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What is Salvia?
Salvia is an abbreviation for Salvia divinorum. Salvia divinorum is a plant with soft green leaves belonging to the Labiatae or Mint family. The plant is native to the Sierra Mazateca region of southern Mexico. It is also grown in the Netherlands under certain conditions.
The active substance in Salvia divinorum is called salvinorin A. The effect of salvinorin A is strongly psychoactive.
There are several species of Salvia divinorum available, but not all contain salvinorin A. The plants sold in garden and plant shops never contain salvinorin A and are therefore not psychoactive. In the Sierra Mazateca, where Salvia divinorum grows in its natural habitat, medicine men and women (also called shamans) use it as a predictive tool as a part of healing rituals.
Salvia is a strong hallucinogen and is still sold in smart shops.
The Mazatecs use Salvia in the form of a drink. The fresh leaves are rubbed together in water and wrung out. Another common way is eating. The leaves are rolled up and eaten. When eaten the effects last about two and a half hours. Salvia can also be chewed. One chews on the leaves but does not swallow the juice. The active substance enters the bloodstream via the mucous membrane of the mouth. The effects last for about one hour after chewing. Lastly, salvia can be smoked. This is the most effective way. The leaves are dried and smoked in a bong or a joint. The effects last shorter than eating and chewing but are stronger.
History of salvia
Salvia originates from the area of the Mazatecs, in the Sierra Madre Mountain range in Oaxaca, Mexico. In this region Mazatec curanderos and curanderas used the plant in various rituals. These shamans particularly made use of the plant when they were under the impression that the cause of someones disease could be found in the supernatural world. The shaman used salvia to enter a visionary trance in which it was made clear to him what steps he had to take in order to cure the patient. This way of salvia use still lives among the current generation Mazatecs. Just like the use of this plant for shamanism, divination, meditation and the search for the Divine.
Little is known about the use of Salvia divinorum before it was "discovered" by the Western world in the 20th century. There is probably a long tradition, but it was only when R. Gordon Wasson, the famous botanist who also introduced psilocybe mushrooms in the West, obtained a sample in the sixties that the plant was first scientifically studied. Yet it remained an obscure plant until the nineties, when Daniel Siebert started doing research about it. Nowadays, salvia is a well known plant that is sold by many shops and websites. There is still much to be discovered about the chemical composition and effects of salvia.
Modern research on Salvia divinorum began in the thirties. The plant was first mentioned in literature by Jean Basset Johnson, who studied the use of psychoactive mushrooms in Mexico. He saw how the Mazatec Indians used the leaves of "Hierba Maria" to induce visions. R. Gordon Wasson continued the investigation in the fifties and found evidence of the psychoactive effects of salvia. Together with Albert Hofmann, the discoverer of LSD, and Roberto G. Weitlaner, he was the first to manage to bring a number of live specimens to the U.S. In 1962 these were analyzed by Carl Epling of Harvard University.
It remains unclear how far back the use of salvia by the original inhabitants of Mexico goes. It has been suggested that the plant was introduced after the discovery of the New World. The fact that the Mazatecs do not have an indigenous name for the plant, but names that refer to the Virgin Mary and sheepherding ("Hierba Maria" Mary Spice, and "ska Pastora, sheepherdess’s herb) appears to support this hypothesis; both Christianity and sheep were introduced only after the conquest by the Spaniards. Furthermore, Mazatecs use salvia in a way that is not very efficient. This suggests that they are not aware of the enormous psychoactive effects that salvia can have.
R. Gordon Wasson, and others after him, have suggested that Salvia divinorum could be the same plant as the one the Aztecs called "Pipiltzintzintli" (literally "the purest prince"). A Spanish writer reported this spice in the 17th century. In the eighties the scientist J. Valdes III examined the history of salvia, before it was "discovered" by Wasson. He believes that "Pipiltzintzintli" is not salvia, but probably cannabis.
Chemistry
Salvinorin A and salvinorin B are naturally occurring substances. Their molecular structure is not similar to any other psychoactive substances. Only Salvinorin A is psychoactive. It effects kappa receptors, which are molecules in the cell walls of your brain cells.
Effects
Salvia divinorum gives unique effects that are difficult to accurately describe, because they are hardly comparable to the effects of other psychoactive plants or drug products. The main psychoactive substance is salvinorin A, but it is possible that its operation is slightly influenced by other substances. Effects are light at lower doses and can be overwhelming at higher doses.
