The Salvia Guide

We recommend that anyone considering trying Salvia or interested in it should read this article and take necessary precautions.

Where does Salvia come from?

The Salvia plant is indigenous to the Mazatec region of the Sierra Madre mountains in Oaxaca, Mexico. Mazatec Indians have used Salvia for hundreds of years in religious and healing ceremonies.

What's in Salvia?

Salvia divinorum contains a substance called Salvinorin-A. Salvinorin-A is the most potent, naturally occurring vision inducer. Only LSD is stronger in such small doses and LSD does not occur naturally.

What form does Salvia come in?

Salvia generally comes in two forms. What we sell are leaf extracts with varying degrees of potency. The leaf extract is suitable for smoking. The other form is whole leaves which can be chewed, smoked and sometimes made into a drink.

What strength should I take?

We recommend that first time users should start with the X5 extract. Others who have used Salvia before, or feel very comfortable with their reasons for trying it may be able to handle the X10 or possibly the X15. The X20 extract should only be taken by very experienced users.

How to take Salvia

Salvia, in the form that we sell it, should be smoked in a dry pipe or bong. Salvia should not be mixed with tobacco or any other herb. You should inhale the whole amount in the pipe bowl at once. Very little Salvia is needed to produce the desired effect. In a 1g tube of Salvia extract there is enough for 10 doses.

It is strongly recommended that the user has a "sitter" to guide them through their experience whenever Salvia is taken. (See The Sitter, below.)

Salvia can be vaporised but most commercial vaporisers are not designed with Salvia consumption in mind, therefore not producing the desired result. Please take caution if you intend to try vaporising Salvia - the effects are more intense and you may not realise how much you are taking. Vaporising Salvia should be well controlled and the user must have a sitter.

The Sitter

When taking Salvia, you should always have a "sitter". This is someone who is aware of what you are taking and is not under the influence of anything themselves. This is important because the user may find that they move around the space with a very different visual perception of what is around them than what is actually, physically there (eg, furniture). The sitter is there to ensure that the user doesn't unwittingly cause themselves harm. The user will often find that they want to discuss their experience afterwards. The sitter is there for this reason also.

The effects of Salvia

The effects of Salvia begin immediately after smoking and last for around 10 minutes, sometimes taking 30 minutes or more for the user to come round completely.

Effects vary quite dramatically, depending on the amount and the strength of Salvia you take. These effects have been put into what's called the S-A-L-V-I-A Scale:

Level 1 - "S" stands for SUBTLE effects:

A feeling that something is happening, although it is difficult to say exactly what. Relaxation and increased sensual appreciation may be noted. This mild level is useful for mediation and may facilitate sexual pleasure.

Level 2 - "A" stands for ALTERED perception:

Colours and textures are more pronounced. Appreciation of music may be enhanced. Space may appear of greater or lesser depth than usual, but visions do not appear at this level. Thinking becomes less logical and more playful. Short-term memory difficulties may be noted.

Level 3 - "L" stands for LIGHT visionary state:

Closed-eye visuals are experienced (clear imagery with eyes closed: fractal patterns, vine-like and geometric patterns, visions of objects and designs). The imagery is often two dimensional. If open-eyed visual effects occur, they are usually vague and fleeting. At this level, sensations similar to the hypnagogic phenomena that some people experience at the onset of sleep can occur. At this level, visions are experienced as "eye-candy" but are not confused with consensual reality.

Level 4 - "V" stands for VIVID visionary state:

Complex, three dimensional, real-seeming scenes occur. Sometimes voices can be heard. When eyes are open, contact with reality will not be entirely lost, but when eyes are closed, reality may be forgotten and dreamlike scenes entered into completely. Shamanistic journeying to other lands - foreign or imaginary, encounters with beings (entities/ spirits) or travel to other ages can occur. The user may even live the life of another person. At this level, you have entered the shaman's world, or if you prefer, you are in "dream-time", experiencing dream like events with storylines to them. For as long as your eyes are closed, you may believe they are really occurring.

Level 5 - "I" stands for IMMATERIAL existence:

At this level, one may no longer be aware of having a body. Consciousness remains and some thought processes are still lucid, but one becomes completely involved in inner experiences, losing all contact with consensual reality. Individuality may be lost - one experiences merging with God/dess, mind, universal consciousness, or perhaps objects - real or imagined - eg, pieces of furniture or a wall. At this level it is impossible to function in consensual reality, but one may not remain still and move around in a befuddled state. For this reason a sitter is essential to ensure the safely of people voyaging into these deep levels. For the person experiencing this phenomenon it may be terrifying or exceedingly pleasant, but to an outside observer the individual may appear confused or disorientated.

Level 6 - "A" stands for AMNESIC effects:

At this stage, either consciousness is lost, or at least one is unable to remember what they saw or did. The individual may fall, remain immobile or thrash around. Apparent sleep-walking can occur. Injuries can be sustained without feeling pain. This is not a desirable level, as nothing can later be recalled of the experience.

Major precautions to consider when taking Salvia:

• Never drive under the influence of Salvia - it impairs co-ordination and this could prove fatal.
• Always make sure have a sitter that you trust to watch over you through your experience.
• Remember that the sitter should not be under the influence of anything themselves.
• Be sure that you are in a relaxed and comfortable state of mind.
  
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