Overview
Salvia extract is derived from the leaves of Salvia divinorum. This herbaceous plant contains psychoactive chemicals known to induce hallucinations and temporary changes in cognition similar to the effects of LSD. The active ingredient is Salvinorin A, a kappa-opioid receptor agonist. Sold for recreational use, salvia extract can contain up to 20 times the potency of the plant when ingested. Much about the long-term effects and dangers of Salvia divinorum are unknown although it might have potential uses in the field of psychiatry.
Effects
The cognitive effects of Salvia divinorum include strong disassociation and changes in the perception of light, time and body awareness. Other cognitive effects include emotional swings, realistic visual and auditory hallucinations, and feelings of out-of-body experiences, according to the U.S. Office of Diversion Control case study on Salvia divinorum and Salvinorin A. Unlike LSD, the immediate effects of Salvia divinorum last just a few minutes, but motor impairment can be severe. After-effects include changes of mood lasting for a few hours, including elation and depression. There are no known addictive qualities to salvia, although long-term research is limited.
History
Salvia divinorum is native to Mexico, where it was used by the Mazatec Indians of Oaxaca for divination and shamanic healing. The first documentation of Salvia divinorum was by American Jean Johnson in 1938. Later, Albert Hoffman, the chemist who synthesized LSD, tried the herb and found it a poor substitute for hallucinogenic mushrooms, according to the University of Maryland’s profile on salvia.
Legal Status
Salvia divinorum is unscheduled but listed as a “drug of concern” by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, according to the U.S. Office of Diversion Control. A handful of states have passed legislation making salvia illegal to purchase or own. Worldwide legality of salvia is mixed, but it is banned in several European nations, including Germany, Sweden, Spain and Italy.
Controversies
Salvia divinorum remains controversial because of its use as a recreational drug. Its growth appears to stem from a number of online videos depicting youth behaving strangely under the influence of salvia, according to “Salvia,” a study published by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The study also states that the concerns of its use as a “party drug” might be overblown because the actual cognitive effects of salvia are considered unpleasant by many.
Therapeutic Potential
The main active ingredient in Salvia divinorum, Salvinorin A, might have potential therapeutic uses in psychiatry, although clinical research is sparse. A 2002 report published in the “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America” suggested that Salvinorin A may assist in treating mental disorders characterized by perceptual alterations, including schizophrenia, dementia and bipolar disorders.
About this Author
Ryan Hurd is a writer and consciousness studies researcher living in California. His dream expertise has been featured in the Huffington Post and Psychology Today. Hurd has a MA in Consciousness Studies, and is the author of “Enhance your dream life.”