The method of ingestion influences the strength and duration of the effects. Although Salvia is typically categorized with other visionary psychedelics such as smoked DMT, the effects are so radically different that such comparisons may lead to misunderstandings. Some mentioned effects of Salvia use are:
- Loss of physical coordination
- Uncontrollable laughter
- Hallucinations
- Experiencing multiple realities
- A contemplative sense of peace / tranquility
- Sense of profound anger, confusion or deep, seemingly comprehensive understanding, in the form of a dream or haze
- Seeing or being part of a tunnel
- Experiences of individual consciousness that are geometrically impossible: such as flying, floating or the feeling of being located within an energy field
- Feeling connected to a larger "whole"
- The feeling of being underground or underwater
- The feeling of traveling to other places or times, possibly in the form of an object (such as a wall or a chair) that changes shapes; for example a tunnel, pipe, snake or worm.
Daniel Siebert has developed the 'S-A-L-V-I-A Experiential Rating Scale’ to describes the different stages that occur when using salvia.
Level - 1 "S" stands for SUBTLE effects. The feeling that 'something' happens, but it's hard to say what. A relaxed feeling and increased sensual appreciation may be observed. This mild level may be suitable for meditation and may potentially increase sexual pleasure.
Level - 2 "A" stands for ALTERNATIVE perception. Colors and textures are more pronounced. Music can be appreciated better. Space may seem more expansive or less deep than normal. Visions are not yet present at this stage. Thinking becomes less logical and more of a game. Short-term memory does not function as well as it did before.
Level - 3 "L" stands for LIGHT visions. Visual perception with closed eyes (bright images of all kinds of (geometric) patterns, observations of objects and designs), which is often imagined in two dimensions. When open-eyed observations occur, they are usually vague and fleeting. Experiences at this level are similar to the surreal feeling that some people experience when falling asleep. The visions obtained at this level are experienced as "eye candy" and not easily confused with reality.
Level - 4 "V" stands for VISIONS. A state in which vivid visions appear to the eye: elaborate, realistic three dimensional scenes. Voices may be heard. With open eyes, not all contact with observable reality will be lost, but with closed eyes you could lose yourself in a complete dream world. Shamanistic journeys to other lands, foreign or imaginary; meetings with entities or spirits, or the experience of other centuries or times may occur. You might even live another person’s life for a while. At this level you are entering the world of shamans. With eyes closed you can experience fantasies (dream like events with a storyline), and as long as you keep your eyes closed they seem so real that you can believe them, or confuse them with reality. This is the difference from the 'eye candy' of level 3.
Level - 5 "I" stands for IMMATERIAL existence. At this level you may lose awareness of your physical body. Consciousness stays behind and some thought processes are still clear, but you are completely preoccupied with the inner experience and lose all contact with perceivable reality. Individuality may be lost; you can, as it were, become one with God or the divine, the spirit, universal consciousness, but also experience bizarre hybrids with other objects (real or imaginary). At this point it is impossible to function in the earthly reality. Unfortunately some people move and walk around in this state, but it is strongly recommended to remain seated. For this reason it is important to have a helper, a sober person in the vicinity that makes sure the person tripping remains secure. For the person who experiences the trip, this experience can be either enjoyable or very frightening; to an outsider the individual might appear rather confused and disoriented.
Level 6 - "A" stands for AMNESIA, or memory loss. At this stage one has lost consciousness, or is at least unable to later recall what they experienced. The individual may fall, remain immobile or lash out wildly. He or she may be injured without feeling any pain. On awakening the individual may not know what they have said, done or experienced at level 6. Therefore, this level of a deep trance state is actually undesirable.
The duration of the effects depend on the method of consumption and the amount ingested. Effects may last between a few minutes to three hours. In general, the effect of Salvia is fastest when smoked. The peak then lasts between five and twenty minutes, after which the effects will decline.
Oral intake, or intake through the mucous membrane of the mouth, requires more time before the active ingredients begin to work, but the effects last longer.
Although a small group of people claim to have effects lasting longer than four hours, the majority of people will see the effects disappear within two hours.
Medical use
The traditional use of Salvia by the Mazatec Indians, as described in articles by Valdés et al., includes both medicinal use and the better-known ‘spiritual’ use. In Valdes et al. in 1983, the authors describe the following medical applications:
- It helps to detoxify the body and makes urinating possible. It stops diarrhea (the plant is assumed to regulate the excretory functions of the body).
