Instead, certain states have begun making laws banning the use or sale of the drug. Because the drug isn’t commonly included in standard drug panels, it’s often difficult to say precisely how long it remains detectable. While the intensity of the experience diminishes within an hour, trace amounts could potentially linger for a short time. It’s best to assume that salvia is not easily found on standard screenings. Unlike LSD or psilocybin mushrooms, which may take longer to peak and last for hours, salvia offers a condensed, highly potent experience.
Psychedelics & Witchcraft: Deliriants, Soporifics, & Folklore
If you suspect someone is misusing salvia or showing signs of salvia abuse and salvia addiction, early intervention is key. Salvia’s effects come on fast and wear off relatively quickly, typically within an hour. Most standard drug tests do not screen for salvia, and the substance’s chemical signature may leave the body rapidly. More specialized testing methods might detect salvinorin A or its metabolites, but these tests are not routinely used. Dr. Byron McQuirt leads works closely with our addictionologist, offering holistic, evidence-based mental health and addiction care while educating future professionals.
Origins and traditional use
Salvia divinorum is a plant belonging to the mint family that is derived from Mexico. Despite how horrifying this plant actually is, it’s completely legal in most parts of the world and is a fairly common garden variety — well-loved for its attractive flowers. There hasn’t been much pushback against the use of datura because it’s not a substance people tend to recommend or ever take for a second time. Yes, extremely — it’s quite possibly one of the most psychoactive species on earth. But most people who actually use this plant for its psychoactive effects are those that don’t know anything about it.
In traditional Mazatec ritual, shamans use only fresh Salvia divinorum leaves. Modern methods have been developed to more effectively absorb the active principle, salvinorin A. If enough salvinorin A is absorbed, an altered state of consciousness can occur. The duration of experience varies with the method of ingestion and the amount of salvinorin A absorbed. Researchers continue to study salvinorin A’s effects on the brain, as understanding its mechanisms of action may offer insight into the neural basis of dissociation and consciousness.
- The active ingredients are a group of compounds that act as anticholinergics (more on what this means later).
- Most standard drug tests do not screen for salvia, and the substance’s chemical signature may leave the body rapidly.
- Interestingly, salvinorin A is active at microgram doses, which places it among the most potent naturally occurring psychoactive compounds.
- This means if you’ve done it correctly, you shouldn’t feel much of anything.
Can You Smoke Datura?
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) considers salvia a “drug of concern” because of its availability and how easily it can be misused. When any hallucinogenic or dissociative substance is used repeatedly, there’s a risk of developing a problematic relationship with it. This issue could manifest as a hallucinogen-related substance use disorder—essentially a pattern of use that interferes with daily life, mental health, or physical safety.
Some regions allow possession and sale, while others impose strict bans. Here’s what you need to know before you buy Salvia online or use it in your country. Some Salvia tinctures are alcohol-based, while others are made with glycerine or acetone.
“It just feels right”
Salvia divinorum grows naturally in the misty cloud forests of Oaxaca, Mexico. The Mazatec people have long considered it sacred, referring to it as “ska María Pastora”. For generations, they’ve used the plant in rituals aimed at healing, divination, and spiritual communion. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll look at the history, effects, legality, uses, and risks of Salvia divinorum. Whether you’re curious about Salvia’s effects, legality, dosage, or where to buy Salvia online safely, this guide covers it all. The authors stated that patients intoxicated on salvia require aggressive monitoring and supportive care.
- This makes salvia different from other hallucinogenic drugs like LSD and mushrooms, which affect the brain’s levels of a chemical called serotonin.
- People who overdose on datura can experience lasting hallucinations for up to 9 months.
- They may be frightening, depending on how strong a dose of the drug someone takes.
- In other states, salvia is legal or regulated differently—some allow its use for specific purposes or have only restricted sales to minors.
Some people are mixing brews that contain mostly datura or other hallucinogenic plants — rather than the two herbs traditionally used to make ayahuasca. Its potent hallucinogenic effects can lead to a variety of risks, both short- and long-term. While salvia has a long history of use in traditional settings, it has gained popularity in the United States and other countries as a recreational drug.
Our team of licensed medical reviewers, experts in mental health and addiction medicine, is dedicated to helping readers and potential clients make well-informed choices about their treatment options. We uphold rigorous accuracy standards, relying only on trustworthy sources for the content we share on our website. While most people only experience effects for 20 minutes to 30 minutes, high doses can lead to longer-lasting effects of up to a few hours. Some cultures have used salvia as a part of religious practices to experience “Shamanic visions” during spiritual ceremonies. Even though salvia is commonly abused, it is not considered a controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
This plant is considered a deliriant — which means it induces a state of delirium. It alters your perception of reality — making you see things that aren’t really there. Some of what you see is real, some of it is not — and there’s no way of knowing which is which. If someone you know is using salvia, it’s important to approach them with compassion and understanding. Encouraging them to seek professional help, such as addiction therapy or counseling, can be a key step in the recovery process. Modern methods of ingestion include smoking or chewing the leaf, or using a tincture, as described in the following sections.
Salvia’s status—sometimes legal, sometimes not—contributes to its appeal as a relatively easy-to-obtain hallucinogen compared to more strictly controlled substances. Salvia’s potential for creating a substance use disorder is not fully understood. Its effects are often short-lived, with an intense but fleeting high that might last anywhere from a few minutes to about an hour. Currently, researchers have not confirmed that salvia leads to physical dependence in the same way opioids or alcohol might.
More likely, datura will take you through a complete psychedelic hell, often how long is a salvia trip lasting two or three days. When it finally spits you out the other side, you’re left questioning what’s real and what isn’t and may even experience lasting “glitches” in the framework of reality. Many people have died from the physical side effects of this plant, and it doesn’t take much to go from a psychedelic dose to a lethal dose.
Its unique action on kappa opioid receptors, in particular, makes it a candidate for treatments that don’t rely on traditional opioids or serotonergic pathways. But chewing Salvinorin A extractions can produce hallucinations that last from one to two hours. When the substance is left in the mouth, the effects become stronger over time.