# Salvia **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 8, 2009, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salvia/480309 "2009-01-08T00:41:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TheVioletCreep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eb8c5e/32.png) [@TheVioletCreep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheVioletCreep)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salvia/480309/1 "2009-01-08T00:41:39Z")
Anyone care to share experiences, if any? ---
**Author:** ![Interconnected\_Series\_of\_Tubes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/13edae/32.png) [@Interconnected\_Series\_of\_Tubes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interconnected_Series_of_Tubes)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salvia/480309/2 "2009-01-08T00:46:32Z")
While Salvia is still legal in the United States (with the exception of a few states,) my understanding is this thread probably doesn’t belong on the SDMB, and certainly not on GQ. Reported, if it’s deemed kosher I’ll happily share my (singular) experience. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salvia/480309/3 "2009-01-08T00:53:18Z")
Eesh. I’d rather not delve into the handful of terrible trips I’ve had on that stuff. Suffice it to say that, IMO, it’s good for one (1) moment of deep, meaningful introspection, and an infinite number of bad moods, freakouts and paranoid delusions thereafter. If by some freak accident you have a good time on that stuff or at least have a cool experience that you don’t regret or wish you could forget, stop doing it forever, because you’ll never have a good trip again. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salvia/480309/4 "2009-01-08T00:54:53Z")
This is more of an IMHO, but since you ask… I have quite a bit of experience with Salvia, and in my opinion the tender perennials are often undervalued but are more ornamental garden subjects than the hardy S. x superba sorts. For instance, [Salvia ‘Silke’s Dream’](http://www.plantdelights.com/Catalog/Current/Detail/04442.html) is a very nice plant to grow as an annual/temperennial. S. microphylla, S. urtica, S. ‘Purple Majesty’ and S. guaranitica are examples of other excellent garden plants. If on the other hand you were asking about experiences with culinary sage, it’s the damndest thing but I can’t seem to get one of the best large-leafed cultivars (‘Berggarten’) to establish in my zone 6 climate. All in all, it’s good to see the revived interest in Salvia. Betsy Clebsch’s book is a good resource. Hope that helps. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salvia/480309/5 "2009-01-08T00:56:29Z")
> **[Salvia: Legal Herb Hallucinogen Draws Teens, Critics](https://www.npr.org/2006/03/20/5290545/salvia-legal-herb-hallucinogen-draws-teens-critics)** > > A powerful and legal hallucinogenic herb is gaining popularity among teenagers and young adults. Salvia divinorum is also raising concerns among parents and lawmakers across the country. That’s a link to an interesting article on NPR. Since it’s not illegal, let’s move this to IMHO, where people can express personal opinions. **samclem** GQ moderator. ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salvia/480309/6 "2009-01-08T01:00:46Z")
Salvia libanotica (that’s the standard Mediterranean type, no?) is absolutely excellent if you pick the leaves straight from the garden and pan-fry them and throw a bit of coarse salt on. Cripsy little yummies! I knew someone who grew some S. divinorum and it was very persnickety-- it’s easy to pay too much attention to it-- overwatering, etc. ---
**Author:** ![truthbot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@truthbot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/truthbot)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salvia/480309/7 "2009-01-08T01:01:31Z")
Oh, pooh. Here I was, all set to discuss the new hybrids, annual vs. perennial, ect. Turns out it One Of Those questions. _grumbles and returns to the latest seed catalog_ ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salvia/480309/8 "2009-01-08T01:20:34Z")
Those chia things popular as holiday gifts? Yep, a type of salvia. ---
**Author:** ![Todderbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@Todderbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Todderbob)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salvia/480309/9 "2009-01-08T01:28:43Z")
I did this _once_. Me and my friend sat around giggling for like 5 minutes, we did it properly, and he reported very mild visual hallucinations. There was no real change in our mental status, we were both acutely aware of our surroundings (rather, I know I was and he seemed his usual self), but we couldn’t. stop. laughing. There was nothing funny, and nothing entertaining. We were hanging out, TV off, room dark… and laughing randomly and uncontrollable. I can’t stress how… _odd_ that was. We never did it again, at least I know I didn’t and I doubt he did. It was expensive and… ‘meh’. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salvia/480309/10 "2009-01-08T02:12:10Z")
