

Salvinorin A is the main active psychoactive molecule within Salvia Divinorum, a Mexican plant which has a long history of use as an entheogen by indigenous Mazatec shamans. It is structurally distinct from other naturally occurring hallucinogens (such as DMT, psilocin and mescaline) because it contains no nitrogen atoms, making it a terpenoid and not an alkaloid as is the norm. This means it cannot be rendered as a salt.

It also differs in subjective experience compared to other hallucinogens, and has been described as an atypical psychedelic although this formal classification is debatable.[citation needed]

Chemistry

Salvinorin A is a neoclerodane molecule, an oxygenated cyclic diterpenoid. It contains four isoprene groups bound to its oxygenated polycyclic rings. Salvinorin A is unique as it is not an alkaloid; it contains no nitrogen atoms unlike almost all known classical, natural, or synthetic hallucinogens.

Pharmacology

Salvinorin A is a potent κ-opioid receptor agonist. It does not have any effect on the 5-HT 2A receptor, the receptor targeted by most psychedelic substances, nor does it act as an NMDA receptor antagonist as dissociatives do. The unique structure of salvinorin A lacks features commonly associated with opioid ligand binding such as a guaternary carbon atom linked to a tertiary amine group by two other carbon atoms. Unlike traditional opioid agonists, salvinorin A targets the κ-opioid receptor rather than the μ-opioid receptor.

Salvinorin A also acts as a potent agonist at D 2 receptors,[1] which may be partially responsible for its hallucinogenic effects.

Subjective effects

Disclaimer: The effects listed below cite the Subjective Effect Index (SEI), a literature which relies on collected anecdotal reports and the personal experiences of PsychonautWiki contributors. As a result, they should be taken with a healthy amount of skepticism. It is worth noting that these effects will not necessarily occur in a consistent or reliable manner, although higher doses (common+) are more likely to induce the full spectrum of reported effects. Likewise, adverse effects become much more likely with higher doses and may include serious injury or death.

Experience reports

Anecdotal reports which describe the effects of this compound within our experience index include:

Additional experience reports can be found here:

Salvia Divinorum

The leaves of a Salvia divinorum plant

Salvia Divinorum (also known as Diviner's Sage, Ska María Pastora, Seer's Sage, and by its genus name Salvia) is a psychoactive plant which is a potent producer of "visions" and other hallucinatory experiences. Its native habitat is within Cloud Forest in the isolated Sierra Mazateca of Oaxaca, Mexico where it grows in shady and moist locations. The plant grows to over a meter high and has hollow square stems, large leaves, and occasional white flowers with violet calyxes.[citation needed]

Forms of Salvia Divinorum

Fresh leaf (sublingual)

The fresh leaf is typically used for making a quid of leaves and is held under the tongue for sublingual absorption. Fresh leaf is preferred for sublingual absorption because it does not break up in one's mouth and is easier to chew. If one plans to use dried leaf for a quid, they should soak them in water for at least ten minutes otherwise ingestion can become highly unpleasant. Soaking the dried leaf in water can also cause it to lose potency.

Light - 10 g fresh / 2 g dried

10 g fresh / 2 g dried Common - 30 g fresh / 6 g dried

30 g fresh / 6 g dried Strong - 50 g fresh / 10 g dried

Dried leaf (smoked)

Dried leaf is usually prepared by simply taking the leaf and leaving it out in the sun. The leaf can also be dried in the oven at about 150 degrees Fahrenheit until it becomes crispy. Dried salvia leaf is used for smoking.

Light - 0.25 g dried

0.25 g dried Common - 0.5 g dried

0.5 g dried Strong - 0.75–1.00 g dried

Extracts

Commercial salvia extracts are easily accessible both online and within local head shops in certain countries. They are sold in varying forms depending on how concentrated they are and are usually marketed as being 5X, 10X, 15X, 80X, etc. This symbolizes that the extract is X times stronger in psychoactive effects than those that can be had from the regular leaves (5X is 5 times as strong as regular leaf). The stronger the extract, the stronger the experience; use at your own risk.

Tincture

This is made by dissolving pure salvinorin A or a semi-pure form of it into ethyl alcohol. It is meant to be used sublingually by holding a certain amount under the tongue for a period of time. This type of preparation tends to cause longer but weaker effects. It's worth noting that holding strong tincture under the tongue for long periods of time can eventually cause blistering. It is sometimes best to dilute the pure tincture with water (although potency may be decreased).

Tea

A tea can be made by crushing 3–4 g of dried leaves and boiling them for 5 minutes. Afterwards, let it simmer for around 15 minutes. Salvinorin A is not orally active, so the tea has to be kept in the mouth for around 15–20 seconds for each sip. This tea, if properly brewed and ingested, can produce a trance-like state when closing the eyes and up to an entire night of vivid and intense dreams along with occasional closed eye visuals.

