What Is Salvia Divinorum? Other Names: Divine Mexican Mint, Divinorin, Feuilles de la Bergère

What is Salvia Divinorum?

This post was written with Consensus AI Academic Search Engine – please read our Disclaimer at the end of this article. Salvia divinorum, commonly known as Salvia, is a psychoactive plant belonging to the mint family. It has been traditionally used by the Mazatec shamans of Mexico for divination and spiritual healing purposes. In recent years, it has gained popularity as a recreational drug due to its potent hallucinogenic effects. Other names include: Divine Mexican Mint, Diviner’s Mint, Diviners Sage, Divinorin, Divinorin A, Feuilles de la Bergère, Feuilles de la Vierge, Herb-of-the-Virgin, Herb of Mary, Herba de María, Hierba de la Virgen, Hierba Maria, Hojas de la Pastora, Hojas de Maria, La Hembra, Leaf of Mary, Leaves of the Virgin Shepherdess, Magic Mint, Menthe Magique, Mexican Mint, Mexican Sage, Mexican Sage Incense, Pipiltzintzintli, Sadi, Sally-D, Salvia, Salvia divinorum, Salvinorin, Salvinorin A, Sage of the Seers, Sauge des Devins, Sauge Divinatoire, Shepherdess, Ska Maria, Ska Maria Pastora, Ska Pastora, Yerba de Maria, Yerba Maria.

Active Compound: Salvinorin A

The primary psychoactive component of Salvia divinorum is Salvinorin A, a highly selective kappa-opioid receptor agonist. Unlike most hallucinogens, which typically act on serotonin receptors, Salvinorin A’s unique mechanism of action involves the kappa-opioid receptors, leading to distinct psychotropic effects1 3 4.

Psychopharmacological Effects of Salvia Divinorum

Subjective Experiences

Salvinorin A induces a range of subjective experiences, including intense visual and auditory hallucinations, changes in spatial orientation, and a sense of detachment from reality. Users often report revisiting childhood memories, experiencing cartoon-like imagery, and encountering entities1 2 4. The effects are rapid in onset, peaking within minutes of inhalation and typically dissipating within 20 minutes1 6.

Cognitive and Perceptual Alterations

Salvinorin A produces significant cognitive and perceptual alterations, including dissociative effects and impairments in memory recall and recognition. These effects are dose-dependent and can lead to a complete loss of contact with the body at higher doses4 6. The drug also modulates interoception, the sense of the internal state of the body, which can result in unusual somatic sensations4.

Physiological Effects

Despite its potent psychoactive properties, Salvinorin A does not significantly affect heart rate or blood pressure, making it relatively safe from a cardiovascular standpoint1 3. However, it does increase plasma cortisol and prolactin levels, indicating a stress response3 8.

Abuse Potential and Safety

Salvia divinorum has a low potential for addiction, primarily due to the lack of euphoric effects commonly associated with other recreational drugs. The transient nature of its effects and the intense, often unsettling experiences it induces contribute to its intermittent use pattern3 8. Studies have shown that Salvinorin A is well-tolerated without acute or delayed adverse effects when used in controlled settings3 6.

Therapeutic Potential

Recent research has explored the potential therapeutic applications of Salvinorin A. For instance, it has shown promise as an antidepressant in animal models of anhedonia, a core symptom of depression7. The unique mechanism of action of Salvinorin A, involving the kappa-opioid receptors, suggests it could offer new avenues for treating mood disorders7.

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Adverse Effects of Salvia Divinorum

Psychotomimetic and Perceptual Alterations

Salvinorin A induces intense psychotomimetic effects, including dissociative and somaesthetic experiences, visual and auditory modifications, and a sense of detachment from reality1 2 3 4 5.

Memory Impairment

Users experience significant impairments in recall and recognition memory, which are dose-related and transient2 5.

Cognitive and Sensory Disruptions

Salvinorin A disrupts external sensory perception, leading to altered interoception and a loss of contact with the body at higher doses3 5 6.

Neuroendocrine Effects

The drug increases plasma cortisol and prolactin levels, indicating a stress response1 3.

Cardiovascular Effects

Salvinorin A can increase systolic blood pressure, although it does not significantly affect heart rate3 6.

Lack of Euphoria and Addictive Potential

Unlike many other hallucinogens, Salvinorin A does not produce euphoria, suggesting a low potential for addiction1.

Short Duration of Effects

The effects of Salvinorin A are rapid in onset and short-lasting, typically peaking within minutes and dissipating within 20 minutes2 6 8.

No Persistent Adverse Effects

Studies indicate no evidence of long-term adverse effects or persisting negative outcomes one month after use2.

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How has Salvia Divinorum Improved Patient Outcomes?

Subjective Experience and Sensory Alterations

Participants reported intense and unique experiences with rapid onset, including marked changes in auditory, visual, and interoceptive sensory input, and a loss of normal awareness of themselves and their surroundings1 2.

Cognitive and Affective Shifts

Users experienced significant cognitive-affective shifts, including delusional phenomena and mystical-type experiences, which were dose-related and peaked shortly after administration1 2.

Safety and Physiological Effects

Salvinorin A, the active compound in Salvia Divinorum, did not significantly increase heart rate or blood pressure, indicating a relatively safe physiological profile under controlled conditions2.

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Salvia Divinorum Mechanisms of Action

Kappa-Opioid Receptor Agonism

Salvinorin A acts primarily as a kappa-opioid receptor agonist, which is responsible for its hallucinogenic and dissociative effects1 2 3 4 5 6.

Subjective and Perceptual Effects

SA induces intense dissociative effects, including altered sensory perception, interoception, and a sense of body ownership. These effects are dose-dependent and include visual and auditory modifications, as well as mystical-type experiences1 2 3 4 5 9.

Neuroendocrine and Physiological Effects

SA administration leads to increased plasma cortisol and prolactin levels, but does not significantly affect heart rate or blood pressure. These effects are transient and not dose-related1 4.

Functional Connectivity in the Brain

SA decreases within-network static functional connectivity (sFC) and increases between-network sFC, particularly attenuating the default mode network (DMN). It also reduces dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) while increasing entropic functional connectivity (eFC)8.

Lack of Serotonin-2A Receptor Involvement

The effects of SA are not mediated by serotonin-2A receptors, distinguishing it from classic serotonergic hallucinogens like psilocybin and mescaline. This was confirmed by the lack of effect of ketanserin, a serotonin-2A antagonist, on SA-induced changes4.

Administration and Bioavailability

Inhalation of SA results in rapid onset and peak effects within minutes, whereas sublingual administration shows low bioavailability and does not produce significant effects2 7.

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Common Complaints Associated with Salvia Divinorum Use

Intense and Rapid Onset of Effects

Users report a rapid onset of intense and unique experiences, often within minutes of inhalation2 3.

Perceptual Alterations

Significant changes in auditory, visual, and interoceptive sensory input are common, including hallucinations and delusional phenomena2 3.

Cognitive and Affective Shifts

Users experience marked cognitive and affective shifts, such as losing normal awareness of themselves and their surroundings2 3.

Disruptions in Vestibular and Interoceptive Signals

Experiences often include changes in spatial orientation and sensations of pressure on the body3.

Recurring Themes and Mystical Experiences

Some users report recurring themes such as revisiting childhood memories, cartoon-like imagery, and contact with entities, along with mystical-type experiences3.

Potential for Abuse

There is a noted potential for abuse, as indicated by the intense and unique nature of the experiences2.

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