Overview of Salvia divinorum –Substance-induced psychosis
International Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences December 21, 2020 Radhika Tyagi, Sangrila Singh, Anjali Joshi et al.
Plants produce secondary metabolites—chemicals that often serve ecological roles such as defense—that can alter human brain function, especially the hippocampus, which governs memory. This review examines natural psychosis inducers, focusing on Salvia divinorum, whose secondary metabolites can cause hallucinations, delusions, and even organ failure. While many synthetic and semi-synthetic cannabinoids also induce psychosis, the review highlights how a chemical that protects a plant can become a mind-altering substance in humans. The authors note that such phytochemicals affect the central nervous system, sometimes leading to short- or long-term psychotic episodes where a person loses critical thinking, experiences hallucinations, or holds false beliefs.