The Sacred Mysteries of Salvia Divinorum

Salvia is the most fascinating of all the plant medicines I've explored. The stories of people's journeys often involve intense and sometimes frightening experiences, with the word 'terror' frequently coming up. What sets Salvia apart is its unique chemical compound, affecting the brain in a distinct manner. There are many recurring themes in the trips which we will explore in this article.

There's a notable difference in approach between smoking the leaves and following the traditional Mazatec method. They say,

The plant doesn't like to be burnt and will respond accordingly.

Following the traditional way seems to offer a milder trip, awakening internal insights for personal growth. In contrast, smoking it can catapult you into a different reality, shaking the very core of your being. It distorts time and the fabric of life, creating foreboding feelings and visuals.

Even seasoned psychonauts can be caught off guard, as testimonials suggest. The power of Salvia shocks and blows away even the most experienced trip-takers, leaving an indelible mark on their consciousness. It's as if Salvador Dali invented a plant medicine — Salvia warps reality, leaving a profound impact. Many individuals are taken by surprise at its potency, often sold as a natural high with no warnings of what it truly offers. I have heard it described as the most powerful hallucinogen in the world, Salvia forces you to experience your reality through another dimension. One that induces a deep feeling of foreboding and often panic. Let’s dive into this weird world.

Salvia divinorum has a long history of traditional use as a medicinal and visionary plant in certain indigenous cultures in Mexico. It has been used by the Mazatec people, who reside in the Sierra Mazateca region in the northeastern part of the Mexican state of Oaxaca. The plant has been employed by Mazatec shamans in their spiritual and healing practices. The use of Salvia divinorum by the Mazatec people predates written records, and it is considered an ancient tradition that has been passed down through generations.

Albert Hofmann and R. Gordon Wasson: Salvia divinorum gained attention in the Western world through their work In the early 1960s, Wasson and Hofmann visited the Mazatec region and were introduced to Salvia divinorum by a Mazatec curandera (traditional healer) named María Sabina.

Hofmann's Isolation of Salvinorin A: Albert Hofmann isolated the psychoactive compound in Salvia divinorum, known as salvinorin A, and identified it as the active component responsible for the plant's effects.

Salvia divinorum contains a variety of compounds, but the one responsible for its psychoactive effects is salvinorin A. Salvinorin A is a neo clerodane diterpene, and it is unique among known hallucinogens in that it does not act on the serotonin receptors like many other psychedelics. Instead, it interacts with the kappa-opioid receptors in the brain. The kappa-opioid receptors are distributed throughout the central nervous system, including various regions of the brain such as:

• Cerebral Cortex. The outer layer of the brain, is associated with higher cognitive functions such as thinking, perception and decision-making.
• Limbic system, Involves emotions, memory and arousal. This includes structures such as the amygdala and hippocampus.
• Hypothalamus, Regulates various physiological functions including hormone release and the autonomic nervous system.
• Thalamus, which acts as a relay station for sensory information.  Brainstem includes areas such as the periaqueductal grey matter, which is associated with pain modification and basic life functions.
• Cerebellum, involved in motor control and coordination.

Apart from salvinorin A, other compounds have been identified in Salvia divinorum, although they are not typically associated with its psychoactive effects. Some of these compounds include:

Salvinorin B: Similar to salvinorin A,  is considered less potent by some and is considered a minor constituent in the plant. 

Salvinorin C: is another neo clerodane diterpene compound, though it is typically present in smaller amounts compared to the primary psychoactive compound, salvinorin A. Similar to salvinorin A, salvinorin C is believed to interact with the kappa-opioid receptors (KOR) in the brain.

Salvinorin D: A derivative of salvinorin B, it has been identified in trace amounts in the plant.

Divinatorins: Divinatorins, including divinatorin A and B, are diterpenoids found in Salvia, related to the primary psychoactive compound, salvinorin A. Though less studied, research suggests that these compounds may play a role in the overall chemical composition of the plant.

 

Chewing Fresh Leaves

Traditional methods involve chewing fresh Salvia leaves. This is the traditional method used by indigenous Mazatec people in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Leaves are chewed to release the active compounds, and the effects gradually set in over a longer duration.

