Salvia divinorum

1. Salvia divinorum Does S. divinorum have any positive uses, or will it prove to be another abused drug? Jake Bird

2. S. Divinorum Botany Facts Scientific Name: Salvia divinorum Family: Lamiaceae (Mint Family) Also known as Diviner’s Sage or Sage of the Seer’s S. divinorum is “native” to the cloud forest of the Sierra Mazateca Mountains in Oaxaca, Mexico S. divinorum will grow in warm and moist climates in areas with well draining soil and plenty of shade. Grows to nearly 3 ft. tall and rarely flowers. When it does flower very few viable seeds are produced

3. History • Used for spiritual and medicinal purposes by the Mazatec indigenous people. • Dried leaves were chewed or made into a tea by Mazatec Shamans to give them the desired psychoactive effect used during meditation. • The leaves were also used as a pain suppressant by rubbing them directly on the skin. • The shamans also used it as a treatment for headaches, stomach aches, and was also used in shamanistic training.

4. Modern Popularity • S. divornum was not introduced into the scientific community until the 1950’s. • Has become a topic of ethnobotanical and biochemical research. • The active compound, Salvinorin A, because of its’ properties, could lead to many medical applications. • The internet has led to a rising popularity of Salvia among the psychedelic community. • It is available for purchase all over the web. Link

5. Salvinorin A Has absolute specificity on a single receptor in the brain Acts as a kappa opioid receptor agonists Produces psychoactive effect that could last minutes to hours depending on the method of intake. Effects include: loss of physical coordination, uncontrollable laughter, visions, experiencing multiple realities, total confusion, sense of flying or floating, feeling of becoming an inanimate object.

6. Salvinorin A • Salvinorin A is the most potent known natural psychoactive chemical • Only non-alkaloid that binds to the k-OR • Because of this it has been proposed to be a possible treatment for a number of medical problems.

7. Proposed Medicinal Uses Depression Drug Addictions Stress Insomnia Digestion Alzheimer's AIDS Chronic Pain Schizophrenia Cancer

8. Depression, Schizophrenia, and Alzheimer’s Research Bryan L. Roth, Professor at School of Medicine at UNC studied the profound actions on human consciousness via activation of the kappa Opioid receptor. Because Salvinorin A is the only non-alkaloid that affects the k-Opioid Receptor this compound could lead to treatment of mental illnesses. Roth et al

9. Drug Addiction Research • No formal research done on humans, but many salvia users claim that it cured their drug addictions • The only study done was on rats. • A rat addicted to cocaine, when given Salvinorin A, will no longer need cocaine, and will show no signs of withdrawals.

10. Other Medical Research There is no research done that directly relates Salvinorin A use to the treatment of AIDS, chronic pain, stress, cancer, or insomnia. k-Opioid receptor research looks positive in treating many types of diseases using drugs specific to that receptor, including Salvinorin A

11. Conclusions Bottom Line: S. divinorum is a highly potent plant that should not be taken recreationally. Too strong of chemical to not be regulated in some form Could be a possible treatment for drug addiction and even schizophrenia or Alzheimer’s. Not enough is known about this plant. More research is needed to show any negative and positive effects of this plant

12. Sources http://www.aapsj.org/view.asp?art=aapsj070361 http://pdsp.med.unc.edu/rothlab/web/views/viewDiscoveries.php http://www.salvia.net/en/effects.htm http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5290545 http://www.salviasociety.org/salvia-medicinal-uses.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvia_divinorum http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvinorin_A http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=salvia-on-schedule