Q. What is Salvia divinorum?
A. Salvia divinorum is a plant from the mint family and a species of sage that
is used for its psychoactive effects. Salvia is endemic only to the Mazatec
region of the Sierra Madre mountains in Oaxaca, Mexico, also known as the Sierra
Mazateca. Given the right dose, individual, set and setting, it produces a unique
state of "divine inebriation" which has been traditionally used by Mazatec healers
and prophets. This inebriation is quite different from that of alcohol. Salvia
is both similar to, yet different from, other drugs that affect the brain and
behavior. In many ways, Salvia divinorum is a uniquely "magical" herb. Salvia,
along with it's active princliple salvinorin-A, is very difficult to categorize
pharmacologically as it does not fit well into any existing pharmacological
class. Salvia is NOT a recreational drug in the way that other drugs like alcohol
and marijuana are used. It is definitely NOT a party drug. But can be the best
inner party. Salvia is best used by those wishing to explore deep meditative
states, spiritual realms, mysticism, the nature of consciousness and reality,
or even the possibilities of shamanistic healing.
Q. What's in Salvia that is so strong and how
strong is it?
A. Salvia contains a substance called salvinorin-A. Salvinorin-A is the most
potent naturally occurring vision inducer. Only LSD is potent at a smaller dose
however LSD itself is not present in nature. When vaporized and inhaled, doses
of about 250 micrograms (that is 250 millionths of a gram) can have threshold
effects and doses of 1 milligram will have extreme effects. Sensitivity varies
greatly from person to person. Salvinorin is most effective when inhaled as
smoke or vapor and least effective on a milligram basis when swallowed.
Q. What are the effects of Salvia?
A. It's probably not like what you expect, even if you have considerable experience
with various other drugs. Salvia's effects are radically different from that
of any other vision inducing psychoactive substance. Salvia will produce an
effect that is unique to itself and only actual experience can help one to understand
its nature. Effects vary by dose and method of use. The effects range from very
light at lower doses to overwhelmingly strong at higher doses. The experience
can vary from a subtle, just off-baseline state to a full-blown psychedelic
experience. At moderate to high doses, users report a sense of profound understanding
and peace, a feeling of being connected with the entire universe, vivid imagery,
dramatic time distortion, encounters with beings, travel to other places/times/planets/dimensions,
living years as the paint on a wall or experiencing the full life of another
individual. Needless to say, salvia has the potential to produce a very potent
experience so it should be respected.
Q. Is there a way to rate Salvia experiences?
A. There is a scale that describes six different levels of intoxication, each
one more intense than the previous. The overall intensity of Salvia experience
is scored according to the highest scale level attained during the course of
S-A-L-V-I-A Experience Rating Scale
- Level 1 - "S" stands for SUBTLE effects:
A feeling that 'something' is happening, although it is difficulty to say
just what. Relaxation and increased sensual appreciation may be noted. This
mild level is useful for meditation and may facilitate sexual pleasure.
- Level 2 - "A" stands for ALTERED perception:
Colors and textures are paid attention to. Appreciation of music may be enhanced.
Space may appear of greater or lesser depth than is usual. But visions do
not occur at this level. Thinking becomes less logical, and more playful;
short term memory difficulties are may be noted.
- Level 3 - "L" stands for LIGHT visionary state:
Closed eye visuals (clear imagery with eyes closed: fractal patterns, vinelike
and geometric patterns, visions of objects and designs). The imagery is often
two dimensional. This level envokes phenomena similar to the hypnagogic phenomena
that many people experience with the onset of sleep. If open eyed visual effects
occur, these are usually vague and fleeting. At this level visions are experienced
as "eye candy" but are not confused with reality.
- Level 4 - "V" stands for VIVID visionary state:
Complex three dimensional realistic appearing scenes occur. Sometimes voices
may be heard. With eyes open contact with consensual reality will not be entirely
lost, but when you close your eyes you may forget about consensus reality
and enter completely into a dreamlike scene. Shamanistic journeying to other
lands, foreign or imaginary; encounters with beings, entities, spirits; or
travels to other ages may occur. You may even live the life of another person.
At this level you have entered the shaman's world. Or if you prefer you are
in "dream time." With eyes closed you experience fantasies (dream like happenings,
with a story line to them). So long as your eyes are closed you may believe
they are really occurring. This differs from the "eye candy" closed eye imagery
of level 3.
- Level 5 - "I" stands for IMMATERIAL existence:
At this level consciousness remains and some though processes are still lucid,
but one becomes completely involved in inner experience and looses all contact
with consensual reality. Individuality may be lost; one experiences merging
with God/Goddess, mind, universal consciousness, or bizarre fusions with other
objects real or imagined, e.g. merging with a wall may be experienced. At
this level it is impossible to function in consensual reality, but unfortunately
some people do not remain still but move around in this befuddled state. For
this reason a sitter is essential to ensure the safety of someone voyaging
to the inner levels. To the person experiencing this, the phenomenon may be
terrifying or exceedingly pleasant; but to an outside observer the individual
may appear confused or disoriented.
- Level 6 - "A" stands for AMNESIC effects:
At this stage either consciousness is lost; or at least one is unable to later
recall what one is experiencing. The individual may fall, or remain immobile
or thrash around; somnambulistic behavior may occur; injuries can be sustained
without pain being felt; on awakening the individual will have no recollection
of what he/she did, experienced or said in level 6. People cannot ever recall
what they experience in this very deep trance state. This is not a sought
after level as later nothing can be recalled of the experience.
Q. What is the duration of the Salvia experience?
A. The duration of the experience depends on the method of use and the amount
that is ingested. Depending on the method, it can last anywhere from 15 minutes
to over 3 hours. Generally, smoked Salvia effects come on quickly, peak for
5-20 minutes and then begin to subside. The oral and sublingual methods take
longer for the effects to onset and lasts considerably longer.
Q. Is there any way to extend the duration of
the effects of Salvia divinorum?
A: Salvinorin-A does not produce a tolerance effect, so you can extend the experience
by simply ingesting more as soon as the effects begin to fade. You can also
ease into the experience by starting with a small dose and following it immediately
with a "booster" dose.
Q. I have seen Salvia referred to as an "entheogen."
A. The word comes from the Greek, loosely translated as "making possible (contact
with) the divine within (oneself)". Drugs (and drug plants) which can transport
their user to mystical states of consciousness are often called entheogens.
More properly entheogen refers to a type of drug usage, not a type of drug.
Salvia CAN be used as an entheogen. It is used as such when taken as part of
a serious spiritual quest, where the user is trying to learn and understand
the deeper levels of consciousness, self, and existentialism.