Salvia divinorum FAQ

This FAQ is a compilation from two of the top informative sites about Salvia divinorum. The sites referenced are Sagewisdom.org and Erowid.org.

Table of Contents

1. Salvia Description & History

• What is Salvia divinorum?
Salvia divinorum is a type of sage which produces psychoactive effects when ingested. Smoking Salvia is the most common way of ingestion. The active compound in Salvia divinorum is Salvinorin A, which is responsible for the effects felt by the user and is not harmful to the body. This page contains more information on Salvia divinorum.

• What is Salvia's history of use?
Salvia divinorum was, and still is, ritualistically used by shamanic healers in Oaxaca, Mexico. These shamans have been using Salvia for hundreds of years to induce trance-like states within which cures for a disease or ailment can be found. These native shamans traditionally use fresh Salvia leaves and chew them or create a drinkable liquid comprised of Salvia juices and water.

• What is an entheogen?
An entheogen is any type of drug which can cause altered states of consciousness in the user. Entheogen also refers to the type of drug usage, such as when it is used in a serious spiritual journey. If a drug is used strictly for amusement then it would not be considered entheogenic.

• Are there other species of Salvia that are psychoactive?
There are hundreds of species of Salvia, since it is an entire genus of plant, but the only other species which produces psychoactive effects in its user is Salvia officinalis. This is a common culinary sage and is said to cause "intoxication and giddiness" if smelled for a prolonged time (Duke 1987 in Ott 1993). This and Salvia divinorum are the only known plants in the genus Salvia to have effects in the user at this time.

• What other names is Salvia divinorum known by?
Ska Pastora, Ska Maria Pastora, Maria Pastora, Sage of The Seers, Diviner's Sage, Sally-D, Magic Mint, S. Divinorum.

2. Buying & Measuring

• Where can I buy Salvia?
Here you can find a list of trusted vendors. Salvia is also sold in smoke shops in states where it is still legal, but the prices will be dramatically higher and quality will be somewhat questionable. Purchasing online is safer and will guarantee high quality product.

• Salvia leaves are often sold by the ounce. How many leaves will I receive?
While this can vary based on the sizes of the leaves, you will receive between 100-200 leaves per ounce. This is enough for 4-12 doses when using the quid method. Make sure you rehydrate the leaves with some water prior to rolling and chewing them.

• What is fortified leaf (extracted leaf)?
These are leaves which contain extra Salvinorin A. The Salvinorin A is extracted from a group of leaves and placed onto one individual leaf, creating a "fortified" leaf. This is also known as 5x, 10x, etc.

• What does Standardized and Non-standardized mean?
Standardized means that a specific amount of Salvinorin A (ex. 10mg) is extracted from a group of leaves and placed onto one leaf. This creates a consistent amount of Salvinorin A per gram of leaf and an overall higher quality than non-standardized.

Non-standardized means that the amount of Salvinorin A per each gram of leaf is not precise. This is naturally due to differing amounts of Salvinorin A on each individual leaf. You may receive more or less active ingredient than what is stated on the product.

• How many doses are in one gram of extracted leaf?
This depends on the potency of the extract and also the user's sensitivity. Here are the average dosages for smoking extracted leaf.

• Where can I buy Salvia divinorum seeds?
These are extremely rare because Salvia divinorum plants almost never produce seeds, even when hand pollinated. You most likely will not find these for sale anywhere. If you want to grow your own plant you can always buy a Salvia plant or buy cuttings and propagate them so they will grow.

3. Storage

• How long can I store Salvia divinorum leaves?
For many years. Salvinorin A will retain potency for at least 5 years when stored in a dark, room-temperature place. UV light (sunlight) will decompose the Salvinorin A on the leaves.

• How long can I store Salvia tincture?
Also for many years, although tinctures are especially sensitive to UV light. Keep them in a cool, dark place like a drawer or cabinet at room temperature.

4. Experience & Afterglow

• What is a Salvia divinorum experience like?
A Salvia experience is unlike any other psychedelic experience. At lighter doses it will alter your visual perception of the world around you and will allow mild visions to be seen. If you close your eyes you will see very unique figures and graphics which are iconic to Salvia divinorum. Users also report a feeling of intense pushing or pulling to one side or the other (aka "Salvia gravity") with low doses.

At higher doses one will experience full-blown dreams full of intense visuals and 3-D designs. You will be immersed in a new world unlike anything you have ever seen before. With higher doses it is best to lay comfortably on a bed so that you can fully absorb this new plane of existance. Be sure to read some user experiences to find out what others have seen and felt in this Salvia universe.

• What is the SALVIA experience scale?
This is a scale with which one may rate their overall Salvia experience.


Level 1 - "S" means subtle effects. The user knows that something is happening, but it is hard to place a finger on it. Most users note a sense of relaxation and increased sensual awareness. This level is useful when meditating and will also increase sexual pleasure.

Level 2 - "A" means altered perception. The user will see vivid colors and textures not seen without the aid of Salvia. Thought processes are slowed down and may become more cheerful and whimsical. The user will have a greater emotional connection with music and nature.

Level 3 - "L" means light visionary state. Closed eye visuals are increased. One may see geometric patterns and objects with his/her eyes closed. With open eyes the user will see light visual effects, but will not confuse them for reality as they will be faint and vanishing.

Level 4 - "V" means vivid visionary state. This is where the full effects begin to occur. Complex scenes may play out in ones mind. Voices or connections with spiritual beings may be made. With open eyes the user will not completely lose touch with reality but will be experiencing a whole new universe unfolding before them.

