TRADITIONAL MAZATEC METHODS

The two traditional Mazatec methods are quite inefficient in that
they require many more leaves than do the other methods. But they
are very safe. Traditionally the leaves are taken in a semi-darkened
room as part of a healing or religious ceremony. At least one sober
person is present to watch over the people who have taken Salvia. A
water-based drink made from ground-up fresh leaves is one of the
traditional Mazatec ways of using this herb. It requires a lot of
leaves and tastes somewhat unpleasant, so this method is seldom used
by non-Mazatecs. Salvinorin is very poorly absorbed from the stomach
so it requires enormous amounts of leaves to make the drink
effective. But it does work, and the effects last longer than from
any other method. Chewing and swallowing a large number of fresh
leaves is the other Mazatec method. When this is done the leaves are nibbled slowly for about 1/2 hour. Although the chewed-up leaves are swallowed, most of the effect is due to salvinorin that is absorbed through the tissues of the mouth during the chewing. This is a less efficient way of chewing Salvia than the quid method (see below). Most people find chewing and swallowing fresh leaves to be unpleasantly bitter, and for some, it causes gagging.

Continue Reading…