That’s the weird thing about salvia, to me. It’s just as likely to do nothing at all as it is to do one really weird subtle thing as it is to make you freak out and hate your friends for the longest eternal 15 minutes of your life. I’m not the type to discourage otherwise reasonable adults from experimenting with drugs (to put it mildly), but salvia is one of a handful of drugs I always encourage budding psychonauts to skip. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salvia/480309/11 "2009-01-08T02:19:37Z")
There is nothing all that unusual about my saliva. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salvia/480309/12 "2009-01-08T02:21:53Z")
You really shouldn’t cook poultry without salvia. It makes cheesy eggs taste positively gourmay too. Deep fried and crackled over pork chops is awesome as well. ---
**Author:** ![JaneSaintClair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JaneSaintClair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneSaintClair)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salvia/480309/13 "2009-01-08T02:24:05Z")
I love the stuff… other than the taste. We purchased the tincture, which is made from the leaf oils and mixed with alcohol. At the time we thought this was the way to go, although I’ve learned from others that smoking it can result in the same experience, but without the nasty taste. You have to hold the tincture under your tongue for a period of time and then spit it out. I guess you can swallow it but it was so nasty tasting that I was happy to spit it out. As far as the experience goes, it was a different high than marijuana, acid or any prescription pharmaceutical I’ve ever tried. The best way to describe it was meditative and reflective-- not really a party drug. It was also very short-lived, as in less than a half an hour. I did see some auras and colors, but mostly is enhanced meditation in a really positive way, and when I came down I felt refreshed. I also found it pretty easy to control the experience and my train of thought, which probably helped make it so pleasurable. I also really liked that it was short-lived, unlike LSD which can put a weekend to waste. After using it a few times, I gained an understanding of the respect that many cultures have for this plant and it’s utilization in religious life. ---
**Author:** ![Euryphaessa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Euryphaessa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euryphaessa)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salvia/480309/14 "2009-01-08T02:30:35Z")
[Thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=472274) from last year. ---
**Author:** ![Teaira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9d8465/32.png) [@Teaira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teaira)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salvia/480309/15 "2009-01-08T04:47:05Z")
Hate the stuff and will never touch it again. Everyone I know who has tried it has felt the same. ---
**Author:** ![Arglefraster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@Arglefraster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arglefraster)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salvia/480309/16 "2009-01-08T15:21:58Z")
I’ve heard (from a fan of the drug) that if you have a “bad trip” it’s because you’re “not doing it right”. He recommends first timers to find someone with experience to show them how it’s done. I’ve not tried it myself. I’ve experimented with LSD (didn’t like it), Extacy (liked it until I started to come down, then hated it A LOT), and Shrooms (loved it and will still partake when it’s available). I’m curious, but leery of the fact that the bad trips seem to be much more common than the good ones. ---
**Author:** ![Kuboydal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@Kuboydal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kuboydal)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salvia/480309/17 "2009-01-08T17:54:35Z")
Salvia guaranitica is a reliable rather large perennial with beautiful blue flowers. The cultivar ‘Argentine Skies’ is reaaly quite nice. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salvia/480309/18 "2009-01-08T18:49:29Z")
Did absolutely nothing for me. ---
**Author:** ![Jettboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@Jettboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jettboy)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salvia/480309/19 "2009-01-08T19:42:32Z")
Tried it; short, intense, uncomfortable and leaves a taste in your mouth akin to licking a shoe. ---
**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salvia/480309/20 "2009-01-09T00:42:51Z")
> [@Jettboy](#): > > Tried it; short, intense, uncomfortable and leaves a taste in your mouth akin to licking a shoe. Well hell! That sounds like my job! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salvia/480309.md?page=2)