Other salvinorin A containing plants

Salvia Recognita

Salvia Recognita (also known as Turkish Cliff Sage ) is a psychoactive plant which is 10 times less than that of the potency of its relative Salvia Divinorum . Its native habitat is at the base of cliffs in the central Turkey, where it grows in light shade at elevations of 4,000 feet. The plant grows up to a meter high and leafs that span from 3-4 inches to nearly 1 foot long, and occasional white flowers with many whorls of widely spaced flowers.

(also known as ) is a psychoactive plant which is 10 times less than that of the potency of its relative . Its native habitat is at the base of cliffs in the central Turkey, where it grows in light shade at elevations of 4,000 feet. The plant grows up to a meter high and leafs that span from 3-4 inches to nearly 1 foot long, and occasional white flowers with many whorls of widely spaced flowers. Salvia Glutinosa (also known as Jupiter's Sage) is a psychoactive plant which is far less potent then that of Saliva Recognita. Its native habitat is in forested areas located around Central and East Europe and West Asia, where it grows in partial shade in calcareous soils, at elevations of 330 - 5,250 feet (100 - 1,600 metres) adobe sea level. The plant grows up to a 16-24 inches (40 - 60 cm) tall and hairy leafs that span from 5.1 inches (13 cm) inches with petioles of about 3.1 - 3.9 inches ( 8 - 8 centimetres), and occasional white flowers with many whorls of widely spaced flowers.

Classification

Currently, the scientific literature classifies salvinorin A as a hallucinogen. However, there is additional debate as to whether it can correctly be labeled as a dissociative or an atypical dissociative with some psychedelic and even delirious qualities.[citation needed]

Although salvia shares states of hallucinatory structures and out-of-body experiences commonly reported with typical dissociatives (NMDA receptor antagonists), this is arguably not sufficient so that it falls under the same classification. For example, the hallucinatory structures (although similar) are vastly different in their style and complexity. Alongside of this, the out-of-body experiences commonly reported with dissociatives are presumed to be triggered by the way in which NMDA receptor antagonists block signals to the conscious mind from other parts of the brain. This is accompanied by a distinctive feeling of dissociation, disconnection and detachment which is not present on salvia as it works on an entirely different set of receptors, the function of which in the human brain is almost entirely unknown.[citation needed]

The effects of salvia have a subjectively unique style and pharmacology that is not found within any other category of hallucinogen, this has led many within the psychonaut community assert that it deserves recognition for falling into an entirely new class of its own. Any compound within this subjective and pharmacological class could potentially be referred to as a "salviagenic". This would also include various other similar analogues such as Salvinorin B and many others.[2]

Research

Salvinorin A is currently being researched in relation to its properties as an anti-addiction drug, and several analogs with improved pharmacokinetic profiles have been shown to have anti-addictive effects as well.[3]

Toxicity and harm potential

This toxicity and harm potential section is a stub. As such, it may contain incomplete or even dangerously wrong information. You can help by expanding or correcting it.

We also recommend that you conduct independent research and use harm reduction practices when using this substance.

The toxicity and long-term health effects of recreational salvinorin A use do not seem to have been studied in any scientific context and the exact toxic dose is unknown. This is because salvinorin A is a research chemical with very little history of human usage.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that there are no negative health effects attributed to simply trying it by itself at low to moderate doses and using it very sparingly (but nothing can be completely guaranteed). Independent research should always be done to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe before consumption.

Due to its unusually potent and potentially overwhelming effects, it is strongly recommended that one use harm reduction practices when using this substance.

Please see Research Articles below in External Links section for dose related scientific research on Salvinorin A.

Tolerance and addiction potential

Salvinorin A is not habit-forming and the desire to use it can actually decrease with use. It is most often self-regulating.

Tolerance to the effects of salvinorin A does not occur. In fact, many users report that the effects of this substance can actually become stronger over time and with repeated usage (a phenomenon known as "reverse tolerance"). Due to its unique set of target receptors, salvinorin A presents cross-tolerance with no other hallucinogens.

Legal status

See also

Discussion

Research Articles

Literature

Johnson MW, Maclean KA, Reissig CJ, Prisinzano TE, Griffiths RR. (2010) Human psychopharmacology and dose-effects of salvinorin A, a kappa opioid agonist hallucinogen present in the plant Salvia divinorum. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2010 Dec 4.

Baggott MJ, Erowid E, Erowid F, Galloway GP, Mendelson J. (2010). Use patterns and self-reported effects of Salvia divinorum: An internet-based survey. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2010 Oct 1;111(3):250-6

Mendelson JE, Coyle JR, Lopez JC, Baggott MJ, Flower K, Everhart ET, Munro TA, Galloway GP, Cohen BM. (2010). Lack of effect of sublingual salvinorin A, a naturally occurring kappa opioid, in humans: a placebo-controlled trial. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2010 Dec 8. [Epub ahead of print]