Dangers of Smoking Salvia

Salvia (Salvia divinorum) is a plant that belongs to the sage family and is native to Mexico. It is known in various other names like diviner's sage, seer's sage, etc. These names are derived from its traditional uses that include healing and divination. The medicinal uses of salvia has been traced back to the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans, who had considered this herb to be sacred and used it for therapeutic purposes. Even today, this herb is part of the traditional medical systems in different parts of the world.

Of late, salvia has been in news for all the wrong reasons. Being a psychoactive plant, salvia has been increasingly misused. It has been reported that the leaves of this plant are used for chewing and smoking, so as to derive a euphoric mental state. This herb is not declared illegal in most regions and so, is freely available from health stores. It is also found to be grown as a household plant. Easy availability and absence of legal constraints are among some of the reasons for its increasing misuse. However, most people are not aware of the dangers of smoking salvia.

Salvia Smoking

Salvia plants and leaves are commonly available in many parts of the world. In case of the United States, only a few states have banned this herb. Studies show that the leaves of this plant contain a compound called salvinorin, which is a highly potent psychoactive substance. The hallucination effect of this herb is mainly due to the presence of this compound. Earlier people used to chew the leaves for obtaining that 'high'. They also used to ingest the infusion prepared with the leaves. But, now, it is being used as a recreational drug and is found to be commonly used for smoking.

The dried leaves and leaf extracts of salvia divinorum are used for this purpose. The effects of smoking salvia are often compared to that of LSD. It can cause hallucinations and visions. A euphoric state is attained with its use and the users are often found to laugh uncontrollably and often have an altered mental state. It is said that a single use of salvia may not cause any harmful effects, but continuous use, that too in large amounts, may result in addiction.

Side Effects of Smoking Salvia

As mentioned above, salvia smoking causes hallucinations and leads to an altered mental state. The user may experience confusion and even lose his motor functions for some time. In some cases, uncontrollable twitching and twisting of the body may occur. The person may also develop dizziness, loss of coordination, dizziness and may even pass out. While some people are rendered unable to move after smoking salvia, others are found to move towards a single direction only. Salvia smoking is also linked to depression and suicidal tendencies as the mental state of the user is altered with its use.

There are also some reports about the aftereffects of using this drug. While for some of the aftereffects are pleasant, like an improved state of mind, for others, it may not be so. The dangers of smoking salvia include headaches, restlessness irritability, bronchial irritation and insomnia. As salvia can alter the mental state and affect the motor functions of the body, it is not advisable to drive vehicles or operate heavy machines (for at least five hours from the time of smoking) after smoking it. Even though it is not said to be addictive, long-term dependency may sometimes cause this problem.

Not much is known about dangers of salvia smoking and its long-term effects. However, it is advisable to refrain from using it as it can cause the above said effects. In some regions, it is now illegal to use salvia and if you handle it in such jurisdictions, you may land in trouble. So, it is always better to keep away from salvia.