Publisher's Note! The publisher of this site in no way endorses the use of Salvia divinorum for any use beyond looking at it. Nor do I support any claims as to its use, safe or otherwise. If you want to "trip", be my guest. You'd better hurry though; Salvia divinorum is becoming more illegal by the day!

Salvia divinorum makes a beautiful potted herb, but it is not grown just for that reason

Salvia divinorum

Growing Zone- semi-tropical perennial (not exposed to freezing temperatures)

Salvia divinorum is a species of Sage, of the genus Salvia, member of the Mint family (Labiatae), botanical name of Salvia divinorum. The botanical name Salvia divinorum means "Sage of the Diviners." There are approximately 1000 species of Salvia worldwide. Recently, though, the most sought after is Salvia divinorum due to its psychoactive mechanism that was discovered in the 1990s.

Salvia divinorum makes a beautiful houseplant, and it is grown just for that reason, but most people who grow this plant are only interested in its psychoactive effects. Under the right conditions, taken in the right way, Salvia produces a unique state of "divine inebriation." For hundreds of years, it has been used in religious and healing ceremonies by the Mazatec Indians, who live in the province of Oaxaca, in Mexico.

The history of Salvia divinorum is a mystery, but there are several possibilities as to its origin.

Salvia divinorum was discovered in Oaxaca Mexico where the Mazatec native people use it to treat diarrhea, headaches and to facilitate visions. Since it is found in one small area of Mexico and only the Mazatec use it, it is thought to be native to this area, is a cultigen of the Mazatec, or is a cultigen passed on to the Mazatec from another indigenous group. The Mazatec are presumed to have created isolated strands of Salvia divinorum.  For this reason, it is widely thought to be an herb not occurring in a wild state.

Salvia divinorum plants produce flowers of both sexes on a single plant. Unlike other species of salvia, though, Salvia divinorum seeds will seldom germinate. For an unknown reason, the herb has reduced pollen fertility. Pollen sterility is often suggestive of a plant of hybrid origin, although no species is recognized as the possible parent species.

Salvia divinorum is an herb with large leaves and a distinctive thick, hollow, square green stem. The leaves are usually emerald green, occasionally yellow-green or even yellow, oval with serrated edges and can be several inches in length. The Salvia leaves are covered with a fine coating of extremely short hairs. When conditions are favorable, Salvia can grow as much as several yards high. The plants grow best in partial shade, in well-watered, but well-drained, soil. It is subject to root rot so the roots must not be over watered.

Propagation of Salvia divinorum is best done by cuttings or layering.

Salvia can be rooted by planting cuttings directly in potting soil.

• Cut a length of stem from a healthy plant. Trim the Salvia cutting back to just below a spot on the stem where you have removed a lower leaf, leaving a few small leaves at the top of the cutting.

• Place the stem into some rooting hormone to appoint above where you have removed a lower leaf, as this is from where the new roots will emerge. Shake off any excess rooting hormone. Use a pencil or a finger to make a hole in moistened potting soil about 2 inches deep. Place the cutting into the hole and gently press the soil tightly the cutting. Thoroughly water your planted cutting.

• Place a 1-gallon clear plastic bag over the rooted cutting, using a rubber band to hold it in place. As the plastic bag acts to conserve moisture, frequent watering is not required. After several weeks, transplant the now rooted Salvia plant to a larger pot.

The following is commonly thought to be true of Salvia divinorum:

• Salvia leaf is physically quite safe. It is very gentle on the body.

• Toxicological studies have shown that salvinorin A is extraordinarily non-toxic. No one has ever known to die from a Salvia overdose.

• Salvia is not habit-forming or addictive. People, who choose to use Salvia tend to do so quite infrequently.

• Salvia is not a stimulant.

• It is not a sedative, is not a narcotic, it is not a tranquilizer-

• Like many entheogens, at sufficiently high doses it can induce visions.

The list of the dangers of salvia seem to read similar to the list of the dangers of marijuana; there aren't any... I would say the jury is still out on the dangers of Salvia Divinorum. I have not seen any medical data or studies to support the claims of safety.

The presumed current legal status of Salvia divinorum

In many countries world wide Salvia divinorum is a legal plant. In the US Missouri, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Delaware are the only states prohibit its use. Salvia divinorum is legal in other states in the US. More states are rapidly being added to the "prohibited" list during each State Legislative Session.

As of this writing the Feds have not declared it a controlled substance, but they are "studying the herb." My guess is that it will not be long before they declare Salvia illegal.

Australia, Denmark, Belgium, Italy, and South Korea are countries that have legislation making possession of Salvia divinorum illegal. Spain prohibits the sale of Salvia divinorum, but not possession or use. In Finland, Norway, Iceland, and Estonia, it is illegal to import Salvia divinorum without a relevant prescription from a doctor.

It goes on and on; Additional information about Salvia's legal status, and pending legislation that might affect it, is available at: http://sagewisdom.org/legalstatus.html

Thomas Kueny, Publisher    http://www.growing-herbs.com