Salvia Divinorum is a perennial herb in the mint family native to certain areas of the Sierra Mazateca region of Oaxaca, Mexico. It is one of 500 species of Salvia in the New World is in similar to the sage plant. The plant grows in large groupings to well over 3 feet in height. It’s large green leaves, hollow square stems and flowers are it's characteristic features. S. Divinorum is one of several vision-inducing plants employed by the Mazatec Indians.

There has been a recent interest among young adults and adolescents to re-discover ethnobotanical plants that can induce changes in perception, hallucinations, or other psychologically-induced changes. Since S. Divinorum, or any of its active ingredients are not specifically listed in the Controlled Substances Act, some on-line botanical companies and drug promotional sites have advertised Salvia as a legal alternative to other plant hallucinogens like mescaline. The plant material is smoked for the induction of "mystical" or hallucinogenic experiences.

Chemistry/Pharmacology:
"Salvinorin A" the active component of S. Divinorum, is most effective when vaporized and inhaled. Chemically, Salvinorin A is a neoclerodane diterpene, a psychotropic terpenoid. The grouping of psychoactive plants containing terpenoid essential oils includes Salvia Divinorum, Wormwood (Absinth), and Cannabis Sativa (tetrahydrocannabinols, THC). Divinorin A was chemically characterized by Valdes et al., in 1984, however Ortega et al., (1982) had previously characterized the same substance and called it Salvinorin A and thus, out of convention, the psychoactive substance should be called Salvinorin A. A dose of 200 to 500 micrograms produces profound hallucinations when smoked. Its’ effects in the open field test in mice and loco motor activity tests in rats are similar to mescaline. Salvinorin A’s action in the brain are not well elucidated. However, recent tissue testing (in vitro assays) have suggested that Salvinorin A may act at the kappa opiate receptor site, but functional assays are lacking to determine the exact mechanism of action of this drug substance.

Source: DEA, Drug Diversion Program, "Drugs of Chemical Concern: Salvia Divinorum," September, 2002