Salvia: Extent of use, effects, and risks

This interaction disrupts normal communication between brain regions, causing the hallucinogenic and dissociative effects users experience. 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. As ongoing animal research sheds light on its effects, including its ability to reduce inflammation-induced hypermotility, it is crucial for users to approach salvia divinorum with caution.

Health Conditions

Salvia divinorum drug has been commonly used by the indigenous people in India, the Mazatecs, as traditional medicine. The primary use of this drug is for the treatment of psychiatric diseases but the Mazatecans use this drug for shamanic purposes, treatment for anemia, and others. Since 2005, around 750,000 people have been using Salvinorin every year. Using the drug sublingually, or under the tongue, causes slightly longer-lasting effects. The effects typically fade in less than 15 minutes and rarely last longer than 30 minutes.

Risks and Potential Dangers of Salvia

It’s generally consumed by chewing fresh leaves, smoking dried leaves, or drinking tea made from the plant. While legal in some regions, salvia is considered a controlled substance in others due to concerns over its safety and unpredictable psychological effects. Salvia divinorum, often referred to as “diviner’s sage” or “hallucinogenic sage,” is a unique plant native to southern Mexico that has gained attention as a potent naturally occurring hallucinogen. As a member of the mint family, this hallucinogenic herb contains the active ingredient salvinorin A, a kappa opioid receptor agonist known for inducing intense psychedelic experiences. Unlike classical hallucinogens like lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), salvia divinorum offers a distinct psychoactive profile, leading to profound hallucinations and altered states of consciousness. While salvia divinorum use has been embraced by some as a recreational drug, it raises concerns regarding drug abuse and addiction.

• Users may experience hallucinations, disorientation, anxiety, and confusion.
• Salvia divinorum is a plant that originates from the Sierra Mazateca region of Oaxaca, Mexico.
• However, take note that along with these benefits come side effects that are dangerous to the mental and physical health of every user.
• Disruption of space and time can be a frightening experience and can lead to serious psychotic disturbances in vulnerable people.
• Some have compared its effects to that of LSD due to salvia’s active ingredient, salvinorin A, which provides hallucinogenic effects comparable to the kind LSD produces.
• One of the possible dangers of Salvinorin is its potential for triggering psychosis, schizophrenia, and other mental illnesses if a user is predisposed to mental illnesses.

Salvia And Alcohol

Contact our intake team to explore our programs or schedule an appointment. These effects may occur rapidly, within just 5 to 10 minutes of smoking or inhaling the drug. Although these effects, or “the high,” can be short-lived, some people may experience a salvia “high” for several hours. Our Addiction Therapy Programs are tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual, whether they’re dealing with salvia addiction, alcohol abuse, or another substance. Salvia is not known to be either physically addictive or to cause psychological dependence.

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• However, if specialized testing were conducted, salvinorin A might be detectable in the body for a short period.
• Many people use salvia for its psychological effects, but one of its prominent effects is physical.
• Salvia divinorum, a psychoactive plant known for its potent hallucinogenic effects, has generated legal interest across the United States.
• Once the drug is ingested or smoked, it begins affecting the user within a few minutes to thirty minutes.
• Salvia divinorum’s effects are driven by its active compound, Salvinorin A, which interacts uniquely with the brain.
• During ceremonies, indigenous shamans chewed the fresh leaves or brewed them into teas.
• Both Salvia and DMT (N, N-dimethyltryptamine) belong to the drug class called hallucinogens.

Legal restrictions are often based on concerns about its potent and unpredictable psychoactive effects. Salvia, scientifically known as Salvia divinorum, is a plant native to the cloud forests of southern Mexico. Traditionally, the Mazatec Indigenous people used it in spiritual rituals, believing the plant could facilitate divine insight and healing.

People with an anxiety disorder may be more prone to panic attacks, paranoia, and anxiety while using salvia. Currently, salvia isn’t approved for any medical use in the United States. Dried leaves aren’t considered potent, so salvia usually isn’t added to rolled cigarettes or joints. The context in which Salvia is used can also influence its legal interpretation. If used in a ceremonial or religious setting, questions salvia risks may arise regarding protection under religious freedom statutes.

One interesting long-term side effect of Salvinorin includes Déjà vu and this is more likely to occur during late afternoon or evening. In this section, information about the Salvia side effects long term (mental and physical) will be provided. The most dangerous Salvia divinorum effect is the possibility of injuring oneself due to the lack of control over body movements and functions. Although this is common, a user in such a situation also puts others in danger.