Tuesday, January 26, 2010

The Therapeutic Use of Salvia Divinorum

Salvia DivinorumSalvia 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 mundane purposes like the salvia plants are psilocybin mushrooms ( teo-nanactl ), peyote ( peyotl ) and ( ololiuqui ) morning glory.

Historic Use of the Herb

The utilization of Salvia divinorum and other psychotropic plants in Mexico is traceable to the 16th century during the Spanish invasion ; at this time, non temporal practices associated with using these plants were proscribed 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 collecting 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, four or five pairs of either dry or fresh leaves can serve as a dose. Also the same dose of 4 or five leaves could be a tonic for the handling of generalized weakness, pains and aches. The healing nature of this herb is also extended to infirmities like panzon de barrego ( distended belly ) ; a wizard's caused ailment. On the other hand, hallucination happens in an individual when a dose of twenty to sixty leaves is employed.

The utilization of Salvia divinorum by the Shamans to prompt hallucination is for one or two 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 usually kneel to hope when they climb the mountain to crop the herb. A dose of 100 leaves is used for a patient who is a victim of the influence of alcohol by the Curandero ; and the dose of fifty leaves is exploited 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 inebriated into a trance. The words of the patient at this time are translated to be the real cause of the illness ; an aid generally accompanies the Curandero to an isolated place where the process of recovery for the patient is conducted. The patient will get shot of his dress at that moment as a mark of freedom from the illness and then goes to sleep. The healing process will be finished the next day, after the healer bathes the patient.

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