All topics

Salvia divinorum

Published on July 11, 2024 at 8:00 / Updated on July 25, 2024 at 8:00
Synonyms The most common synonyms are:
  • Maria pastora, Magic mint, Purple sticky, Sally D, Diviner's sage, Holy sage.
Classification Hallucinogen:
  • Causes users to see, hear or feel things that do not exist.
Visual description
  • Salvia divinorum is a plant that belongs to the mint family and is native to Mexico.
  • Used in its plant form (fresh or dried leaves) or as a white powder.
Mechanism of action
  • Highly selective kappa opioid receptor agonist (KOR).
Routes of administration
  • Inhalation: (the most common) Dried leaves or an extract of salvinorin A (the main active ingredient) are smoked.
  • Sublingual: The leaves are chewed and placed under the tongue.

Effects sought out by the user

  • Analgesia
  • Delirium
  • Distorted perceptions
  • Dysphoria
  • Out-of-body experiences
  • Sedation
  • Synesthesia (crossing of 2 or more senses)
  • Users become indifferent to their surroundings
  • Vivid hallucinations
Toxic effects
Mild intoxicationModerate intoxicationSevere intoxication
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Bradycardia
  • Hallucinations
  • Headache
  • Incoordination
  • Shivering
  • Slurred speech
  • Sweating
  • Vertigo
  • Vomiting
  • Anxiety
  • Dysphoria
  • Irresponsible behaviour
  • Loss of short-term memory
  • Unconsciousness

Effects associated with chronic use

  • Continuous exposure causes aversion, which deters users.

Addiction

Rarely observed.

Withdrawal

Headache, drowsiness.

Onset and duration of action
Route of administrationOnset of actionDuration of psychotropiceffect
Inhaled< 30 seconds5 to 10 minutes, then wears off after 20 to 30 minutes
Sublingual5 to 10 minutes1 hour then wears off after 1 hour

Intoxication management

  • No antidote available.
  • Treatment is mainly symptomatic.
Many different street drugs are sold under the same name. Furthermore, nothing guarantees the quantity, purity or even the content of a street drug in spite of the fact that it may, in some cases, look like medication.

If you need help or want to learn more:

The drugs and pharmaceutical services featured on the familiprix.com website are offered by pharmacists who own the affiliated pharmacies at Familiprix. The information contained on the familiprix.com site is for informational purposes only and does not in any way replace the advice and advice of your pharmacist or any other health professional. Always consult a health professional before taking or discontinuing medication or making any other decision. Familiprix inc. and the proprietary pharmacists affiliated with Familiprix do not engage in any way by making this information available on this website.