Salvia Divinorum

Salvia divinorum is a plant of the lipflower family. The plant occurs in the wild in the Mazatec Mountains in Oaxaca, Mexico, where they grow in shady and moist places.

The plant is a psychoactive agent and causes strong hallucinations and was traditionally used by the Mazatec medicine man.

Salvia plants are traditionally known for their antioxidant effects and ability to improve head and brain function, improve memory, slow the diminished and age-related cognitive decline.

Effect

This plant has been chewed for thousands of years by medicine men in Mazatec religious ceremonies. The chewing creates a longer and more persistent but milder effect than the smoking in the West. Smoking of Salvia extracts causes dissociation and intense, atypical hallucinations.

The effect is rapidly occuring in the event of smoking, and lasts about five to fifteen minutes, however, time seems to progress slower. Most users describe the experience as pleasant, visual and often even spiritual.

Usage

Some even find the experience at a medium-level dose too intense and sometimes even frightening.

The right dose can vary significantly among users, so start with a less strong concentrate such as 5x extract and at a mild dose. As an anxious effect, a temporary feeling of 'loss of control' is usually reported where the perception of the environment falls away and a tendency to move similarly as in sleepwalking, may pop up, which may expose the user to hazards inadvertently. Height and depth become more difficult to keep track of. And because the drug is often legally available, new users are particularly at risk of underestimating the intensity of the effects. It is therefore recommended that you have a sober person watch over you or have an accompanying shaman. So make sure you sit or lie down when you take it.

It may also happen that nothing happens after taking a normal dose of a 5X extract, dosages can vary a lot among users. In that case slowly increase until you find the right extract and dosage for you.

• 10x Extract contains 13 mg pure Salvinorin A, standardized from 5 g dried Salvia Divinorum leaf, absorbed in 0.5g (500mg) dried leaves.
• Smoke 1 dose (25-50mg) in a normal pipe or a water pipe (to cool the smoke). The temperature required to completely evaporate salvinorin from the dry leaf is reasonably high (about 240 °C).
• A cooler flame also works, but a torch or jet flame lighter can better be used.
• A dose (25-50mg) of the extract can be held under the tongue for 1 to 2 minutes (instead of smoking).
• One pack of 10x Extract is good for about 10 to 20 doses.

How does it work?

The known active constituent of Salvia divinorum is a trans-neoclerodane diterpenoid known as salvinorin A (chemical formula C₂₃H₂₈O₈). This compound is present in the dried plant at about 0.18%. Salvinorin A is the most potent naturally occurring hallucinogen. It is active at doses as low as 200 µg. Research has shown that salvinorin A is a potent and selective κ-opioid (kappa-opioid) receptor agonist. However, it is an even more potent D₂ receptor partial agonist, and it is likely this action plays a significant role in its effects as well. 

In experiments, salvinorin A has shown little toxicity.

Warning

• Can cause strong hallucinations. Be prepared and do not exceed the recommended dosage. Use only recreationally or ceremonially and in a safe environment with oversight or guidance from a trusted person or a shaman.
• Keep out of reach of children.
• Do not use in combination with stimulants, psychedelics or other sedative substances.
• Do not use in pregnancy/lactation.
• Do not use during work or while driving, operating devices, machines or computers.