Another common method of use is crushing the leaves and mixing them into drinks or vaporizing the herb. Salvia also has a low addiction potential, and people have not reported overdoses. The Mazatec also roll fresh salvia leaves into a cigar-like “quid.” They suck or chew the quid without swallowing, and so they can salvia kill you absorb the drug from the mouth lining into the bloodstream. That means possible side effects and risks that could be detrimental to your health may not be understood yet. Salvia is an herb that grows like a shrub from about 1.5 to five feet tall. It has hairy, egg-shaped leaves with jagged edges and square-shaped stems.
The most notable side effects when misusing Salvia include visual distortions, physical disorientation, and feelings of depersonalization. Reducing or stopping the consumption of Salvia can often alleviate these symptoms. In extreme or prolonged use cases, individuals might experience more severe psychological impacts, including intense paranoia, anxiety, or memory issues. It’s crucial to approach Salvia cautiously, recognizing its potent effects and understanding that the full range of long-term consequences is still being researched. Imagine a plant that has the power to take you on a journey beyond reality, altering your perception, emotions, and even your sense of self—all within a matter of minutes. This is the world of Salvia divinorum, a psychoactive herb that has captured attention globally for its intense and often unpredictable effects.
However, most studies suggest that Salvia does not have the classic hallmarks of drugs that induce physical dependence. Salvia has potentially damaging effects that can last a lifetime. If you or a loved one struggles to taper use, or finds they need more to cope, there is help available.
The leaves are dried and can be smoked in pipes, similarly to marijuana. The result is a rapid-onset and short-lived high that may begin within minutes of consumption and generally lasts around 30 minutes. Users typically experience the most intense effects within 2 minutes of smoking, but these usually fade within 20 minutes.
Under the influence of salvia, users may lose their ability to differentiate between reality and hallucination. This can result in dangerous behavior, such as walking into traffic, attempting to interact with imaginary objects, or self-harming. There are no industrial or commercial uses for salvia divinorum in Canada. Many countries, including some Asian countries such as China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, have not explicitly legislated on Salvia, leading to a legal gray area. The plant has green leaves and can produce white or purple flowers under optimal conditions. Traditional use and its effects have made it a subject of interest both culturally and scientifically.
The blog section features news, trends, and testimonials that are meant to inform and encourage those who are addicted and those who desire to help them. Individuals in India should exercise caution and stay informed about the evolving legal and health implications related to Salvia and similar substances. For example, rosmarinic acid and thujone have been reported to be more abundant in S. To our knowledge, there are no reported cases of acute intoxication induced by Salvia officinalis in the literature.
- Due to the popularity and prevalence of this drug, it is important to be aware of salvia’s effects.
- In recent years, especially after a video of teen pop star Miley Cyrus using the drug surfaced in 2010, the rising popularity of recreational salvia in the U.S. has been reported.
- Herein we describe the case of a schizophrenic 56-year-old male admitted to the Emergency Department for abdominal pain and diarrhea resulted in a rare case of acute toxicity by Salvia officinalis.
- People may find the herb appealing because of the hallucinations it produces.
- The Salvia that was sold as ‘plant food’ to our patient could have been adulterated or affected by processing, contributing to the psychological effects experienced by the patient.
Is Salvia a Plant?
Only a few costly specialized drug test kits can detect salvia abuse. However, even these tests can often only detect salvia abuse shortly after consumption. If the Salvia leaves are chewed, they release the active compound salvinorin A. This chemical is absorbed via the mouth’s inner lining, inducing vivid hallucinations and cognitive shifts that can persist for 1 to 2 hours.
How to Make a Smoothie: Ultimate Guide to Healthy, Delicious Blends
The effects of this drug include hallucinations, dizziness, visual disturbances, and more. It is not known whether Salvia divinorum is addictive, as research on its potential for dependence remains limited. Currently, there are no FDA-approved medications to treat addiction to Salvia or other dissociative drugs. However, behavioural therapies have shown promise in treating addiction to dissociative substances, including cases where psychological dependence is a concern. Salvia divinorum is renowned for its intense and often unpredictable effects, which can vary widely depending on the individual, dosage, and setting.
