Salvia Divinorum - What is it?

What is Salvia Divinorum?

Salvia Divinorum, also known as the Diviner's Sage, Maria Pastora, Sally D. and plain old Salvia, is a long-time entheogen that has been historically confined to the Mazatec Shamans of Oaxaca, Mexico. Botanists believe Salvia is a cultigen, a hybrid, inbred version of unknown parent plants that have been specially cared for through the years. Salvia produces few seeds and those seeds rarely fertilate which means new plants are produced through cloning.

Salvia is usually smoked or chewed and the effects can last anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour and a half depending on how it was consumed. I will save those details for other pages. The effects of the drug produce intense visions and insights and users typically feel a peace with nature and their surroundings and, unlike many drugs, feel good about themselves as the effects wear off as Salvia puts the user into more of a meditative trance. The drug is unique in that it targets a different part of the brain than other hallucinogens such as LSD and mescaline. It has also not shown any organ damage in rats exposed to far greater amounts than the average user would consume.

Legality

Salvia is legal throughout most of the world besides some minor exceptions like certain countries such as Australia and a handful of U.S. states which have criminalized it. There have been no known deaths or illnesses reported from Salvia and it apparently shows no large signs of negative side-effects yet because of bad publicity Salvia has created a fear of the unknown causing some governments to prohibit its use. As these laws are always changing I will leave that to your own research to see if Salvia is legal in your area.

Benefits

The limited amount of research on Salvia has shown positive signs in many areas. The active ingredients contained in the drug could possibly be a treatment for cocaine addiction, depression, Alzheimer’s, and even HIV. Just like the medical marijuana controversies, unnecessary prohibition of Salvia and many other drugs would ultimately put an end to much needed research into long-term side-effects - and benefits - of its use.

Brett's Law

This is the only case in the courts so far involving the use of Salvia in a suicide. Four months before 17-year-old Brett Chidester climbed into a tent filled with charcoal smoke, his parents found him in possession of Salvia. They blamed the drug for his depression and eventually got the drug outlawed in Delaware. They even went so far as to sue the internet company that sold him the drug. Again we see the parents trying to blame anyone but themselves and their son for the child's actions. Salvia can be an easy target and I won't be surprised when something like this happens again.

Shocking Videos

YouTube videos have surfaced showing people under the effects of Salvia. Most of these people are teens having fun with a "new party-drug". The initial fits of laughter and the following moments of clarity and insight even further alarm the inexperienced who watch the videos. These kind of things will only heighten the general public's concern and will eventually lead to tighter restrictions and regulations.

Sally the Seer

Salvia Divinorum translates to "sage of the seers" and it should be remembered in that context during use. As its use becomes more wide-spread, it could prove to be a spiritual awakening for the population.

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