Quid Method

Dried leaves can be used in the "quid" method, where a stack of leaves is chewed, and the juices are held in the mouth without swallowing for an extended period.

This allows for absorption through the oral mucosa and extends the duration of the experience.

Smoking

Smoking dried Salvia leaves or extracts is a common method for faster onset of effects.

The smoke is usually inhaled deeply and held in the lungs before exhaling.

 However, the Mazatec people say that the plant does not like to be burnt and warn against it. 

Vaporising

Vaporisation involves heating Salvia extracts or dried leaves to release vapours without combustion.

Vaporising may be considered a more controlled method compared to smoking.

Tinctures and Extracts

Salvia extracts and tinctures are concentrated forms of the plant.

These can be consumed sublingually (under the tongue).

Sublingual Absorption

Some users place crushed leaves or extracts under the tongue for sublingual absorption.

This allows the active compounds to be absorbed through the oral mucosa.

For a period, Salvia was not explicitly regulated in many places, and it is available for purchase in some countries, both online and in certain physical stores. However, as its use became more widespread, concerns arose about its potential for abuse, safety, and psychoactive effects.

Being easily accessible and not regulated people had no idea of its powerful effects which led to it not being taken seriously and often ingested alongside other drugs and alcohol which often led to very bad experiences. 

Countries responded to the use of Salvia by implementing legal controls. In Australia, regulations vary by state, while Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, and Sweden classified it as a controlled or narcotic substance from the mid-2000s to 2011. In the United Kingdom, Salvia was made illegal for production, supply, and human consumption under the Psychoactive Substances Act in 2016.

Dissociation: Users often report a profound sense of dissociation from their bodies or reality. 

Anyways I lost all awareness of existence. Everything I had ever known in my entire life vanished. ‘All my memories, experiences, insights, emotions, all vanished. All my knowledge of what the universe was, that time was, vanished. I ceased to understand that “existence” in itself existed.

Altered Perceptions of Time and Space: Time distortion is a common theme, with users experiencing time as slowing down, speeding up, or becoming non-linear. Perceptions of space may also be distorted, with a sense of entering different dimensions. 

I clearly remember all of the existence collapsing into a bright line immediately in front of me but stretching out to infinity on each side. Everything was lit by an incredibly bright light and surreally vivid. There was a loud rushing roar as the entire universe was collapsing and being pulled into the long thin line. I was acutely aware that all of existence was ending at that moment.

Encounters with Entities or Beings: Some users report encounters with entities, beings, or sentient presences. These entities are often described as otherworldly. It’s common to hear a voice telling you that

You’ve done it now and will never escape.

Something was grinding me into the cogs of the universe, and I could hear it talking! It was a woman's voice, tinny and echoey and somehow familiar. She was screaming at me, but the tone in her voice was quite pleased.

"OHHHHHHHH, YOU WANTED TO COME HERE!" She cried, and I heard other voices join in, laughing at her joke, mocking me for actually wanting to be in this horrible place, for bringing it on myself. She told me that I was never going to leave and laughed at my feeble attempts to move around

Hallucinations and Visual Distortions: Salvia can induce vivid visual hallucinations.

I have vague memories of reality splitting open, taking me into a cartoon-like dimension. Eventually I come out in what I can only describe as a huge warehouse-like place. I was way out of my body, in a completely different world. Here my personality was moving along a vast conveyor belt land, amongst hundreds of other personalities, represented by faces on square panels. My instincts were telling me that this is where people go when they die.

Sensory Merging: Users may describe a merging of sensory experiences, such as hearing colours or seeing sounds. This synesthetic blending can contribute to the overall disorienting nature of the experience.’

Loss of Self or Identity: Some users report a profound loss of self or ego dissolution. This can lead to a feeling of merging with the universe or experiencing a fundamental shift in one's sense of identity.

My entire existence seemed to be for the sole purpose of escaping this entrapment or at least making it less uncomfortable. As time became more and more real years passed as the pyramid slowly grew. I had neither identity nor hopes during those years, only a subconscious desire to unstick myself from this weight of reality.

Archetypal Symbolism

Conclusion