What is Salvia?

With the rise of psychedelic popularity, it might seem like every substance is stepping into the spotlight. However, there’s one psychedelic that remains relatively obscure despite not being federally illegal. Salvinorin A, often seen in YouTube videos where young people ingest large amounts and experience extreme reactions, has garnered a somewhat negative reputation. This perception is based on unsafe use and sensationalized content.

Let’s use this platform to clear up the misunderstandings surrounding this intriguing compound. Salvia divinorum, a plant with a mysterious origin, offers a unique journey into altered states of consciousness unlike any other, even more so than powerful psychedelics like DMT.

 

Unknown Origins

The history of Salvinorin A and its use in Mazatec culture is as enigmatic as its effects. Salvia divinorum, from which Salvinorin A is derived, is a member of the mint family, native only to the cloud forests of Oaxaca, Mexico. The Mazatec people have used it for hundreds of years, calling it “ska pastora,” “hierba de María” (Mary’s herb), or “hojas de la pastora” (shepherdess’ leaves).

Interestingly these names are of Spanish origin, unlike most revered shamanistic tools that have Indigenous names. Normally these substances carry Indigenous nomenclature, for example,  psilocybin mushrooms as teonanácatl (“divine mushroom”) based in the Nahua and the Aztec languages. Some believe this is due to the obliteration of the culture which surrounds the use of this plant due to 16th-century colonialism. However, this is not the only theory.

This lack of indigenous nomenclature and oddly small distribution of species has made researchers and indigenous peoples alike skeptical of the plant’s true origins. The Mazatec Indians believe that Salvia Divinorum is foreign to their area, with origins unknown.

Ethnobotanists and plant geneticists have come to similar conclusions, as the genetic lineage of S. Divinorum is distinct from any other sage within the area. The closest relative to S. Divinorum is Salvia venulosa, a rare sage native to Colombia.

Some researchers suggest that S. Divinorum could have even been introduced to the region by colonizers. A contributing factor to this suspicion is that Mazatecs regard the plant to be the most important member of the Lamiaceae family. This family system was recorded by Gordon Wasson the famous mycologist who originally introduced psilocybin mushrooms to the West. This description raised his eyebrows, especially considering that both species of Coleus are post-conquest introductions to Mexico.

This description is compounded with the fact that even ‘wild’ populations of the plant found within Sierra Mazateca appear to be cultivated by humans, having low genetic diversity. Additionally, it seems to be one of the only natural products of the region that evaded notice during the Spanish Inquisition. For the time being this remains a mystery for the future ethnobotanists and geneticists of the world to unearth.

 

Indigenous Use Practices 

Regardless of its origins, Salvia divinorum is used by the Mazatec people for various purposes, from shamanic training and divination to treating diarrhea and rheumatism.

For shamanic training, it’s considered the best teacher of healing, with shamans learning through visions induced by the plant. This training lasts up to two years, with doses taken intermittently to gradually increase familiarity with the plant’s effects. The plant helps them learn about healing and the use of other medicinal plants, eventually mastering morning glory seeds and sacred mushrooms.

In divination, Salvia divinorum is used to foresee the future, diagnose and cure illnesses, and obtain answers about loved ones. The preparation and ceremony surrounding its use are strict, involving a diet similar to those used in ayahuasca ceremonies, and harvesting and ingesting the leaves in pairs.

A core feature described by both Indigenous people and Western users is that the quality of the experience depends on the context, requiring the absence of sound and light. Both groups agree that a sober “trip sitter” should be present during the experience.

Another shared aspect is the necessity of describing one’s visions to fully benefit, akin to the concept of “integration” in Western culture. Notably, some Mazatecs, like the renowned Maria Sabina, only use Salvia divinorum when mushrooms are out of season.

A message propagated by one of the earliest ethnobotanists to research this plant and its culture, Don Alejandros, details his impression of this sacrament as carries a message that can be revered and applied across entheogenic domains, “Inyimano (the soul, the heart, or life, all three concepts condense into a single Mazatec word), DO NOT WORRY do not be afraid of what is happening. The result is what they are taking will be engraved on their mind.”