General Health
The repercussions of abusing these substances can lead to significant legal, financial, interpersonal, and health challenges. Salvia abuse might not be as widely known as other drugs, but its consequences can be equally severe. The half-life of salvia is very rapid compared to other common drugs of abuse, such as prescription opioids or even marijuana. This can make salvia abuse difficult to detect using standard drug tests.
Recovery Literature
Smooth muscle contraction in various organs is mainly mediated by M3 receptors 19. The main location and related physiological effects of each muscarinic/nicotinic receptor have been summarized in Table 2. The peripheral actions of acetylcholine(Ach) occurs via the interaction with muscarinic (M1, M2, M3, M4, M5) and/or nicotinic receptors, the latter expressed by muscle (Nm) and neuron (Nn) 18, 19, 20, 21. Its toxic effect is mainly described in cases of chronic use of Salvia extracts.
Find rehab for yourself or a loved one by speaking with a treatment provider. Discover affordable rehab centers near you, offering easy access and convenience. Stay close to family and friends while getting the support you need. To date, there are no known hangover effects for salvia use once it has worn off. Disruption of space and time can be a frightening experience and can lead to serious psychotic disturbances in vulnerable people.
Although the herb’s use as a recreational and medicinal drug is becoming more popular, the scientific literature documenting the benefits and negative consequences of salvia is scarce. Salvia is a hallucinogenic plant containing salvinorin A, a compound that interacts with brain receptors to produce intense, short-lived hallucinations. The effects of salvia are potent and unique, varying greatly depending on the individual, dosage, and method of use. Users often report a rapid onset of effects that can last anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour. While salvia is not classified as a controlled substance at the federal level, its sale and use have been restricted in many U.S. states due to safety concerns. The plant is often sold in head shops, gas stations, or online, usually in dried leaf form or as concentrated extracts.
Is Salvia Abuse Related to Its Psychoactive Properties?
If you or someone you care about is struggling with salvia use, it’s essential to seek professional support. At 12 South Recovery, we specialize in addressing substance use disorders, including those involving hallucinogenic drugs. Our team offers personalized treatment plans that focus on mental health, behavioral therapy, and long-term recovery. In the indigenous use of Salvia, leaf juices are extracted from the fresh leaves of the Salvia plant and mixed with water to create an infusion that is taken orally.
- There were no reported after-effects, and in the longer term, the patient did not experience any perceptual disturbances after his exposure.
- Most people remain high on salvia for only a few minutes, which can make it difficult to catch someone in the act of getting high on salvia.
- This hallucinogenic plant, legal in some places but restricted or banned in others, has gained attention for its potent and unpredictable effects.
- Salvia’s active ingredient is salvinorin A, a kappa opioid receptor (KOR) agonist.
Note that the numbers in parentheses (1, 2, etc.) are clickable links to medically peer-reviewed studies. The information in our articles is NOT intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. With strict editorial sourcing guidelines, we only link to academic research institutions, reputable media sites and, when research is available, medically peer-reviewed studies.
Salvia Addiction Causes
When taken, Salvia’s main part, called salvinorin A, changes how our brain sees things. Traditionally, Mazatec shamans (indigenous spiritual leaders in Oaxaca, Mexico) used Salvia for spiritual rituals, often chewing its fresh leaves or brewing them into a concoction for consumption. Salvia, scientifically known as Salvia divinorum, is a perennial herb in the mint family, traditionally known for its psychoactive properties when consumed. Because of the way the active ingredient affects the brain, some scientists believe salvia could have implications for developing a therapy, for example, for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. People usually experience the most intense effects within 2 minutes after smoking.
