Salvia divinorum was one of the rarest plants until recently, existing only as a cultigen in one location in Mexico. It was botanically collected by Wasson in the 60's, and is now readily available from several ethnobotanic sources as Salvia divinorum 'Wasson clone'. The plant is closely related to the common houseplant: Coleus spp. It has been reported that Coleus may be used interchangeably with S.divinorum, but there have also been reports to the contrary. S.divinorum is readily rooted from cuttings, rarely flowers, and requires well-drained soil with large root run. It is a tropical plant requiring frost-free conditions to thrive.

S.divinorum is used shamanically in Mexico to introduce an initiate into an altered consciousness as a preparation for Psilocybe mushroom use. The mental state it induces is quite similar to the Psilocybe mushroom experience, only much milder. Dosage is 6-20 fresh leaves, rolled into a cigar-like shape, and chewed. There is a harsh "green" taste, but it is easily tolerated. The juice should be held in the mouth as long as possible (~5 minutes) before swallowing. Subsequent mouthfuls are less bitter and easier to tolerate. There is a slight numbing or anaesthic quality to the juice. It is assumed that the dominant active component is a polyhedric alcohol which is unstable, and loses potency when dried. (There have been some unverified reports that some psychoactivity remains when the dried leaves are smoked).

Effects start in 10-15 minutes, and include visual fixation (trance induction), detachment from the environment, a brownish orange cast to the visual field, and a distinct sense of being in a different "world". This may be perceived as an alternate, but equally valid interpretation of consensual reality, inspired by a Mexican culture rather than a modern western ambiance. In higher doses, repetitive images with geometric or organic motifs may appear in the visual field.

A tingling may be felt in the entire body, that grows out from the numbness in the mouth and eventually overtakes the entire nervous system. This is sometimes sensed as a vibration, and in high doses, may cause partial or total ego disintegration. Some have described this dissociative effect as having their body decompose into "energetic worms". Some subjects report sensing "intelligences just beyond reach", silently observing the user from a distance.

An unprepared, unguided, or latently psychotic user may perceive these "entities" as either benign or malignant. If they represent an archetypal fear of the unknown, then the user may panic. An appropriate way to deal with this possibility is to assure the user that they will return to normal fairly quickly (effects last 60-90 minutes), and try to draw them into conversation, redirecting the subject away from their morbid fixation. The *worst* thing that could be done is for an emergency medical team to make a big deal out of the incident, start administering sedatives, etc. This behavior reinforces the subject's own fear of the unknown, and potentiates his/her anxiety.

There are no known physical complications arising from use of this plant. It appears to be somatically benign, and is has been used to positive benefit by people choosing to explore their own consciousness. It provides a shortcut to mental states, normally only achieved by years of spiritual practice and meditation.

As with most entheogenic substances, the typical usage is episodic, and usually confined to fairly short periods in the life of the user. A typical response is for the user, inspired by a view of reality unencumbered by societal acculturation, is to switch to more traditional spiritual practices, eventually abandoning use of the plant itself.

This is from memory. If you require references for any of my statements, please contact me directly and I'll give you a few titles to read.
-- author unknown