Pubdate: Thu, 29 May 2003 Source: Sun Herald (MS) Copyright: 2003, The Sun Herald Contact: http://www.sunherald.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/432 Author: Richard Harkness Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Salvia (Salvia divinorum) LATEST 'DRUG' DATES BACK CENTURIES Q: I saw a TV report on a new hallucinogenic agent called Salvia that kids are taking. What exactly is it? A: Media reports about Salvia (Salvia divinorum), also called Diviner's Sage, may be news to many of us, but this herb has been used for centuries in some cultures. Salvia seems to have its origins in Oaxaca, Mexico, where the Mazatec Indians used it to induce "visions" in religious ceremonies. It is said that the Mazatecs believe the herb is an incarnation of the Virgin Mary. People have taken Salvia medicinally as a tonic and for various ailments, including headache, diarrhea, rheumatism and abdominal discomfort. The herb's hallucinogenic properties has made it popular for recreational use among adolescents and young adults inclined to experiment with such substances. Salvia is widely marketed on the Internet and currently is legal to possess and use in the U.S., though the federal Drug Enforcement Agency is considering whether it should be regulated as a controlled substance. Marketers promote Salvia as a legal alternative to other plant hallucinogens such as mescaline. The herb can produce profound hallucinogenic effects when its leaves are chewed, smoked, or prepared and drank as a tea. The hallucinogenic properties stem from an ingredient called Salvinorin A, reputed to be the most potent hallucinogen known. Hallucinations can occur within 30 seconds when Salvia is vaporized and inhaled in small doses of 200 to 500 micrograms, or within 5 to 10 minutes when chewed. These episodes last anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour, depending on the route taken and the dose. When taken by mouth, the herb is known to cause nausea, dizziness and slurred speech, as well as confusion and hallucinations. Recent test tube research suggests that Salvinorin A may act at a specific opiate (narcotic) receptor site in the brain, though much remains to be learned. This points to the lack of definitive knowledge about how Salvia works and what its longer term effects on the body might be. Q: I know that niacin reduces cholesterol levels, but does niacinamide also do this? A: Niacinamide is the form of niacin (vitamin B3) used in some multivitamin supplements. It has the same vitamin activity as niacin but does not possess niacin's cholesterol-lowering effects. Niacin is a standard treatment for the combination of high cholesterol and high triglycerides, and is the most effective agent available for raising HDL cholesterol (the good kind). However, niacin should not be taken in cholesterol-altering doses (up to 3,000 mg daily) without medical supervision. At those high doses, niacin is a drug, not a dietary supplement. Niacin therapy requires close monitoring and may be contraindicated in people with certain medical conditions. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Richard Harkness is a consultant pharmacist and specialist in natural therapies. Write him at 1224 King Henry Drive, Ocean Springs MS 39564; or e-mail Selected questions will be used in the column. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake