Theos-Talk Archives (November 2001 Message tt00533)

Little-known hallucinogenic herb a growing concern 
Date: 10/07/2001
An obscure hallucinogenic herb from Mexico is gaining a toehold in the
world of recreational drugs, prompting United States law enforcement
officials to increase their scrutiny of the plant, which is legal.
Health experts have issued cautions about the drug, which induces
jarring effects that are not fully understood.
The herb, Salvia divinorum, is a type of sage that can cause intense
hallucinations, out-of-body experiences and, when taken in high doses,
unconsciousness and short-term memory loss. Users have also reported
sensations of travelling through time and space, assuming the identities
of other people and even the feeling of merging with inanimate objects.
Scientists are still unclear about precisely how it interacts with the
brain, how it may affect the rest of the body or if it has long-term
side effects.
"We don't know how it works," said Dr Ethan Russo, a neurologist in
Montana who studied Salvia divinorum for his book, Handbook of
Psychotropic Herbs (Haworth Press).
"People who are arbitrarily using it need to be cautious," he said.
"It's totally different from anything they may have tried."
The herb can be smoked or chewed. Its leaves can also be boiled to make
an intoxicating tea. And unlike most hallucinogenic substances, it is
legal in the US, although drug enforcement officials say they are
monitoring it closely.
"It's not currently controlled and we're collecting information on it,"
said Ms Rogene Waite, a spokeswoman for the Drug Enforcement
Administration.
Precise facts about the plant - also known as Maria Pastora and
diviner's sage - its use and proliferation are almost impossible to
gather. It is available almost exclusively over the Internet. No reports
of health problems or hospitalisations have been made that may be
attributed to the plant. But users and sellers say its popularity is
growing.
Users dismiss the concerns, saying no evidence of an addictive quality
has been documented and the Mazatec Indians, in Oaxaca, Mexico, have
used it, with no apparent ill effects, for centuries.



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