The Therapeutic Use of Salvia Divinorum

Salvia divinorum is native to the highlands of the Sierra Mazateca Mexico ; it belongs to the mint plant family. This herb has been of divination and healing benefit for the indigenes of Sierra Mazateca Mexico ; they used this plant as a hallucinogen. Other hallucinogenic plants used for a similar healing and religious purposes like the salvia plants are psilocybin mushrooms ( teo-nanactl ), peyote ( peyotl ) and ( ololiuqui ) morning glory.

Historic Use of the Herb

The employment of Salvia divinorum and other psychotropic plants in Mexico is traceable to the 16th century in the Spanish invasion ; at this time, religious practices associated with the utilization of these plants were prohibited by Catholic clergy in most part of Mexico. But the information and use of this plant was still maintained by the isolated group in central Mexico. This herb was identified in the U. S. as new specie of Salvia ( sage ) ; following the transportation of its sample in 1960 by R. Gordon Wasson and Albert H. To the US.

Salvia Divinorum As A Therapeutic Plant

Only the leaves of the plant were used after picking up the foliage in the required quantity by the Mazatec shamans for healing and divination purposes. It is removed or brewed as severely sour tea from its squeezed, ground or crushed form. For restoration of regularity and headaches relief, four or five pairs of either dry or fresh leaves can be a dose. Also the same dose of four or five leaves can function as a tonic for the treatment of generalized weakness, pains and aches. The healing nature of this herb is also extended to ailments like panzon de barrego ( distended belly ) ; a magician's caused infirmity. On the other hand, hallucination occurs in an individual when a dose of 20 to 60 leaves is employed.

The utilization of Salvia divinorum by the Shamans to prompt hallucination is for many reasons. The plant is used for diagnostic purpose for an individual whose source or cause of sickness isn't known. The Shamans who use the herb for healing would generally kneel to wish when they climb the mountain to harvest the herb. A dose of a hundred leaves is employed for a patient who suffers from the influence of alcohol by the Curandero ; and the dose of fifty leaves is used for other patient. The Shaman healer will generally squeeze the leaves into an elixir of water for the patient to drink ; after which the patient is inebriated into a trance. The words of the patient at this time are translated to be the real cause of the ailment ; an assistant typically accompanies the Curandero to an isolated place where the process of recovery for the patient is conducted. The patient will get rid of his dress at that moment as a mark of liberty from the sickness and then goes to sleep. The healing process will be completed next day, after the healer bathes the patient.

The healing use of Salvia divinorum described so far is the method used by the Shamans healer ; there are other uses of the herb which will be discussed in other sections of our site. Our site is constantly updated with info on this visionary herb.