Lasting Effects of Using Salvia?

[Trent1080]

     I just got myself a plant and was psyched to start growing, selling, and using my own salvia.  I was talking with a friend and was shocked when I herd a couple of possible facts.  Salvia is a hallusinogenic, and an entheogen.  Hallusinogens such as LSD, after one use, can change your entire peception of the world forever.  It's not durastic but some users report noticing that everything is different, not the same as it was.  I am having a moral/ethical delema as to whether or not I should persue this hobby.  I used a very small amount with the result of copious laughter, yet I didn't notice any lasting effects. (I have a stigmatism anyway so my perception is already messed up. lol)  On a serious note I am very concerned as to the lasting and long term effects of salvinorin-A.  Anyone that has any information about effects please comment.  If there are any biologists among you I would like some detailed info, if any there is any, about how salvinorin-A effects the body.  I am an AP Biology student so I can pick up some idea of what's going on.  Is there any loss of receptors, breakdown of myelin, ect?  If I don't want to use it i don't want to spread it to others, especially ones I care about.  Thanks to anyone who can help me find out more!

[Trent1080]

Thanks LongJourney, it did give me a little more info on the possible cons of using salvia.  I am still in the dark as to what the price is to using it.  I realize this is a unstudied plant and the clips you gave me were ligitimate; they had quite a crew of experts.  I wish the chemist had some evidence as to why he disapproved of it.  Salvia is obviously an exeption in the hallusinogenic category.  What I gathered from the clips was that Salvinorim-A  is a diterpen that goes inside a body cell and directly causes a response; it bypasses receptors, unlike most hallusinogens, so there is no damage done to or reduction to the number of receptors.  It doesn't affect the brain, according to the EKG machines, and can cause elevated blood pressure and temperature during use in some individuals.  This is a step closer to finding out more, thanks again!

[Sorbus666]

I also did find the documentary on Salvia interesting.

On another note I did just read an article on Salvia and I found it surprising that salvinorin A does not interact with the serotonin (5-HT2A) receptor. I think this is an area that other hallucinogens will interact with and create all types of health issues, of course I am not an expert so take that info with a grain of salt.

I realize this post is a month old, but any chance on finding that article from the web?

[Paradoxic]

What I gathered from the clips was that Salvinorim-A  is a diterpen that goes inside a body cell and directly causes a response; it bypasses receptors, unlike most hallusinogens, so there is no damage done to or reduction to the number of receptors.  It doesn't affect the brain, according to the EKG machines, and can cause elevated blood pressure and temperature during use in some individuals.  This is a step closer to finding out more, thanks again!

Salvinorin A does not bypass receptors, any psychoactive substance interacts with brain receptors...that is precisely why they are psychoactives. Salvinorin A is active very specifically to the kappa-opioid receptor in our brains. The reason it is unlike most hallucinogens is because LSD, mushrooms, etc act on completely different receptors. Most any hallucinogen (with dissociatives like PCP and DXM as exceptions) will not damage brain receptors, but they can have lasting negative effects on the brain. For example, many people experience Hallucinogen Post Perception Disorder where they continue to have visual distortions, sometimes very serve, long after they have take a hallucinogen. You should expect Salvia could cause that as well. I have definitely heard of people having Salvia flashbacks.

The main thing I would worry about with Salvia is the extracts. The fact of the matter is when you do an extraction you are not only extracting salvinorin A but also all the other chemicals in the plant, which we know nothing about their long term effects. This is why I prefer to use just plain leaf.

[Sorbus666]

I also did find the documentary on Salvia interesting.

On another note I did just read an article on Salvia and I found it surprising that salvinorin A does not interact with the serotonin (5-HT2A) receptor. I think this is an area that other hallucinogens will interact with and create all types of health issues, of course I am not an expert so take that info with a grain of salt.

I realize this post is a month old, but any chance on finding that article from the web?

Sorbus,
 Here is that article you were looking for.
http://www.em-news.com/pt/re/emmednews/fulltext.00132981-200607000-00019.htm;jsessionid=LnFd2lHs3c7zYTJDnQGQLYmkXwbLtr54qQGvgx5NZtJl4vJRtpCn!851130288!181195628!8091!-1?index=1&database=ppvovft&results=1&count=10&searchid=1&nav=search

Thanks alot. That article cleared some concerns I have on Salvia. I should be getting my plant soon, but I don't intend to try it until I am absolutely certain and ready. I suffer from some level of depression, hence I won't want to use a psychedelic before I am generally in a better mental shape. (I don't believe the SD experience would alter, depressed or not, but I am just making sure nothing unwanted happens.)

Anyway, the point being that the drug doesn't interact with the serotonin receptors is still a great plus. If SD would drain serotonin from my brain like some other drugs do, it could plunge me back with my mental state a lot. Seeing that the drug mostly interacts with kappa opioid receptors is interesting, but makes the usage feel more comfortable.

Though I am only searching for max. level three trips, preferrably level one or two, all this information is important for me. I am waiting with Salvia as long as I need to feel comfortable. If I never do, atleast I'll have one more pretty plant in my kitchen-table garden  

[JustAnotherRegularGuy]

Though I am only searching for max. level three trips, preferrably level one or two, all this information is important for me. I am waiting with Salvia as long as I need to feel comfortable. If I never do, atleast I'll have one more pretty plant in my kitchen-table garden

Sorbus, you are very wise in your choice on when and if to use Salvia and a very responsible herb enthusiast indeed!

JARG