By Kenny Berman (This article first appeared in the American Free Journal Weekly Oct. 15th-21st 2009 Vol.20 No.42)
- Family: Labiatae ( Mint Family)
- Genus: Salvieae/Salvia ( Sages)
- Species: divinorum
- Common names: Diviner’s Sage, Hojas or Hierba de la Pastora (Spanish, “leaves/ herb of the shepherdess”), Ska Maria Pastora ( Mazatec), Seer Sage (Street –European?), Salvia (Street – U.S.A.)
- Description: This is a vibrant green perennial with dense foliage that can grow up to three feet in height. The leaves are light to dark green, 2-4 inches in length with a fine layer of hairs or fuzz. They generally resemble fresh mint leaves for those familiar with mint. They rarely flower in their natural environment. When they do flower they produce small bi-lateral symmetrically shaped white flowers with bluish/ purple reproductive parts. Because this plant seldom flowers it can not rely on flowering for self-preservation and must therefore reproduce through cloning. The branches will naturally break, fall and then root themselves to produce “new” plants. Note: For many years the only Salvia divinorum available for curious researchers was well known to be Mexican clones that had been cloned from the original plant specimens brought to the U. S. A. by R. Gordon Wasson. He was the person that historically rediscovered the psychedelic mushroom usage of the Mazatecs in Oaxaca, June, 1955.
- Habitat and distribution: Grows in shady, damp creek banks or other wet areas in cloud forests (high elevation rain forests) above 3000 feet. Native only to the Mazatec region of the Sierra Madre Oriental in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. It is therefore one of the rarest naturally occurring entheobotanicals.
- Legality: Salvia divinorum and its active constitutes are still 100% legal to possess, process, cultivate or consume in any manner in THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA!! Though it is illegal to sell for human consumption and illegal to sell to minors. Salvia divinorum is ALREADY illegal and schedule 1 in ten states, pending illegality in five more states and controlled “for decorative purposes ONLY” in five other states. It is STILL federally unscheduled (legal). It is illegal in at least a dozen countries around the world including Australia, Germany and Japan.
- Active components/Toxins- Diterpenes: Salvinorum A and Salvinorum B. The main active constitute is Salivnorum A. Salvia’s active component is NOT an alkaloid- it is a diterpene- a complex carbon molecule. The most well known psychoactive diterpene is T.H.C. (from Cannabis), though these two plants and their experiences are not in any way similar.
- Toxicology classification: Hallucinogen, dissociative.
- Effects: The effects from Salvia can vary greatly from one individual to the next. They can range anywhere from a mild feeling of alteration in consciousness to a complete dematerializing of physical awareness. Daniel Siebert the man who discovered the active constitutes also broke the experience into six different levels based off the word S.A.L.V.I.A. 1) S- subtle 2) A- altered 3) L- lucid 4)V- vivid 5) I- immaterial 6) A- amnesiac. The reason #6 is “amnesiac” is because if you consume too high of a dose the experience is impossible to recall in any coherent detail. It is labeled a dissociative because often the recipient will “come on” to the effects and forget simultaneously that they have used anything at all. This will often cause a state of confusion and mild panic if there is not someone present to re-associate the recipient to their experience. Note: Although Salvia can produce mild panic, I have never seen or heard of anyone becoming violent. I have heard of people accidently hitting someone, something, falling or tripping over things in an incoherent state but never purposely or consciously becoming aggressive. This can all be avoided with proper guidance.
- Traditional applications: Divination, healing/curing, transformation.
- Parts of plant applied: Fresh or dried leaves only.
- Preparation and dosage: Traditionally one pair of thirteen fresh leaves (26 total) are formed into a cigar shaped roll called a quid. The quid is then placed inside the mouth and the saliva is not swallowed but expelled. After approximately twenty to thirty minutes the recipient will begin feeling the effects. At that time the quid is removed from the mouth and the experience will continue for about half an hour longer. During this time the curandero will perform a healing ritual. When applied for a neo-shamanic journey one large lung full of dried leaves (NOT enhanced!) is consumed through a water-pipe in a dark, quite, comfortable place with a guide* (see comment below). This experience lasts anywhere from five minutes to one hour. An over-dose is only temporary psychological disorientation. It is impossible to consume a lethal dosage through inhalation.
Comment: Salvia divinorum has already received much criticism by the authorities in the U.S.A. This has been do to the fact that it has been promoted by vendors as a recreational drug- which it IS NOT! Salvia has NEVER been applied traditionally as a recreational experience! There is NOTHING fun about becoming completely disassociated with your current reality unless there is intention in that action. The curenderos ONLY use Salvia divinorum with intention and NEVER enhance or concentrate the plants constitutes. The Salvia extracts available today are generally an “over-kill” of the experience. When smoked these extracts (5x, 10x, 15x, 25x …and now available in 50x!) will 9 out of 10 times produce an experience that is SO intense that it completely disorientates the recipient and leaves them amnesiac- unable to recall any details. THIS IS NOT THE WAY TO APPLY THIS PLANT!! This is why it has already been through much legal battle and declared illegal in several places. Unfortunately Salvia is a beautiful, feminine, nurturing, spirit plant that when applied with intention is here to help and serve. She deserves respect and this will only happen through proper education and NOT misuse and/or abuse.