It is non-nitrogenous, setting it apart from almost all other hallucinogens. This unique structure has intrigued pharmacologists and neuroscientists, sparking research into how it interacts with the brain. Those effects are why salvia has been used for centuries in spiritual ceremonies by the Mazatec people of southern Mexico, where the plant grows wild in the mountainous region of Sierra Mazateca.

Peak Experience (1-5 Minutes)

Many of the users do not consider the drug to have much ‘recreational’ potential, due to the intense and often scary experience it yields – however it has seen value as a tool for spiritual use. The most common negative side effect of taking salvia is having a challenging trip. Experiencing immersive hallucinations can cause confusion, disorientation, paranoia, and panic attacks.

Is Salvia divinorum legal?

Many of my symptoms have been repressed due to years of being subjected to shame and torment by my parents, teachers, peers, and doctors. I had completely lost the ability of self-stimulation (stimming) as a method of communicating and expunging my emotions. Masking it for my entire life was exhausting, and took a toll on me mentally.

Personal Growth

I got up, and even held the knob of my door for a moment, and realized that I would be sending a strong message if I went and got my roommate. I asked for this salvia trip explained lesson, and I should try to learn it while it was still being taught. I decided to lay back down, and knew it would be over in a couple minutes.

A woman in his audience with short, graying hair stood up and asked that very question. While some states ban sale of the substance to minors and more than 15 ban its sale flat-out, the drug is still sold in head shops and gas stations around the country. On his trip to the Sierra Mazateca mountains, Dr. Addy gained some insight into the Mazatecs’ relationship with the stuff. For starters, they believe that salvia is an embodiment of the Virgin Mary, and that ingesting it may allow one to speak with her, St. Peter (the gate-keeper to Heaven), and even Jesus Christ himself. “These drugs are operating on completely different pathways,” Dr. Addy explained to his flock.

She was calling out to me from the door, but I couldn’t see her, and I couldn’t really hear what she was saying. I was slowly returning to my body, so I was able to grab one of the spare pencils on the bed and offer it to my mother. As soon as I was able to offer her the pencil, I couldn’t hear her voice anymore. At this point, I was becoming increasingly aware of my surroundings. I was still zoned out, but I could feel myself recognizing my surroundings. I didn’t know how much time had passed, and what had felt like hours was actually only about 10 minutes.

• This molecule is a potent kappa opioid receptor (KOR) agonist, unlike serotonergic psychedelics such as psilocybin or LSD.
• Researchers aren’t certain if there are any lingering physical or psychological effects of taking a salvia trip as the study of the plant’s long-term impact on humans is underdeveloped.
• The first country to ban Salvia divinorum outright was Australia, which designated the plant as Schedule 9, the most strictly controlled, in 2002.
• The optimal dosage for nearly all participants was one gram of raw leaf chewed.

Brief history

I was so convinced of this that I called out for it to stop, and then told it not to show me anything. When I lost the ability to form words on my own, I began to scream uncontrollably. My consciousness had been catapulted from my physical form, that connection had been severed completely. It wasn’t even what I would call an “out of body experience” because that means there is some sense of body, whether you’re in it or not. I’ve had out of body experiences before, and in that, I was still aware of the presence of a body.

Other risks, such as falling over objects, can be avoided by having a sitter present. The first country to ban Salvia divinorum outright was Australia, which designated the plant as Schedule 9, the most strictly controlled, in 2002. In New Zealand, it is illegal to import or sell Salvia without a license. In Third Wave’s Ultimate Guide to Safely Sourcing Psychedelics, you will discover an astonishing menu of psychedelic medicines……and how to source them without legal risk. So has Dr. Addy experimented with the drug he is professionally dedicated to exploring?

Salvia is a weird and wonderful hallucinogen that originates in South America. In this article, we’re going in-depth and giving a comprehensive overview of everything you need to know about Salvia divinorum, its effects, history, dosage, and more. Aside from smoking, salvorin extracts can also be inhaled through vape pens or added to drinks like tea. Once I felt like I could stand and communicate, I went out and told my roommate what I had experienced. I realized that I felt touch starved, and asked her if I could give her a hug, and she was happy to oblige. Once I got comfy and was laying down, it was clear I had already peaked and was on the come down.

• Whatever I was fearing was worse that this, yet it felt like the whole experience was seeped in death.
• If you’re drawn to Salvia divinorum, do your homework and remember—respect the plant, start slow, and prioritise safety.
• It’s not like other medicines, it doesn’t remedy your body, or fix your mind, rather it acts as a guide to show you how to remedy your own life.
• The duration of a salvia trip depends on the method of consumption.

That’s why we built an online community of trusted providers ranging from therapists, to clinics, to retreats. Salvia divinorum can be chewed, smoked, or taken as a purified tincture. A threshold dose of Salvinorin A is 200mcg, while the upper limit for most people is around 1000mcg (1mg). The amount of plant material, extract, or tincture required for a single dose will depend on the strength of the product being used. I remember just sitting on the bathroom floor feeling like my head was going to explode. At one point I just started crying because I couldn’t grasp what had happened.

It shows great potential for treating pain and addiction, as well as depression—whether in traditional Mazatec ceremonies or more clinical, Western settings. However, how does it impact the body, and what is the duration of those effects? Dried salvia trip explained leaves aren’t considered potent, so salvia usually isn’t added to rolled cigarettes or joints.

I didn’t have a choice to mask it either, I didn’t even know I was masking because it had been subconscious. But something after my experience, and in realizing that my fears were not so grand, broke down this mental barrier. Now, I’m able to stim for the first time since I was a child, and I feel infinitely better. I hadn’t realize how overstimulated I was until I learned to stim, and now I finally feel like my brain is mine again. What would’ve taken years in therapy, solving a problem I didn’t even know existed, took less than 20 minutes with salvia. Interestingly, salvinorin A is active at microgram doses, which places it among the most potent naturally occurring psychoactive compounds.