What Is Salvia? Use, Dosage, Effects, Risks, More
Salvia (Salvia divinorum) can potentially trigger psychotic-like symptoms, especially in susceptible individuals or those with a history of mental health issues. While most users do not experience lasting psychosis, the intense hallucinations and altered perceptions can lead to confusion and disorientation during the experience. In rare cases, these effects may exacerbate underlying mental health conditions or contribute to brief psychotic episodes. It’s advisable for individuals with a history of mental illness to avoid using salvia due to these risks. As awareness of salvia divinorum grows, so do the discussions surrounding its use, risks, and legal standing. This hallucinogenic herb, with its active component salvinorin A, showcases significant activity as a potent hallucinogen while maintaining relatively low toxicity compared to synthetic hallucinogens.
Medically Reviewed: January 31, 2025
Disruption of space and time can be a frightening experience and can lead to serious psychotic disturbances in vulnerable people. They refer to the leaf as “Herb of Mary, the Shepherdess.” They believe the plant to be an incarnation of the Virgin Mary. People have reported visions of a woman or sacred objects during hallucinations. Mazatec Indians have used salvia for centuries for spiritual divination, shamanism, and medical practices.
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Salvia divinorum’s effects are driven by its active compound, Salvinorin A, which interacts uniquely with the brain. Unlike typical hallucinogens such as LSD or psilocybin that affect serotonin receptors, Salvinorin A binds to kappa opioid receptors. This interaction leads to altered perceptions, dissociation, and intense sensory experiences. Imagine a plant that has the power to take you on a journey beyond reality, altering your perception, emotions, and even your sense of self—all within a matter of minutes.
Cognitive issues
It has been used by indigenous peoples in Mexico for centuries as part of shamanic rituals, where it was believed to facilitate communication with spirits. The active compound in salvia is salvinorin A, a powerful hallucinogen that affects the brain’s kappa-opioid receptors, leading to profound alterations in perception and consciousness. There are certainly concerns with using salvia, mostly due to the intense hallucinations that occur as a result of eating, drinking or smoking the herb.
Salvia can also be ingested sublingually in the form of a tincture, a solution containing an extract of the plant dissolved in alcohol. The duration of the effects is similar to other methods of oral ingestion, although depending on the potency of the extract they can be significantly more intense. If someone you know is using salvia, it’s important to approach them with compassion and understanding.
Also, the mean change of triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, malondialdehyde, and total antioxidant capacity were statistically significant in intervention group. This is another reason salvia is dangerous to young individuals who cannot obtain other illegal drugs to experiment with recreationally. This drug is very easy to get and can be used and ingested in many different ways. Salvia is currently illegal in approximately 20 countries globally. It is still legal in Mexico, and many people bring it into the country for distribution illegally.
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Recreational use remains the most common reason people seek out salvia, though it can carry risks, especially for those unfamiliar with its potent hallucinogenic properties. Despite these potential avenues, the unpredictable and intense nature of salvia’s psychoactive effects, combined with the lack of extensive research, means it is not currently used for medical purposes. More studies are needed to fully understand its safety, efficacy, and potential therapeutic applications.
However, some people experience salvia “highs” that last for several hours. Salvia possession and salvia risks use are legal in some states, and it is not considered a controlled substance. However, it is a potent drug that can produce significant and sometimes dangerous effects. While salvia is not considered physically addictive, it can lead to psychological dependence, where individuals may continue using the drug in search of its effects.
Can Salvia Drug Cause Psychosis?
While many people may not know about the risks and dangers of salvia, it is crucial to recognize the harm this drug can cause. The immediate risks are primarily psychological rather than physical, so it’s important to start with low doses to gauge individual reactions. While salvia has several potential uses, its unpredictable and often intense effects have limited its acceptance for mainstream medical or therapeutic applications.
Salvia divinorum (means “sage of the diviners”) is a rare species native only to southwest Mexico, where it has a long history of being used medicinally and religiously. There are more than 950 species of salvia, which is a herbaceous, woody plant found on almost every continent. Due to the lack of formal research about the use and effects of salvia, some of the information provided below is based on anecdotal user reports. While formal addiction treatment for salvia may be less common, these options can help individuals address their relationship with the drug and promote overall well-being.
Its potent hallucinogenic effects can lead to a variety of risks, both short- and long-term. At Alamo Behavioral Health our mission is to offer readers the most precise and up-to-date information on addiction and behavioral health as possible. Our licensed medical reviewers, specializing in mental health and addiction medicine, are devoted to assisting readers and potential clients in making informed decisions about their treatment. We maintain strict accuracy standards, sourcing information exclusively from credible sources for our website content.
- Typically, it is undetectable in most standard drug tests, as it doesn’t accumulate in fat tissues like other substances.
- Officinalis essential oil demonstrated effects similar to simvastatin, including reducing body weight gain, lipid levels, and OS in mice 31.
- Currently, salvia isn’t approved for any medical use in the United States.
- Our team of licensed medical reviewers, experts in mental health and addiction medicine, is dedicated to helping readers and potential clients make well-informed choices about their treatment options.
- Salvia is typically smoked or chewed, though it can also be brewed into a tea.
However, people who use this potent herb frequently may develop a psychological dependence on it. Salvia (Salvia divinorum) and its active compound salvinorin A are not typically included in standard drug tests, so it is rarely detected in routine screenings such as urine, blood, or hair tests. However, if specialized testing were conducted, salvinorin A might be detectable in the body for a short period.
Officinalis cultivated in Fars and Isfahan provinces, with their hot and dry climates and unique geographical features. Officinalis species from different regions around the world could provide additional insights. On the other hand, we acknowledge the significance of understanding the biochemical profile of the plant extract. Salvia is the genus name for hundreds of plants in the mint family, but one causes potentially dangerous effects and can even be addictive. While wide varieties of salvia are used for cooking, decorative shrubbery, and religious ceremonies, psychoactive salvia use is rising. This is becoming a concern because it contains the strongest naturally occurring hallucinogen.
Salvia divinorum, also known as the hallucinogenic sage, boasts a rich history that dates back to the Mazatec Indians in Mexico. For centuries, this potent naturally occurring hallucinogen was integral to traditional medicine and spiritual practices. The Mazatec people revered Salvia divinorum for its psychoactive properties, using it in healing rituals and divination ceremonies to communicate with spiritual entities and seek guidance. However, the psychological effects of salvia can be highly unpredictable and vary greatly from one person to another. While salvia has a long history of use in traditional settings, it has gained popularity in the United States and other countries as a recreational drug. Salvia is typically smoked or chewed, though it can also be brewed into a tea.
The extract is then dropped under the tongue or sublingual doses and absorbed through the tissue into the skin and then into the bloodstream. Since then, salvia has become more available as a hallucinogen herb for recreational use, particularly among adolescents and young adults. The 2000s saw a social media trend in which teens shared YouTube videos of themselves using salvia, which received more than a million views. Salvia naturally grows in the Sierra Mazateca mountain region of Oaxaca, Mexico. The indigenous Mazatec people refer to this area as “The Divine Land.” However, researchers are unsure if it is a wild plant that originated in Mexico or was introduced by the Mazatec Indians.
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