With closed eyes you may forget about the world around you and fully immerse into a dreamlike world. This level can be compared to walking through the doorway into another plane of existence and is the beginning of an eye opening and life-changing experience.

Level 5 - "I" means immaterial existence. At this stage the user is completely involved in the dream playing out in his/her mind. Though the user is still conscious, he/she has lost all contact with consensual reality. Individuality may be temporarily lost as the user merges with his/her idea of God or universal consciousness.

The user may act out the dream in the real world resulting in slurred speech, rapid movement, and trance-walking. A sober sitter is definitely advised to prevent the user from harming himself/herself or others.

Level 6 - "A" means amnesic effects. The highest level of experience with Salvia, the user will completely and utterly be in a different world. Time will not pass as it does in reality, making the trip feel like 10 seconds or 10 years. This is a very deep and trancelike state. Injuries can be sustained without pain being felt so again a sober sitter is advised.

The user will not have any recollection of the experience after coming down. Having experienced this level myself, I can simply say that it is only rewarding while the experience is taking place.

• What is Salvia afterglow?
These are the residual effects which can still be very lightly felt after a Salvia experience. Immediate afterglow may last for an hour or longer due to trace amounts of Salvinorin A still in the user's body. This can cause the user to feel a mild euphoria and peacefulness after the actual experience has worn off.

Persisting afterglow may last for several days after a Salvia experience. This is most likely due to the user integrating and comprehending the actual experience. A feeling of "enlightenment" is the best way to describe this.

5. General Usage

• How is Saliva used?
There are several methods of use for Salvia divinorum, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.

6. Smoking

• Is there a special trick to smoking Salvia?
There are definitely a few things you can do to obtain the best effects. Make sure to use a pipe or bong (do not use cigarette papers). Use the entire dose in one hit, reloading another if necessary. Hold the smoke in deeply for at least 20-30 seconds before exhaling. This is the most efficient way to smoke Salvia.

• What is the best lighter to use to smoke Salvia?
Any flame is hot enough to vaporize Salvinorin A. If you will be smoking plain Salvia leaves I would recommend a torch lighter becuase you will need to burn a lot of leaf in a short amount of time.

• Why can't I feel the full effects of Salvia?
Around 10% of people are extraordinarily unaffected by Salvinorin A. This can usually be overcome by using a higer dose.

• How can I extend the duration of an experience when smoking salvia?
Since Salvinorin A does not produce a tolerance in the user, you can simply use more as soon as the effects wear off. With multiple doses you can achieve a relatively constant experience for hours.

7. Vaporization

• What is vaporization and is it better than smoking Salvia?
Vaporization is the heating of essential oils in a substance without igniting it. It is healthier for the lungs because no carbon monoxide is inhaled. I have created a full page dedicated to vaporizing Salvia divinorum.

8. Chewing (quid)

• Does chewing Salvia work as fast as smoking?
Taking Salvia orally will take longer to work than smoking. Chewing Salvia will produce a longer experience (1-3 hrs) while smoking Salvia will produce a short but stronger experience (5-20 mins).

• What is the Quid method?
A quid is a rolled up cylinder or ball of fresh leaves. It is placed between the lips and gums while the juices are absorbed into the mouth tissues. This page has more information on the quid method.

9. Salvinorin A

• What exactly is Salvinorin A?
Salvinorin A is the most potent naturally occuring hallucinogenic. It is found naturally on Salvia divinorum leaves and is the active ingredient which causes Salvia's effects. It is classed as a neoclerodane diterpenoid, not an alkaloid. It is a kappa opioid receptior agonist.

• What is an opioid receptor?
These are specific chemical-recognition proteins found on cell membranes in many organs, including the central and peripheral nervous system. These proteins produce an effect when they come in contact with a chemical that binds to them and triggers activity.

• Will Salvia divinorum or Salvinorin A show up on a drug test?
No, unless specifically testing for. Since Salvinorin A is a diterpenoid and not an alkaloid, this means it does not contain nitrogen and will not show up on a general drug test. Also it is not chemically similar to other drugs tested for and will not produce a false-positive result, making it untracable in common drug tests.

• Are there other psychoactive substances in Salvia divinorum?
A substance called divinorin C has been reported by Valdes et. al to be behaviorally active in lab mice at lower dosage than Salvinorin A. Divinorin C is closely related chemically to Salvinorin A, so it may contribute to the psychoactive effects of Salvia leaves.

Since divinorin C has not yet been studied to great extent and also has not been biologically assessed on humans, Salvinorin A still remains to be the only compound found in Salvia divinorum to be psychoactive in humans.

10. Growing Salvia divinorum

• Is it difficult to grow Salvia divinorum?
Not at all. Salvia divinorum will grow very easily given the right conditions and proper watering. This page is dedicated to growing Salvia divinorum.

11. Legality

• What is the legal status of Salvia divinorum?
Here you will find the legal status of Salvia in countries around the world. If you country is not listed then it is likely to still be legal.

• How can I stop Salvia from becomming illegal?
Use Salvia responsibly and privately. If you would like to write your local congressman or legislation it will have great impact, the more letters the better. The government is only outlawing Salvia because they realize its potential to create dangerous scenarios for people to get injured. By practicing safe use you will do your part to keep this plant legal.

12. Medical Uses

• Are there medical uses for Salvia?
Traditional Mazatec shamans have used Salvia to treat common medical conditions such as colds, sore throats, and constipation. Today, there are no widely accepted uses for Salvia divinorum in medical practice. However Salvia divinorum is currently being studied for its psychological use as an antidepressant, pain reliever, and psychotherapy aid.

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