Salvia divinorum, or salvia for short, is an herb in the mint family often used for its hallucinogenic effects.

It’s native to southern Mexico and parts of Central and South America, where the Mazatec Indians have used it in traditional ceremonies for centuries.

Salvia’s active ingredient, salvinorin A, is considered one of the most potent naturally occurring psychoactive drugs. The effects of this drug include hallucinations, dizziness, visual disturbances, and more.

Common street names for Salvia include:

  • Purple Sticky
  • Maria Pastora
  • Sage of the Seers
  • Diviner’s Sage
  • Sally-D
  • Magic Mint

If you use salvia or have considered trying it, it’s a good idea to know what the drug is, what the potential risks are, and what you can expect when you take it. Keep reading to learn more.

Dried leaves aren’t considered potent, so salvia usually isn’t added to rolled cigarettes or joints.

Instead, fresh leaves are typically used to create an extract. Pipes or water bongs may be used to smoke these extracts. Extracts may also be infused in drinks or vaporizer pens.

Fresh leaves aren’t considered very potent when chewed, but some people may experience a mild effect.

How much salvia is safe to ingest depends on what type of salvia you use. Salvia can be potent, so small doses may produce hallucinogenic effects depending on the method of consumption.

Research has identified hallucinogenic effects via inhalation at 250 to 500 micrograms or 0.00025 to 0.0005 grams.

Salvinorin A, salvia’s active ingredient, impacts the brain in unclear ways. Researchers continue to study the drug to better understand its effects.

It’s thought that this ingredient attaches to the nerve cells in your body to create a variety of hallucinogenic effects.

The effects of salvia on your brain may include:

  • visual and auditory hallucinations, such as seeing bright lights, vivid colors, or extreme shapes
  • distorted reality and altered perceptions of surroundings
  • feeling as if you’re having an “out-of-body” experience or feeling detached from reality
  • slurred speech
  • laughing uncontrollably
  • anxiety or fear from a “bad trip”

These effects may occur rapidly, within just 5 to 10 minutes of smoking or inhaling the drug. Although these effects, or “the high,” can be short-lived, some people may experience a salvia “high” for several hours.

Some physical effects are also possible, including:

  • nausea
  • dizziness
  • possible loss of control over motor functions and coordination
  • irregular heart rate

Salvia studies are few and far between, but researchers are looking to better understand how the drug works and what effects it may have on the body and brain.

Salvia is often marketed as a “legal high” or a “natural high,” but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take precautions if you use it.

Because research is limited, the list of possible side effects and risks is short. However, the possible issues are serious and worth consideration.

These include:

  • Dependency: Salvia isn’t considered addictive — you’re unlikely to develop a chemical dependency on the drug — but many people who use it become accustomed to using the drug for the “high” effects. Regular use can be cause for concern.
  • Physical side effects: A small 2011 study found that people who use salvia, either alone or with alcohol or other drugs, were more likely to experience neurologic, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal side effects.
  • Effects on learning and long-term memory: A 2011 animal study found that salvia use may have negative effects on learning and impair long-term memories. This study was conducted in rats, so it’s unclear how this translates to humans.
  • Anxiety: Worries about the effects of the drug and fear of a “bad trip” may occur with salvia use. In severe cases, you may experience paranoia and possibly a panic attack.

Currently, salvia isn’t approved for any medical use in the United States. It’s also not controlled under Congress’s Controlled Substances Act. That means individual state laws apply to salvia but no federal ones.

Today, many states have laws on the books that outlaw buying, possessing, or selling salvia. Some states have age restrictions, and some states outlaw salvia extracts but not the plant.

Another small handful of states have decriminalized salvia possession, so you won’t be arrested if you’re found with the plant or extracts.

If you are curious about salvia, be sure to understand your state’s laws before seeking it out.

Salvia hasn’t been extensively studied. That means possible side effects and risks that could be detrimental to your health may not be understood yet.

Talk with your healthcare professional if you try salvia, especially if you experience unwanted side effects. This info can help your clinician provide more complete care and watch for complications that may be associated with use.

Keeping your healthcare professional in the loop is particularly important if you take prescription medications.