Effects of Salvia - Immediate, short term and long term effects of Salvia

An example of Salvia inspired Visionary art.

A survey of Salvia users found that 38% described the effects as unique. 23% said the effects were like yoga, meditation or trance.

Media reporters rarely venture to take Salvia for themselves but one firsthand journalistic account has been published in the UK science magazine New Scientist:

"the salvia took me on a consciousness-expanding journey unlike any other I have ever experienced. My body felt disconnected from "me" and objects and people appeared cartoonish, surreal and marvelous. Then, as suddenly as it had began, it was over. The visions vanished and I was back in my bedroom. I spoke to my "sitter" - the friend who was watching over me, as recommended on the packaging - but my mouth was awkward and clumsy. When I attempted to stand my coordination was off. Within a couple of minutes, however, I was fine and clear-headed, though dripping with sweat. The whole experience had lasted less than 5 minutes."

There have been few books published on the subject. One notable example is Dale Pendell's work "Phamako/Poeia - Plants Powers, Poisons, and Herbcraft", which won the 1996 Firecracker Alternative Book Award and has a chapter dedicated to Salvia divinorum. It includes some experience accounts:

"It's very intense, I call it a reality stutter, or a reality strobing. I think that having been a test pilot, and flying in that unforgiving environment with only two feet between our wingtips, helped to prepare me for this kind of exploration."

Some have written extensive prose and/or poetry about their experiences. Some describe their visions pictorially, and there exist examples of visionary art which claim to be Salvia inspired. Others claim musical inspiration from the plant. An example is the song "Salvia divinorum" by 1200 Micrograms.

After Effects

Short Term

After the peak effects, normal awareness-of-self and the immediate surroundings return but lingering effects may be felt. These short-term lingering effects have a completely different character than the peak experience. About half of users report a pleasing 'afterglow', or pleasant state of mind following the main effects. Researchers (Baggott, et al) from the University of San Francisco conducted a survey of 500 Salvia users which identified that they 'sometimes or often' experience the following common (>20% occurrence) lingering after effects:

Salvia divinorum is also used in 'folk' medicine as a diuretic.

Long Term

While 'improved mood' is one of the most commonly noted short-term effects following usage, Baggot's Salvia user survey results also found that 25.8% of respondents reported antidepressant-like mood improvements lasting 24 hours or longer. These findings are in-line with known properties of k-Opioid (kappa-Opioid) receptor agonists as well as anecdotal reports and findings of clinicians.

'Forced-Swim tests,' whereby rodents are forced to swim in a narrow cylinder from which they cannot escape, have suggested that Salvia divinorum may have "depressive-like effects." However, this conclusion is contested, as studies on humans seem to indicate that Salvia has antidepressant effects.

Salvia has not been found to be either physically or psychologically addictive. The results of the Baggot survey, which used the standard psychiatric drug dependence diagnostic framework, indicate that Salvia has little if any potential as a drug of dependence. Both scientific and anecdotal user evidence indicates that chemical constituents of Salvia may in fact have potential as therapy for drug addictions to stimulants (e.g., amphetamines) and opiates. Research has shown that the plant contains neoclerodane diterpenes that have therapeutic potential for helping people who have drug abuse problems. The neoclerodane diterpenes in Salvia are k-Opioid receptor agonists. k-Opioid receptor agonists, according to Tidgewell et al, (AAPS Journal), "possess utility in the treatment of opioid dependence and have been shown to have anti-depressant activity as well as block stress-induced behavior responses."
Most users report no hangover or negative after-effects the next day. This is consistent with the apparent low toxicity of Salvia indicated by research conducted at the University of Nebraska.

·	Uncontrollable laughter.
·	Past memories, such as revisiting places from childhood memory.
·	Sensations of motion, or being pulled or twisted by forces.
·	Visions of membranes, films and various two-dimensional surfaces.
·	Merging with or becoming objects (for example a ferris wheel).
·	Overlapping realities, such as the perception of being in several locations at once.

·	Increased insight - 47%
·	Improved mood - 44.8%
·	Calmness - 42.2%
·	Increased connection with universe or nature - 39.8%
·	Weird thoughts - 36.4%
·	Things seem unreal - 32.4%
·	Floating feeling - 32%
·	Increased sweating - 28.2%
·	Body felt warm or hot - 25.2%
·	Mind racing 23.2%
·	Lightheaded - 22.2%
·	Increased self-confidence - 21.6%