- Sick and elderly are provided with it to reduce or cure the disease. People with symptoms of paleness or suffering from anemia (shortage of red blood cells) can restore using Salvia.
- It can be taken to relieve headaches and rheumatism (however, when taken in high doses that induce visions, a slight headache often persists the next morning).
- There is a semi-magical disease known as panzon barrego (sic), or a swollen abdomen, which is presumably caused by a curse of a “brujo”: an evil wizard. The victim's abdomen swells because of a ‘stone’ placed inside him. Taking salvia removes the ‘stone’ and the abdomen shrinks back to its original size. Researchers have met an old shaman who showed them his soft, wrinkled belly and told them how he had cured himself of the ‘disease’ with the help of ‘la María’. Don Alejandro confirmed the ‘illness’ and the "cure".
Salvia divinorum may be used as assistance in underground psychotherapy methods after further research. It is also possible that the discovery of affinity for the kappa-opioid receptor leads to valuable use in other medical fields. At this time there no known accepted medical method of use in the West.
Variations
Beside the dried leaves, (standardized) extracts of salvia exist. A standardized extract is obtained by extracting the active substance - in this case salvinorin A - from the plant, purify it and then apply it to dried salvia leaves. This extract contains pure crystalline salvinorin A, a very rare substance which few people have ever seen and even fewer have ever produced. It requires a lot of chemical knowledge and practice to produce this and therefore a standardized extract costs a little more, but it's definitely worth it. Many of the other extracts that are sold are raw extracts. These are made by soaking salvia leaves in a solution to draw the salvinorin A from the leaves. The problem is that other substances than salvinorin A are also released. Those substances then end up in the extracts, and thus in the lungs of the user.
Salvia extracts are generally offered in concentrations of 5x and 10x (although others have been detected). This means that it is 5x or 10x stronger than the dried leaves. To reach the first level on the salvia scale one puff of the extract with one of these concentrations enough.
Use
Many people have difficulty achieving the complete effect just by smoking the dried leaves. Those who do succeed in doing this do so by taking a number of strong puffs from a pipe or bong. In general, the bong is accepted as the best tool to consume Salviawith, because it causes a large amount of leaves to burn at the same time and the smoke quickly reaches the user. Smoking a joint of Salvia leaves is a less effective method: it requires a lot of leaves. It is difficult to say exactly how much needed, because as with most other psychoactive plants this differs from person to person.
From this point we can say that standardized extracts induce the best trip results, unlike fresh leaves, which definitely require huge amounts. However, when the effects are present, some fresh leaves can be used to to extend them up to 40-60 minutes instead of the usual 15-20.
When using a bong, 50-500 mg of dried leaves should be sufficient according to Erowid. If you smoke salvia regularly at least 1 gram is needed. Anyhow, expect - with this method - not much more than a normal high.
Salvia extracts are generally offered in concentrations of 5x and 10x (although others have been detected). This means that it is 5x or 10x stronger than the dried leaves. To reach the first level on the salvia scale one puff of the extract with one of these concentrations is enough.
When smoking Salvia it is important to keep the smoke in the mouth for as long as possible, so that the active substances can take effect. The same goes for chewing the leaves: chew it for a long time, because the active ingredients are absorbed into the body through the mucous membrane in the mouth.
Side effects
As with smoking any plant material, some salvia users experience throat and lung irritations. It is possible you will have a light feeling of irritability and/or headaches.
Warnings
Salvia divinorum is not known to be physically addictive or cause psychological dependence. But as with all substances, some people will use it to excess. There is no tolerance for salvinorin A, so the experience can be extended by smoking more.
- Do not take Salvia when handling weapons, knives or when other dangerous objects are within reach.
- Do not drive if you have taken Salvia.
- Select the time and place for your trip carefully. Privacy and security are very important. Be careful with heights and flammable objects such as candles. Do not make phone calls, as people might call you back when you're sober.
- Be careful in deciding how and in what quantity you should take Salvia.
- After smoking Salvia, it is best to lie down; this way you can enjoy the effect in safety and comfort. It’s best if you keep your eyes closed.
- Make sure someone is with you: someone who cares and who will make sure that you're not doing anything crazy. This person should be able to help you in case anything goes wrong. (This is especially important if you are trying Salvia for the first time, taking a high dose or consuming it via a strong transmission system such as evaporation.)
- Also offer to be a helper for someone else.
- Do not take Salvia if you have psychological problems.
