surroundings
• Feeling as if they are an inanimate object
• Uncontrollable laughter
• Slurred speech
• Dizziness

The effects experienced vary by person and range from subtle mood alterations to very powerful psychedelic trips. Smoking produces effects within 20 – 60 seconds after inhale. Primary effects generally last between 5 – 15 minutes; subjective effects have been shown to last up to 40 minutes.

Dangers of Salvia

While Salvia has not been shown to be addictive, there are some dangers associated with its use.

• Coming down from the Salvia high may be unpleasant. Negative effects such as headaches, irritability and insomnia have been reported.
• Use of psychoactive substances such as Salvia may trigger permanent psychological problems. People who have borderline mental illness or  who have a family history of mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or depression are at greatest risk.
• Driving impairment. Since Salvia affects balance and coordination, driving while high on Salvia is as dangerous as driving drunk or high on any other drugs. Users should never engage in any activity that requires 100% concentration. Doing so is a risk to your life and to others' lives as well.
• Bad trips. As with any psychoactive substance, Salvia can cause bad trips and produce overly-intense, frightening hallucinations.

Long-term dangers of Salvia divinorum have not been studied and little is known about the effects of Salvia when it is combined with other drugs.

If you or someone you love is abusing Salvia divinorum or any other type of drug, Stepping Stone Center for Recovery can help. Please call us at 1-800-237-3150 or Click Here to Contact us by email. All calls are toll-free and confidential and we are standing by day and night.