Popularity of a Hallucinogen May Thwart Its Medical Uses

Until a decade ago, the use of salvia was largely limited to those seeking revelation under the tutelage of Mazatec shamans in its native Oaxaca, Mexico. Today, this mind-altering member of the mint family is broadly available for lawful sale online and in head shops across the United States. Though older Americans typically have never heard of salvia, the psychoactive sage has become something of a phenomenon among this country’s thrill-seeking youth. Yet these very images that have helped popularize salvia may also hasten its demise and undermine the promising research into its possible medical uses.