Post by Nobody on Oct 28, 2006 13:59:47 GMT -5
"Salvia divinorum, also known as Diviner's Sage, Magic Mint, Sally D, Ska María Pastora, or simply Salvia (although the genus name is shared among many plants) is a powerful psychoactive plant, a member of the sage genus and the Lamiaceae (mint) family. It has long been used as an entheogen by the indigenous Mazatec shamans for healing during spirit journeys. Salvia divinorum is also used ornamentally, as it is a beautiful houseplant. The plant is found in isolated, shaded and moist plots in Oaxaca, Mexico. It is thought to be a cultigen, as no definitively wild populations have been found.
...Dry leaves can be smoked in a pipe but most users prefer the use of a water pipe to cool the smoke. The temperature required to release salvinorin A from the plant material is quite high (about 240°C). A regular flame will work, but the direct application of something more intense, such as the flame produced from a butane torch lighter, is often preferred.
Many people find that smoking the unprocessed dried Salvia leaf produces only light or unnoticeable effects, perhaps due to the large volume of plant material that must be smoked to produce psychoactive effects. However, responses vary widely. A concentrated preparation of Salvia leaf called Salvia extract, with relative strength suggested by terms such as 5x, 10x, 15x, 20x, 40x, etc, may be smoked in place of natural strength leaves; this reduces the total amount of smoke inhaled for a given dosage of salvinorin overall, and facilitates more powerful experiences.
Sublingually ingested tinctures constitute another form of prepared Salvia.
The traditional Mazatec method may also be employed. However, salvinorin A is generally considered to be inactive when simply ingested as the chemical is effectively deactivated by the gastrointestinal system [3]. Therefore, the 'quid' of leaves is held in the mouth as long as possible in order to facilitate absorption of the active constituents through the oral mucosa. Chewing consumes more of the plant than smoking, and also produces a longer-lasting experience.
...Moderate doses appear trance-like. Time distortion and open-eye visuals become increasingly apparent. Fractal patterns and geometric shapes may be noticeable with eyes open, and can be confusing. Many people experience sensations of falling, similar to, but more pronounced than what is occasionally felt at the onset of sleep. The user may experience fully formed visions of other places, people, and events, especially with eyes closed.
At high doses the effects become more powerful and may additionally include out-of-body experiences, perceptions of dimensional distortion, vertigo, feelings of intense exhilaration and/or panic, sensations of wind or physical pressure, hearing voices, flanging of sound, significant open and closed-eye visuals, experiencing alternate realities, visiting parallel universes, life changing experiences, contact with beings or entities, dissolution of one's ego, dissociation and loss of speech. Many users report twisting or splitting feelings. Ordinary objects can morph into powerful visually animated creatures. It is also not unusual that, while experiencing the effects, a person will not remember that they have taken Salvia, which can cause the user to panic. A strong feeling of déjà vu is commonly reported as an effect of large doses of Salvia.
The experience is quite different from that of most other psychoactives and may be overwhelming, even with a conducive, reassuring and comfortable set and setting. Most Salvia practitioners recommend darkness and silence as the best environment; however, minimal, ambient or relaxing music can be helpful.
...The DEA has indicated on its website that it is aware of Salvia divinorum and is evaluating the plant for possible scheduling.
In late 2002, Rep. Joe Baca (D- California) introduced a bill (Congress bill HR 5607) to schedule Salvia as a controlled substance at national level. Those opposed to Joe Baca’s bill include Daniel Siebert, who sent a letter to Congress arguing against the proposed legislation, and the Center for Cognitive Liberty & Ethics (CCLE), who sent key members of the US Congress a report on Salvia divinorum and its active principle,[10] along with letters from an array of scientists who expressed concern that scheduling Salvia divinorum would negatively impact important research on the plant. Baca’s bill did not pass into law.
Illegal in Australia, Denmark, Belgium, Italy, and South Korea.
Illegal in U.S. states; Louisiana, Missouri, Delaware, and Tennessee."~ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvia_Divinorum