Salvia Divinorum
OTHER NAME(S): Divine Mexican Mint, Diviner's Mint, Diviners Sage, Divinorin, Divinorin A, Feuilles de la Bergère, Feuilles de la Vierge, Herb-of-the-Virgin, Herb of Mary, Herba de María, Hierba de la Virgen, Hierba Maria, Hojas de la Pastora, Hojas de Maria, La Hembra, Leaf of Mary, Leaves of the Virgin Shepherdess, Magic Mint, Menthe Magique, Mexican Mint, Mexican Sage, Mexican Sage Incense, Pipiltzintzintli, Sadi, Sally-D, Salvia, Salvinorin, Salvinorin A, Sage of the Seers, Sauge des Devins, Sauge Divinatoire, Shepherdess, Ska Maria, Ska Maria Pastora, Ska Pastora, Yerba de Maria, Yerba Maria, Salvia divinorum, Salvia Divinorum, Sauge Des Devins
Overview
Salvia divinorum is an herb in the mint family. It has been used for centuries in religious ceremonies by the Mazatec Indians, a native people who live in Oaxaca, Mexico. The Mazatecs believe it is an incarnation of the Virgin Mary. Salvia divinorum possession and use is legal in most states in the US, but it has been labelled as a "drug of concern" by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Salvia divinorum is most commonly used as a recreational drug. It produces hallucinations when inhaled, when the leaves are chewed, or when extracts are placed under the tongue.
Salvia divinorum contains chemicals that can cause hallucinations when inhaled or taken by mouth. There isn't much information about how Salvia divinorum might work as a medicine.
Salvia divinorum contains chemicals that can cause hallucinations when inhaled or taken by mouth. There isn't much information about how Salvia divinorum might work as a medicine.
Uses
Insufficient Evidence for
- Producing hallucinations.
- Diarrhea.
- Depression.
- Headache.
- Rheumatism.
- Bloating.
- Regulating urination and bowel movements.
- Use as a tonic.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of Salvia divinorum for these uses.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: Salvia divinorum is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. It can cause serious side effects including dizziness, slurred speech, confusion, paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions.
When inhaled: Salvia divinorum is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. It can cause serious side effects including dizziness, slurred speech, confusion, paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: Salvia divinorum is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. It can cause serious side effects including dizziness, slurred speech, confusion, paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions.
When inhaled: Salvia divinorum is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. It can cause serious side effects including dizziness, slurred speech, confusion, paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if Salvia divinorum is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Schizophrenia: Salvia divinorum has caused hallucinations and delusions in some people. It is not known if this risk is increased in people with schizophrenia or in people with a family history of schizophrenia. Until more is known, do not use Salvia divinorum if you have schizophrenia or are at risk of schizophrenia.
Interactions
We currently have no information for Salvia divinorum overview.
Dosing
The appropriate dose of Salvia divinorum depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for Salvia divinorum. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
References
- US Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Agency, Diversion Control Program. Drugs and Chemicals of Concern: Salvia Divinorum, ska Maria Pastora, Salvia (Salvinorin A, Divinorin A). 2002. Available at: https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drugs_concern/salvia_d/summary.htm
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- Valdes LJ 3rd. Salvia divinorum and the unique diterpene hallucinogen, Salvinorin (divinorin) A. J Psychoactive Drugs 1994;26:277-83.
- Siebert DJ. Salvia divinorum and salvinorin A: new pharmacologic findings. J Ethnopharmacol 1994;43:53-6.
- Halpern JH. Hallucinogens and dissociative agents naturally growing in the United States. Pharmacol Ther 2004; 102:131-8.
- Gonzalez D, Riba J, Bouso JC, et al. Pattern of use and subjective effects of Salvia divinorum among recreational users. Drug Alcohol Depend 2006;85:157-62.
- Singh S. Adolescent salvia substance abuse. Addiction 2007;102:823-4.
- Roth, B. L., Baner, K., Westkaemper, R., Siebert, D., Rice, K. C., Steinberg, S., Ernsberger, P., and Rothman, R. B. Salvinorin A: a potent naturally occurring nonnitrogenous kappa opioid selective agonist. Proc Natl Acad.Sci U.S.A 9-3-2002;99(18):11934-11939.
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- Capasso, R., Borrelli, F., Capasso, F., Siebert, D. J., Stewart, D. J., Zjawiony, J. K., and Izzo, A. A. The hallucinogenic herb Salvia divinorum and its active ingredient salvinorin A inhibit enteric cholinergic transmission in the guinea-pig ileum. Neurogastroenterol.Motil. 2006;18(1):69-75.
- Ansonoff, M. A., Zhang, J., Czyzyk, T., Rothman, R. B., Stewart, J., Xu, H., Zjwiony, J., Siebert, D. J., Yang, F., Roth, B. L., and Pintar, J. E. Antinociceptive and Hypothermic Effects of Salvinorin A Are Abolished in a Novel Strain of {kappa}-Opioid Receptor-1 Knockout Mice. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2006;318(2):641-648.
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- Vázquez-León P, Arenas-Martínez U, Córdova-Maqueda D, Fregoso-Aguilar T, Ramírez-San Juan E, Miranda-Páez A. Salvia divinorum increases alcohol intake and tonic immobility whilst decreasing food intake in Wistar rats. Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars) 2021;81(1):34-42.
- Doss MK, May DG, Johnson MW, et al. The Acute Effects of the Atypical Dissociative Hallucinogen Salvinorin A on Functional Connectivity in the Human Brain. Sci Rep 2020;10(1):16392.