Salvia divinorum
Salvia divinorum is a relative of the mint plant that originates from Mexico. It has also gained notoriety as a powerful hallucinogenic and, in the UK at least, as a legal high. Users report an altered perception of shapes and colours, the reliving of memories and some hysteria. The long-term side effects are still unknown, but due to salvia’s psychedelic impact it would be dangerous to drive, operate machinery or be left alone during a trip.
Salvia is traditionally consumed by slowly chewing a ball of leaves known as a quid. However, it is also smoked. Smoking generally brings on the effects quicker, typically after five minutes, before dissipating within half an hour. In contrast it can take over a quarter hour before chewing has an effect, but the trip can last over an hour. Due to the harshness of the smoke, vaporization may be preferred. The high vaporisation temperature can be an obstacle for smaller vaporisers like the Iolite (maximum temperature 190 C). More powerful models, such as the Volcano Vaporizer, and those that use an external lighter or heat gun, like the Eclipse Vape-2O Vaporizer, should be able to cope.