Is Salvia Used as a Treatment?

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What are the Claims of Salvia as a Medical Treatment?

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Some people wonder if they should use salvia or CBD. The enthusiasm and use of CBD oil and other CBD-related products have taken the U.S. by storm. The industry is projected to grow to a staggering 20 billion dollars in 2024. With the rise in popularity for unconventional remedies and supplements, many consumers are turning to alternative treatment options for a variety of health issues and ailments. Salvia, which is a herb, is one such substance, but is it a viable medical treatment option? The jury is out, and salvia has not met FDA-approval for medicinal purposes. However, it is legal to consume on a federal level. What are the claims of salvia as a medical treatment? Here’s what we know so far.

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What is salvia?

Salvia Divinorum is a herb. The substance is not regulated or listed under the Controlled Substances Act. As such, it is legal to consume and use on a federal level. But some states have banned the use of salvia. The plant grows naturally in southern Mexico, and it is part of the mint family. People can buy salvia seeds and plant parts online or in tobacco and head shops. People will smoke salvia or infuse drinks with it to get a hallucinogenic effect. It’s also possible to chew the leaves of the Salvia plant to get high.

The salvia plant has large, green leaves with a yellow undertone, and it can grow to more than three feet high. The stems of the plant are square and hollow, and the flowers will bloom from October to June. The plant produces few seeds and pollen, and it is thought that salvia is a selective breeder and is most likely bred through hybridization. The plant has been bred through traditional methods that the native Mazatec people use in southern Mexico.

How long have people been using salvia?

The first recorded mention of the herb salvia occurred in 1938. It was discovered that the Mazatec people made tea from the leaves of the salvia plant as a way to experience spiritual and religious visions. Western scientists who obtained the traditional salvia tea found that it was slightly less potent than hallucinogenic mushrooms.

In 2002, researchers found that the herb impacts the brain’s natural kappa opiate receptor or KOR site. This neurological site is where a person’s perception is regulated. Since this discovery, salvia was placed in the drug class known as KOR agonists. It is believed that KOR agonists can play a psychotherapeutic role in altering the perceptions of people with brain disorders like schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s.

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What are the effects of salvia?

Salvia is considered one of the most powerful naturally-occurring hallucinogenic substances in the world. The main, active ingredient is salvia is called salvinorin A, and it possesses hallucinogenic properties which bind to the brain’s KOR receptor. The effects or high from salvia can happen in as little as a few minutes after consumption. Smoking or vaporizing salvia will produce a faster onset than ingesting the substance. A high from salvia can last as little as thirty minutes, to as long as a few hours. People who smoke or ingest the herb will experience altered perceptions, distorted reality, and visual and auditory hallucinations. Users can also become uncoordinated and experience anxiety and fear.

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Is it dangerous to use salvia?

This herb isn’t considered an addictive substance, but using salvia does come with a range of risks and side effects. Hallucinogenic drugs can come with a chance of psychosis or delirium, which are distressing and can also lead to harmful consequences. Those who use this herb can become paranoid and suffer from panic attacks. Experiencing an altered perception of reality, and a lack of coordination during a salvia high can lead to injuries. When people are high on salvia and injure themselves, they may not get the medical attention they need until it’s too late. Other dangers to using salvia include:

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Social withdrawal
Failure to uphold responsibilities
Increased anxiety and paranoia
Risk of bodily injury
Mood swings and erratic behavior
Changes in eating and sleeping habits
Difficulty concentrating
Problems retaining memories

Prolonged and frequent abuse of hallucinogenic drugs like salvia is also associated with a risk of developing a condition called hallucinogenic persisting perception disorder, or HPPD. People with this condition will experience “flashbacks” of a salvia high that are uncontrollable and may interfere with daily life.

Can salvia be used to treat depression?

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There have been a few preliminary and preclinical studies on using salvia to treat stubborn cases of depression. Other hallucinogens are being studied as alternative methods for treatment-resistant depression. However, no large-scale studies have been conducted yet that meet FDA approval. At this time, salvia is not considered a viable treatment alternative for mental health disorders like depression.

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Are there alternative treatment options for depression like CBD?

CBD is considered a supplement, and it is not an FDA-approved medical treatment for depression. The majority of patients with depression will favorably respond to a combination of medications and therapy. For patients with mild to moderate cases of depression, it is possible to find relief with therapy and support groups alone. However, some patients will not respond to first-line treatment methods and may suffer from a severe condition called treatment-resistant depression. The FDA has approved deep brain stimulation techniques for this disorder.

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CBD is a new product to hit the health and wellness market. Since the CBD niche is in its infancy, there aren’t many studies yet on its effectiveness as a viable medical treatment option for issues like depression. So far, there have only been smaller, preliminary and subclinical studies performed on CBD. The FDA is interested in looking further into the efficacy of CBD with large-scale, meticulous studies.

Hugs CBD is dedicated to bringing high-quality, lab-tested CBD products to the marketplace. All Hugs products are tested through an independent, third-party lab, and shoppers are free to browse the results of the test. After speaking to your doctor, shop online at Hugs CBD today, and have CBD gummies, tinctures, or drink mixes delivered to your home.

Last updated September 20 2019

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