Family:
Lamiaceae (Former: Labiatae)
Genus:
Salvia
Species:
Divinorum
Names:
Ska Pastora, Shepherdess's Herb, ska Maria Pastora, yerba de Maria, Sally-D
Effects:
A typical Psychedelic
Description:
Salvia divinorum is a perennial herb of the sage family found in the Mazatec region of Mexico. It's leaves contain the extremely potent chemical Salvinorin A. It has a history of use as a divinatory psychedelic, and has been widely available since the mid 1990s primarily as a smoked herb. Its effects are considered unpleasant or pleasant by many people depending on state of mind and personal experience.
History:
Salvia Divinorum was first recorded in Western literature in 1939 by Jean Basset Johnston while studying psilocybin mushroom use in Mexico among the Mazatecs. R. Gordon Wasson continued to documented its use between 1951 and 1962 and confirmed its psychoactivity on himself. The use of Salvia Divinorum likely dates back far into early Central American history, but documentation is so far very slim. Salvia remained an obscure entheogen until the mid 1990s when Daniel Siebert and others began self experimentation and sales of the leaf began over the net.
Onset:
When smoked, Salvia generally comes on very quickly. First effects are noticed between 20-60 seconds after smoking, increasing to peak effects within 1-2 minutes.
Duration:
The primary effects of Salvia divinorum last between 5-15 minutes. There is then a come-down period of 20-40 minutes before returning to baseline.
The Experience:
Depending on dosage, the Salvia experience can vary from a subtle, just-off-baseline state to a full-blown psychedelic experience. At higher doses users report dramatic time distortion, vivid imagery, encounters with beings, travel to other places, planets or times, living years as the paint on a wall or experiencing the full life of another individual. Needless to say these can be extremely powerful experiences and should only be attempted with a sitter. While most people remain unmoving during the experience, some individuals will attempt to get up and walk around while in a completely dissociated state.
