Salvia is a consciousness-changing herb that can be used in a vision quest, or in a healing ritual. Salvia is available in its original leaf form an ounce of leaves will set you back around $30 and as an extract from the Mexican plant. Salvia is best smoked in a pipe, preferably water-cooled (bong), but a small sized tobacco pipe will also do. In the United States, salvia is not regulated under the Controlled Substances Act but some states, including Delaware, Louisiana, Missouri and others, have passed their own laws.



Extracts reduce the overall amount of smoke that needs to be inhaled, thus facilitating more powerful experiences. Extracts allow one to explore deeper levels than are available using just the plain leaf. Potency will depend on the naturally varying strength of the untreated leaf used in preparing the extract, as well as the efficiency of the extraction process itself. An extract of salvia is usually made by using a solvent such as ethanol or acetone. The solvent, which now contains dissolved extracted material, is evaporated onto salvia leaves, where the dissolved material is deposited.

Smoking is probably the most common method for 'Western' users. Like tobacco, smoking Salvia divinorum may involve health risks associated with the inhalation of various products of combustion, such tar, carbon monoxide, etc. To reduce the risk of inhaling too large a dose, it is generally best to avoid smoking products containing more than 15 mg salvinorin A per gram of leaf, unless the dose can be weighed precisely. When smoking it is a good idea to have asitter present although many smokers do not take this advice. A: salvinorin A does not produce a tolerance effect, so you can extend the experience by simply smoking more as soon as the effects begin to fade.

Research shows that the molecule has no affinity for the serotonin receptor, a key player in other hallucinogenic drugs. Aside from individual reports of self-medicated use in the treatment of depression, research suggests that Salvia divinorum, in line with the studied effects of other k-opioid agonists, may have further therapeutic potential.

This research has enhanced understanding of a wide array of human medical conditions including cancer, drug addiction, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, and normal aging and has led to the development of several promising treatment strategies. Other medical, biochemical and pharmacological scientists have published early studies suggesting that research on Salvia divinorum and Salvinorin A might eventually lead to new drugs that could be used to treat Alzheimer's, schizophrenia and other diseases.