Using small amounts of salvia leaves brings on a calm, glowing, slightly psychedelic experience, akin to marijuana. Hallucinogen abuse typically causes psychological effects lasting several hours. However, the effects of salvia usually last for less than 30 minutes. The time it takes to feel the effects and the duration that they last depend on the method of use. Though it’s technically legal in most nations, driving under the influence of the plant can still get you a DUI, and public use is, as a rule of thumb, always risky.

Physical health risks

Consumers can also chew on Salvia leaves to experience the effects if they choose. What is fascinating about Salvia in regard to other psychoactives, is how different its properties are from drugs like mushrooms and LSD. Whereas many psychoactive compounds are classified as alkaloids, Salvinorin A is a pure chemical that induces intense, sometimes frightening effects in the smallest of measured doses.

Some people even flavor their can salvia kill you quids with ingredients like sugar, honey, syrup, Stevia extract, etc. Flavored quids are much less bitter and much more enjoyable to chew and savor. Either freshly harvested, moist leaves or dry Salvia leaves can be rolled into quids, resulting in slightly different quids.

As if one is “entering” the dream that you saw in level three, level four experiences can become complex and coherent enough to follow story lines and explore hallucinatory landscapes. Ingesting salvia can cause significant physical side effects, including changes in heart rhythm, nausea, and hallucinations. Combining salvia and other drugs or alcohol can increase the risk of these unwanted side effects. Salvinorin A is one of the most potent natural psychoactive substances.

Mental effects

A person may not be able to tell the difference between things that are really there or not. This means it causes the user to see or feel things that are not really there. Once a person swallows it, the gastrointestinal (GI) system will deactivate salvinorin A. Mazatec shamans brew a tea from the leaves and drink the vision-inducing mixture during religious ceremonies. An agonist attaches to and activates specific central nervous system receptors that are mainly in the brain.

Although the patient had a history of drug abuse, he had not experienced similar psychopathological symptoms with other drugs. Recently, however, substance abusers have been using this plant to achieve ‘legal’ highs, as it is readily available for purchase on the Internet and is largely unregulated. Abusers generally consider the plant as having low toxicity and a low addictive potential. Unfortunately, there is scarce information about its psychoactive effects in the medical literature.

1. The laughter can be so debilitating that the person is unable to move.
2. She once famously remarked that when the mushrooms are not available, she resorts to the use of salvia.
3. People who are unaware of their surroundings are at great risk of causing or being injured in accidents.
4. To date, there are no known hangover effects for salvia use once it has worn off.
5. When salvia is smoked, the effects occur almost instantly and peak within one minute.
6. People may experiment with certain drugs, including hallucinogens, for their pleasurable effects.

Salvia has become popular as a recreational drug among adolescents and young adults. It is fast acting and thought to have a low incidence of side effects. Dried leaves aren’t considered potent, so salvia usually isn’t added to rolled cigarettes or joints. If you or someone else needs urgent help after taking drugs or drinking, call 999 for an ambulance. Salvia is not known to be either physically addictive or to cause psychological dependence. Although salvia has been around for hundreds of years, there has been very little research carried out into its effects.

Physical side effects

Although it is theorized that Salvia has been used for centuries, it was not “discovered” by the Western world until the famous ethnobotanist, R. Gordon Wasson is most notably the botanist who introduced psilocybin containing mushrooms to the West. Disruption of space and time can be a frightening experience and can lead to serious psychotic disturbances in vulnerable people. In some states in America, the law considers salvia a Schedule I drug and does not permit its sale. Furthermore, inhalation of any smoke when consuming a drug is damaging for the lungs. Mazatec Indians have used salvia for centuries for spiritual divination, shamanism, and medical practices.

During that experience, I had felt my physical self disintegrate as a stunning diamond pattern began rolling from both sides of my face toward a boundless horizon. Any sense of self washed away and time became a meaningless abstraction. The information contained on this website is not intended to be a substitute for, or to be relied upon as, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Other species of salvia seeds and plants that are not hallucinogenic are commonly sold for gardening.

Addiction experts do not classify salvia as an addictive substance. However, people who use this potent herb frequently may develop a psychological dependence on it. If you or someone you love struggles with salvia abuse or other forms of substance use, you are not alone. Effective, holistic treatment is available at First Step Behavioral Health.