 

Western Use: Medicinal Benefits and Clinical Research and How It Works

Salvinorin A is one of the most potent naturally occurring psychoactive substances, the molecule is nearly 10 times more potent than psilocybin.

It demonstrates a perplexing molecular structure being the only naturally occurring opioid agonist that is not an alkaloid (meaning it does not contain any nitrogen atoms), and unlike most psychedelics, it doesn’t act on serotonin receptors.

Salvinorin A as a kappa opioid agonist has antinociceptive activity, meaning it is capable of diminishing pain without producing anesthesia. The kappa opioid receptor agonists have somewhat similar attributes to their mu-opioid counterparts like morphine with some crucial distinctions. Both have pain-relieving qualities and are anti-diuretic.

Though Mu opioid receptors are more commonly associated with euphoria, respiratory depression, and high abuse potential. Kappa opioid receptors are associated with sedation and dysphoria, have a low abuse potential, and do not typically cause respiratory depression.  Recent research has revealed that this plant has both anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. The negative side effect associated with this receptor is that it recruits β-arrestins, which are associated with sedation, anxiety, aversion, and dysphoria.

It’s key to notice the disparity between how Westerners and indigenous people describe the activity of agonists at this receptor. It creates a cultural paradigm that can contribute the great disparity in effects observed in recreational users of this drug in the US, as a fundamental attribution bias.

Salvinorin A has gained a recent rise in attention due to its potential to remediate the degradation in stroke patients. This potential clinical application came to light after it was discovered kappa opioid receptors occupy the same cortical cell type of serotonin 5-HT2A receptors, that being deep layer 5 pyramidal neurons. Rather than exciting this subset like classical psychedelics do, they inhibit hyperactive neurons to resculpt abnormal patterns of neuronal activity, potentially normalizing brain function.

Salvinorin A is also being explored for its potential therapeutic applications for pain management, addiction,  depression, and itching.

 

Legality

Salvia divinorum remains legal in many countries. Australia was the first to ban it in 2002. In the United States, its legality varies by state, with some classifying it as a Schedule I substance. The possession, distribution, and selling of salvinorin A is legal in Mexico, some countries in South America, India, and other Asian countries.

 

Effects

The effects of Salvinorin A are intense and short-lived, peaking within 1-2 minutes of ingestion and lasting 15-30 minutes. Users often describe sensations of being pushed or pulled into space, feeling like they’ve entered a two-dimensional world, or becoming objects in rooms.

Salvia divinorum remains legal in many countries. Australia was the first to ban it in 2002. In the United States, its legality varies by state, with some classifying it as a Schedule I substance. The possession, distribution, and selling of salvinorin A is legal in Mexico, some countries in South America, India, and other Asian countries.

Another study reviewed the effects of Salvinorin A administration on mysticism, finding that based on participants’ scores on the MEQ-30, mystical effects seemed similar to oral administration of psilocybin and high-dose intravenous DMT. However, when asked to compare the effects of Salvinorin A to other experiences users have had with other psychoactive agents, participants reported the greatest similarity to dreaming at 43% congruence, with LSD coming in second with only 13% congruence. Demonstrating the truly unique state elicited by this molecule.

Every clinical study reviewed reported that physiological parameters including, blood pressure, heart rate, and tremor remained unaffected during administration. Additionally, no participants reported any lasting negative psychological effects suggesting low toxicity. However, there have been some individual case reports for acute psychosis.

Although negative experiences often dominate public perception, a 2011 meta-analysis of YouTube videos revealed that 65% reported good experiences, while only 12% were negative.

 

Conclusion

Salvia Divinorum and its active constituent Salvinorin A, produce experiences unlike any other psychedelic. Its history is complex, perplexing, and elusive. Its ability to escape widespread illegality is a peculiar phenomenon, and has allowed it to be one of the most insane ‘legal highs’ one can find. (Note: We don’t endorse any substance. This content is for education purposes only).

Though being known for its scary stories, the range of experiences produced is far-reaching and typically viewed as valuable. For the Mazatecs who hold the longest-known history of this sacrament, it is their connection to heaven, a means to manifest the divine, and a tool for the cultivation of inner peace.

 

Sources

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