The Therapeutic Use of Salvia Divinorum

Salvia divinorum is local 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 non secular purposes like the salvia plants are psilocybin mushrooms ( teo-nanactl ), peyote ( peyotl ) and ( ololiuqui ) morning glory.

Historic Use of the Herb

The use of Salvia divinorum and other psychotropic plants in Mexico is traceable to the 16th century during the Spanish invasion ; at this time, non mundane practices related to the employment of these plants were prohibited by Catholic clergy in most part of Mexico. But the data 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 transport 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 desired 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, 4 or 5 pairs of either dry or fresh leaves can function as a dose. Also the same dose of four or five leaves can be a tonic for the handling of generalized weakness, pains and aches. The healing nature of this herb is also extended to ailments like panzon de barrego ( bloated belly ) ; a wizard's caused ailment. On the other hand, hallucination occurs in an individual when a dose of 20 to 60 leaves is employed.

The use of Salvia divinorum by the Shamans to prompt hallucination is for several reasons. The plant is made use of for diagnosis purpose for an individual whose source or reason for illness is unknown. The Shamans who use the herb for healing would sometimes kneel to hope when they climb the mountain to crop the herb. A dose of one hundred leaves is employed for a patient who is a victim of the influence of alcohol by the Curandero ; and the dose of 50 leaves is utilized for other patient. The Shaman healer will usually squeeze the leaves into an elixir of water for the patient to drink ; after that the patient is intoxicated into a trance. The words of the patient at this time are interpreted to be the genuine basis of the illness ; a helper sometimes accompanies the Curandero to an isolated place where the method of recovery for the patient is conducted. The patient will get shot of his dress at that moment as a mark of liberty from the sickness and then goes to sleep. The healing process will be finished the following day, after the healer washes the patient.

The healing use of Salvia divinorum described so far is the technique used by the Shamans healer ; there are way more uses of the herb that could be debated in other sections of our site. Our site is continually updated with info on this visionary herb.