Salvia: Dispelling Five Common Myths

The use of salvia divinorum is increasing around the world. The plant's ability to open the gateway to profound spiritual experiences appeals to seekers who are curious about their connections to this world and beyond. Although the use of salvia is growing by leaps and bounds, there is quite a bit of misinformation about salvia. Here, we dispel five common myths:

1. Salvia is illegal. This is simply not the case. Currently, salvia is legal in almost every country and in 43 of the 50 states in the United States. That's not to say, however, that it will remain that way forever. Over the past several years, there have been many legislative attempts to make salvia a controlled substance. Because salvia is legal to purchase, it's easy to buy salvia online from a reputable distributor.

2. Chewing and smoking salvia produces the same effects. Because the body's gastric juices destroy the psychoactive element in salvia, those who ingest it orally must hold it in their mouths and chew it sporadically for it to take effect. When compared to smoking salvia, chewing the plant produces a much milder effect.

3. Smoking salvia leaves will lead to an altered state of consciousness. While in some instances this is true, the leaves themselves have low concentrations of the psychoactive ingredient. To truly experience salvia effects, you should purchase a concentrated form of the plant and smoke that.

4. Salvia is the new marijuana. In truth, salvia and marijuana have little in common. The psychoactive mechanisms in the two are completely different, and marijuana is illegal in most places. More importantly, marijuana is considered by many to be a recreational drug, while salvia is usually consumed with the specific purpose of spiritual awakening. Unlike with marijuana, using salvia is generally a solitary experience; it is by no means a party drug. In addition, the peak effects of smoking salvia typically last only between 5 and 30 minutes.

5. Salvia is addictive and/or bad for you. Salvia has been studied extensively, and there is no evidence that it is addictive. Although it is contraindicated for pregnant or nursing women, and certainly for children, there appear to be no long-term health consequences. Of course, since salvia is most often ingested via the inhalation of smoke, there is a chance that the smoke could irritate the lungs.

When used in its proper context, salvia divinorum can lead you to have any of a number of experiences. In small doses, people usually experience a mild level of relaxation that helps them concentrate. As the dosage increases, a variety of cognitive and sensory experiences usually occur. These can range from out-of-the-box thinking to true out-of body experiences. Full visual or auditory hallucinations may take place, as can astral travel, time travel, and even the sense that you are merging with a greater consciousness.

In contrast to common misconceptions, salvia is generally a safe, effective way to enter an altered state of consciousness for a short period of time. Used this way, it can be tremendously helpful to spiritual growth.

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About the Author

Chris Robertson is a published author of Majon International. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2009 (Sat May 17 2008) Majon International. Majon International is one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing and internet advertising companies on the web. Visit their main business resource web site at: http://majon.com