Salvia (salvia divinorum) is a plant that can change the way you see, hear, taste, smell or feel things. It can make you feel disconnected from your body or intense anxiety.
It comes as dried leaves that people smoke, chew or drink in a tea.
The effects of salvia can be short but intense.
Drug category: psychedelic
Psychedelics can change the way you see, hear, taste, smell or feel things (tripping). They are also called hallucinogens.
Psychedelics can cause unexpected and challenging effects.
Other names for salvia
Other names include: sage of the diviners, salvia divinorum, salvinorin A, seer's sage, magic mint
Effects of salvia
The effects of salvia can vary depending on:
- your size, weight and sex
- if you have any health conditions or mental health difficulties
- how you take the drug
- the strength of the drug
- how much you take
- if you take alcohol, medicines or other drugs at the same time
- where you take the drug and how you feel before you take it
- if you have taken the drug before and how often
If you smoke salvia, the effects can start immediately and last 20 minutes to 1 hour.
If you chew salvia, the effects can start after 5 to 10 minutes and last up to 2 hours.
There are not as many studies on salvia as other drugs. We are still learning about the effects of salvia.
How you may feel or behave
You may feel:
- anxious or confused
- disconnected from your body or surroundings
- unaware of time - it may speed up or slow down
- paranoid
- intense worry or dread
- giggly
- restless
- more aware of colours or sounds
Effects on your brain and body
Salvia can cause:
- short hallucinations - you may see, hear or feel things that are not there
- drowsiness
- increased body temperature
- memory problems - if you use it often
Salvia can make you less aware of your surroundings. If you use salvia in an unsafe place, you may be more likely to have accidents or injuries.
Salvia and mental health
Salvia can cause mental health difficulties or make existing difficulties worse.
Negative effects include:
- frightening or challenging hallucinations
- intense anxiety and confusion
- fear and paranoia
- psychosis - you have confused thoughts, feelings and behaviour and you do not know what is real or not real
This can happen if you are going through a tough time or feel low. But the risk is higher if you or someone in your family has mental health difficulties.
It may help to talk to someone if you have a bad experience with salvia.
Salvia and dependency
Signs of dependency can include:
- cravings for a drug
- withdrawal symptoms
- continuing to use a drug even when it causes you harm
Salvia does not usually cause physical dependency.
Most people who use salvia do not use it often. It is not clear if it can cause tolerance. This is when you need to take more of the drug to get the same effects.
How long does salvia stay in your system?
It can be hard to know how long salvia stays in your system.
There are tests to detect salvia. But different types of tests have different detection times.
Things that affect how long a drug stays in your system
The time it takes for a drug to leave your system depends on many things.
For example:
- how much you took
- how often you take the drug
- how strong the drug was
- your age, sex and metabolism
- your general health
Reducing risks from salvia
It’s always safest not to take drugs.
There are ways to reduce the risk of harm if you use salvia. Select a piece of advice to find out more.
Consider if there is extra risk for you - such as health conditions or how you feel.
There are always risks if you use drugs. But some people may be more at risk than others.
If you or someone in your family has any health conditions or mental health difficulties, you may be more at risk of a drug emergency.
For example, if you have a history of psychosis.
It can be hard to know your level of risk. Some people have health conditions and do not know it.
If you feel low, anxious or stressed, you are more at risk of a negative or challenging experience.
Be with people you trust and look out for each other - do not use alone.
Pick a meeting point and know what to do in case of an emergency.
Start with a small amount and wait 2 hours before you take more.
This is to reduce the risk of an overdose or drug emergency.
The contents or strength of drugs can vary, even in the same batch.
If you start with a small amount, you can:
- see how you react
- stop if you get an effect you did not expect or do not want
It can take up to 2 hours for some effects to happen. If you take too much too soon, it increases your risk.
Stay in a safe place away from risks such as heights, roads or water.
This is to reduce the risk of accidents or injuries. Salvia can affect your control of your body and make you less aware of your surroundings.
Try to be in a calm place.
Noisy or busy places can cause an overwhelming experience. For example, at a club or festival.
Only use 1 substance at a time.
Using salvia with alcohol, medicines or other drugs can have unpredictable and negative effects. Mixing drugs is always more risky.
Plan a safe way to get home.
It is dangerous to drive if drugs are in your system. You could harm yourself or other people. A drug can still be in your system even if you do not feel the effects.
Know what to do in case of a challenging experience.
If you know what to do during a challenging experience, it could stop a situation getting worse and help you support someone.
But it is always safest to get medical advice if someone has overwhelming or unexpected effects.
Mixing salvia with alcohol or other drugs
Using salvia with alcohol, medicines or other drugs can have unpredictable and negative effects.
There is a higher risk of challenging experiences if you mix salvia with drugs that cause hallucinations. For example, cannabis, LSD, mushrooms or ketamine.
Emergency action required: Call 112 or 999 if
you or someone else has taken salvia and has:
- severe distress, confusion or panic - they cannot calm down and may be a danger to themselves or others
Stay with the person until help arrives.
Tell the medics everything you know about the drug and give them any leftover drug if possible. It will help them to decide the right treatment.
If you are worried about salvia use
If you are worried about your own or someone else’s use, you can get support. This can be when salvia use affects your health, relationships, work or other areas of your life.
Non-urgent advice: Drugs and alcohol helpline
You can contact the helpline for support, information or advice on treatment and support options.
Freephone: 1800 459 459
Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5.30pm
Email: helpline@hse.ie