Are there any medicinal uses for Salvia divinorum?
Along with the traditional divinatory use of Salvia divinorum, the Mazatecs also employ the plant for several medicinal applications: • It helps one defecate and urinate. It stops diarrhea (the plant apparently is believed to regulate eliminatory functions). • It is given to the sick, old or dying to revive them or alleviate their illness. People who are pale, white and almost ready to die (they have “anemia”) may recuperate on taking la Mara. • It may be taken to relieve headaches and rheumatism (however, when taken in the high doses that induce visions, it often leaves one with a headache the following morning, according to the curandero). • There is a semi-magical disease known as panzon de barrego (sic), or a swollen belly, which is supposedly caused by a curse from a brujo, or evil sorcerer. The victim’s midsection swells up due to a “stone” that has been put inside them. Taking the Salvia causes elimination of this “stone” and the belly shrinks down to size. The researchers met a
