Medicine for Mania
According to a new article in The Scientist magazine, the psychoactive plant Salvia divinorum, commonly referred to as Magic Mint or Diviner's Sage, could soon become a promising treatment for mania.
Researchers have found that the plant evokes an apathetic state in rats -- they no longer want sugar rewards, for which they'll usually do anything. The reason for this is that Salvia activates biological receptors called k-opioid receptors that induce a depressed-like state in parts of the brain; when these same receptors are blocked, it is as if rats have taken antidepressants. The article states,
"The idea, says McLean Hospital's Bruce Cohen, is that if people who are manic are at the opposite end of the mood spectrum from people with depression, pushing them closer to depression with salvinorin A might deliver them to a healthy medium."
The article points out that there are a lot of issues that would need to be ironed out before Salvia might appear on a list of mania medications -- for instance, the plant acts too rapidly, and is incredibly potent -- but nevertheless, the research provides yet more evidence that some the psychoactive compounds that have long been scoffed at do, in fact, have powerful, potentially beneficial, qualities. Now that these plants are being studied under the guise of "science," people are finally taking notice of them and realizing what others have believed for a long time.
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- 6-13-07
- Melinda Wenner's blog
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slowly but surely
this is amazing!
...for instance, the plant acts too rapidly
If the leaves are chewed slowly, over the course of an hour or so, the effects can come on gradually, offering much more 'time' with the plant, as opposed to smoking. A tea can be made from the leaves as well.
Yes, I feel this is the best
Yes, I feel this is the best way to consume as well. I was introduced to this plant in '01, and first consumed a tincture, which was quite an initial blast. The next time we just ate the leaves and went on a hike on Bainbridge Island - very mello, with an acute awareness, much like mescaline.
"The only thing constant in life is change" -François de la Rochefoucauld
Protecting the Sage Goddess
Salvia is an endlessly fascinating plant, whether examined from a pharmacological standpoint or within its shamanic applications. Researchers have only scratched the surface when it comes to understanding the extraordinarily unique psychedelic and therapeutic properties of the "diviner's sage."
The current anti-Salvia legislations being proposed and enacted across the United States are extremely divergent in their restrictions. Delaware, for example, imposes strict penalties for the possession or distribution of the plant and its active ingredient, Salvinorin A. But a bill proposed in Georgia would only limit illicit distribution of Salvinorin, while allowing for its sale as a legal homeopathic and also excepting plants kept for "aesthetic purposes" or Salvia involved in university-sponsored research projects. The exceptions drafted into this legislation were included after studies showed promise in Salvinorin's application to manage extreme pain.
It is often the intransigent wording of anti-drug legislation which poses the most difficult obstacles for prospective researchers to gain access to these misunderstood substances. It is therefore imperative that research like this is taken up now, while Salvia remains legal in most states, so that future lawmakers may take pause before mercilessly persecuting another sacred psychedelic medicine.
;)
st
"The future is frightening, but I feel fine." - The Dandy Warhols
Feature on Salvia in GQ
in an airport, just read the long feature on salvia in the new issue of GQ. Very disappointingly sensationalist - almost like the writer is trying to help Salvia be outlawed. Very annoying.
"Will the transformation."-Rilke
A damn shame... haven't seen
A damn shame... haven't seen the GQ piece yet and not sure I want to. It won't take many more mainstream publications doing the same before Congress revisits federal legislation and trumps even the more progressive state laws with a Schedule I edict... wonder if the Dems would even flinch at the task?
;)
st
"The future is frightening, but I feel fine." - The Dandy Warhols
i tend to feel the plants
i tend to feel the plants know what theyre doing.
think of the name salvia
very close to salve
Salve is a medical ointment used to soothe the head or other body surface.
Salvia's Intelligence
Not a surprising development, we make Spagyric/Alchemical extracts of many shamanic plants, including Salvia, and I currently have several people using our Salvia daily for all types of emotional imbalance.
I definitely agree that smoking is NOT the way to best experience the intelligence of this lovely plant spirit. Chewing the leaves or ingesting a well-made and balanced extract (not one of those X concentrates) is a much friendlier and more profound experience.
For me, that gradual entry that Morgan mentions is key to the experience. Smoking her, where you are here, then suddenly in a strange and disorienting "there" and then a few minutes later back here, is not very productive or useful as a spiritual path.
I suppose if "there is another world beyond our own" is a news flash to you, then smoking Salvia would be a real eye-opener. But for me, already knowing that, what I am looking for is a gradual entry & exit with context, overlapping with this world, and holding a coherent and collected will and awareness.
That way, when I am in Salvia space, I can learn and then bring her gifts and lessons back to the world I inhabit every day- that's the reason I work with these plants, after all, and none has taught me as much about the green world as Salvia.
Strength & Wisdom,
Al-Qemi
www.al-kemi.com
horticulture
hey guys, check out this
A tea can be made from the
As far as I know Salvia is a
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