- Choose a responsible use of Salvia and make sure others do the same. Do not give it to minors, violent or unstable people, or strangers. Give it only to individuals you are acquainted with and make sure you know why they want to use it.
- Never take Salvia at work or in public. Keep it private. Salvia is definitely not suitable for concerts, raves or parties.
- Do not mix Salvia with alcohol. Avoid combinations with other drugs.
- Take special care with the evaporation of extracts, vaporized leaves and salvia leaves processed specifically for smoking.
- Never use pure salvinorin unless you have an ultra-accurate scale which allow to weigh doses in micrograms, and you know exactly how much you can safely use. Even if that is the case, there should be another, sober person present every time you take Salvia.
Cultivation
If you want to grow your own Salvia Divinorum please read the following section. If you prefer to buy dry leaves, you can skip this section.
Salvia Divinorum is a semi-tropical perennial. This means it will continue to grow year after year, unless the temperature is below the freezing point; which it absolutely cannot stand. In such cases, it will die. Salvia Divinorum is a green plant with large leaves and a distinctive thick, hollow, square stem. In ideal circumstances Salvia can grow several meters high. When the Salvia Divinorum plant is large enough, the stems and roots bend or break when they come into contact with the earth.
Although Salvia Divinorum does flower under normal light conditions, it rarely produces fertile seeds. Therefore, Salvia Divinorum is mainly propagated by using cuttings.
The leaves are oval and slightly notched (lightly serrated) and can become rather large (about 25 cm long). Usually the leaves are dark green but, under certain circumstances, they can also be light green or yellow. The leaves are covered with a thin layer of fine hairs that give off a velvety glow under certain lights.
Salvia Divinorum grows best in partially shaded well-drained soil and likes plenty of water. Make sure its roots are constantly kept wet. Salvia Divinorum can be grown indoors in any climate; it is a beautiful houseplant. If you live in a humid semi-tropical climate, you can grow Salvia Divinorum outside throughout the year. Make sure the soil is permeable and contains humus; water the plants well. If you live in a colder, drier climate and you want to grow Salvia outdoors, it may need some extra treatment. Make sure the plants are safe from the frost. If the quantity of humus in the soil is not high enough, use fertilizers. Salvia does not survive frost or drought. It can also be grown in pots outside, when the weather is warm, and indoors during winter.
Salvia will immediately indicate when she becomes too dry. Salvia Divinorum will then drop its leaves. Make sure you water the plant immediately on the first sign of dropping leaves. Do not let the plant wilt. Keep the soil moist, but also make sure that the water can drain.
If you are growing Salvia in pots, you must have a pot large enough for the plant to develop properly. Of course, you should provide the plant with as much space as possible, but make sure you can move the pot. Make sure the pot has drainage holes on the bottom. Put gravel or shards on the bottom of the pot to improve drainage and decrease chances of the root rot. You can use regular soil for Salvia Divinorum. Some vermiculliet or perlite may be added to the soil, but this is not necessary.
Salvia Divinorum needs good nutrition. For this you can basically use any standard nutrition. If you want to keep it organic, you can use fish meal, but since fish meal does not smell good, you should use it only for outdoor cultivation. Good results can also be achieved by using fertilizers.
Storage
An extract is preferred, but ordinary dried leaves can also be stored, if dry. Salvinorin A is very stable and will not lose its properties with time. It’s best to store it in a sealed glass jar or tube, in dark places.
If you grow your own Salvia, you can do this in different ways, and then just dry it.
1. Naturally. Wait for the leaves to die or fall off. Collect them and put them on a plate in a room with low humidity. Turn them regularly. When they are dried completely you can store them in an airtight container.
2. Salvia Tobacco. Take big, freshly picked leaves and place them on top of each other (like sheets of paper). Cut the stack into strips about half a centimeter wide. Put them in a pile and keep turning them regularly, until they are dry but do not crumble. Advantage: the tobacco produces softer smoke than normally dried leaves. Disadvantage: It is possible that this slow partial drying process results in weaker leaves that are less preservable than - extremely dry - crumbling leaves.
3. Drying in a food dryer. These items are sold in stores where small kitchen appliances are sold. This method is fast and thorough. Dry the plant until both leaves and stems can be crumbled.
4. Oven-dried Salvia. Place the leaves in an ovenproof dish. Dry them in the oven at no more than 90 degrees. This method is also fast and thorough. Make sure you regularly check the oven; they burn quickly. |
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