The Salvia divinorum Research and Information Center - Shroomery

Ps94amay99
Salvinorin A (1) Salvinorin B (2)
FIG. 1 - STRUCTURES OF SALVINORINS (DIVINORINS) A (1) AND B (2)
While conducting research on Mexican morning glories and hallucinogenic mushrooms (Schultes & Hofmann 1980), Wasson
and Hofmann collected a psychotropic member of the Lamiaceae (Labiatae) or mint family in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico.
They brought it to the United States, where it was identified as a new species, Salvia divinorum (Wasson 1963, 1962; Epling &
Játiva-M. 1962). One of some 700 New World species of the genus Salvia, this plant is known to its Mazatec Indian users as
Ska María Pastora or las hojas de la María Pastora (the leaves of Mary, the Shepherdess). In field studies, the present author
was fortunate to work with Don Alejandro Vicente, a true maestro of curanderos (healers), and his son, Felipe, who translated
between Spanish and Mazatec. They lived in the lowlands of eastern Oaxaca, and one had to travel to the mountains, Cerro
Rabón or Cerro Quemado, where the plant grows, in order to collect its leaves.
S. divinorum is used by Mazatec curanderos for its hallucinogenic effects. They believe it allows them to travel to heaven and
talk to God and the Saints about divination, diagnosis, and healing. It is reputed to be weaker than both the morning glory
seeds and the various species of mushrooms. Thus, it is often the first of the three psychotropic plants employed in the training
of future shamans. In addition to being used as an hallucinogen, it is also given in low doses for what may be interpreted as
placebo effects. The fresh leaves may be chewed as a quid (Blosser 1993), eaten or prepared as an infusion (Wasson 1962).
Don Alejandro indicated that a psychotropic dose consists of an extremely bitter infusion prepared from 20 to 80 pairs
(counting is always done by pairs) of fresh leaves. A "placebo" dose is prepared from 4 to 5 pairs of fresh or dry leaves. The
lower dose is to alleviate the sick or dying, cure "anemia," regulate excretory functions and treat a swelling of the belly called
panzón de barrego (sic), "a sheep's belly" caused by a shaman's curse. Detailed field descriptions of this work with S.
divinorum have appeared elsewhere as well as reviews of all previous ethnological reports (Valdés 1987; Valdés, Díaz & Paul
1983; Valdés 1983).
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