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Psychotropic Salvias )S. divinorum and S. miltiorrhiza)

Rob and Mark:

The mode of action of the Mexican and Chinese sages are distinct, as are the
diterpene skeletons of the active compounds.  Abietanes are found in Old
World sages, and clerodanes in New World sages.

For details on S. divinorum, see Danny Siebert's Web page at:

http://www.geocities.com/Paris/1074/salvia.html

His email is:  siebert@ix.netcom.com

Danny told me that the grape-scented S. melissodora (Tarahumara indian sage)
shows a component with the same chemical retention time as S. divinorum's
Salvinorin A.  A full analysis by mass spectroscopy will be needed to
confirm this.  I may have news on the start of further analysis over the
next year.

Salvinorin A is the one of the most potent psychotropic agents known, and
controlling dosage exposure is done by masticating 6 to 12 leaves into a cud
and holdoing it against the side of one's cheek, occasionally turning it
over one half hour.  It is not a great experience, because of bitter agents
present.

It basically dissolves ones sense of self and allows deep psychological
material to manifest and be reviewed.  I haven't followed it in much more
depth, and am mostly interested to get it and other sages into the hands of
scientists doing brain research.  I have a non-responding form of ADD
(actually a blessing more than a curse), and would like to find some
treatment to help me stay focused.

The mode of action of Danshione found in S. miltiorrhiza and some of its
cousins, including S. japonica and S. przewaldskii is like Librium and
Valium, only requiring 7 - 8 times asa much for the same effects.  The side
effect of Librium and Valium, muscle relaxation, is not observed.  It is not
an entheogen, as far as I know.   There are a number of Chinese and Japanese
scientists investigating related Salvias.  

There is also another sage from Iran, S. persepolitana I think, that has
some kind of activity.

Rich Dufresne
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