Behavioral Effects of Essential Oil From Salvia

First used by the Mazatec tribe of northern Oaxaca in southern Mexico as medicinal treatment and divination tool, Salvia divinorum contains the active ingredient Salvinorin A that creates hallucinogenic effects. Though first recorded by American Jean B. Johnson in 1938, it was not until 1962 that a specimen of the plant was obtained for study. Increased use of the herb, which can be ingested, vaporized or inhaled, and its psychological effects to the user are cause for concern.

Salvia Divinorum Extract

• While chewing fresh and dried leaves is a common method of ingesting Salvia divinorum, extractions of Salvinorin A can also be made to aid in the use of the herb. Crushing the leaves of the plant draws out the psychoactive component, which is then mixed with liquid to be drunk or vaporized. Since Salvinorin A is most effectively absorbed through the oral mucosa, users can apply a small concentrated amount of essential oils made from the Salvinorin A extract to the tongue to be absorbed. When added to a drink, the effects are milder as Salvinorin A is deactivated by the gastrointestinal system. The Salvinorin A extract can also be heated to produce vapors that are inhaled.

Brain Influence

• Of the same genus as the common herb sage, the psychoactive ingredient of Salvia divinorum, Salvinorin A ,distinguishes this species of Salvia from other known types. In August 2002, researchers found evidence showing that Salvinorin A affects the kappa opiate receptor area of the brain, which regulates human perception and can lead to hallucinations. While considered to be one of the most powerful natural hallucinogens, Salvia divinorum's effect on the KOR section of the brain has benefits for people suffering from decreased perception functions including Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. However, studies have shown no prolonged influence on the brain, making the efficacy of Salvia divinorum as a form of psychotherapy inconclusive.

Hallucinations and Behavioral Effects

• While dose and form of ingestion can determine the strength of the influence on the brain, the most common side effect of Salvia divinorum is hallucination. The Center for Substance Abuse Research at the University of Maryland reports that such hallucinations can range from "intense" to "less intense." Intense hallucinations can include feelings of "traveling through time and space, of floating of flying; sensations of twisting and spinning, heaviness or lightness of the body." Less intense effects are defined by the center's researchers as occurring only when the eyes are closed and can involve visual hallucinations of various patterns and shapes that end when interrupted by noise or light. The National Institute of Drug Abuse also notes behavioral effects include mood swings, detachment and a decreased ability to interact with surroundings.

Concerns and Regulation

• While Salvia divinorum is not yet regulated by the U.S. Controlled Substances Act, individual states have enacted laws to regulate the herb locally. Growing concerns about the effects of Salvia divinorum have prompted the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to monitor use of the herb. In addition, the agency has considered the criminalization and classification of the herb as a Schedule I drug. Previously classified Schedule I drugs include the hallucinogen LSD and marijuana As of 2011, Australia was the only country to criminalize the Salvia divinorum and its psychoactive ingredient Salvinorin A .