LSA is a naturally occurring psychedelic found in many plants such as Morning Glory and Hawaiian Baby Woodrose Seeds (HBWRS). The process of extracting LSA from these plants include dipping it in water (tea style) under acidic conditions.
is also known as d-lysergic acid amide, d-lysergamide, ergine, and LA-111. It is an alkaloid of the ergoline family that occurs in various species of vines of the Convolvulaceae and some species of fungi. The dominant alkaloid in the hallucinogenic seeds of HBWRS and Morning Glories is responsible for psychedelic activity.
LSA in morning glory seeds has been used as a hallucinogen for centuries by many Mexican Native American and Aztec cultures. Their traditional use by Mexican Native Americans was first described by Richard Schultes in 1941 in a short report documenting their use going back to Aztec times (cited in TiHKAL by Alexander Shulgin). Further research was published in 1960, when Don Thomes MacDougall reported that the seeds of Ipomoea tricolor were used as sacraments by certain Zapotecs, sometimes in conjunction with the seeds of Rivea corymbosa. This is another species that has a similar chemical composition, but with lysergol instead of ergometrine.
LSA was assayed for human activity by Albert Hofmann in self-trials in 1947, well before it was known to be a natural compound. Intramuscular administration of a 500 microgram dose led to a tired, dreamy state, with an inability to maintain clear thoughts. After a short period of sleep the effects were gone, and normal baseline was recovered within five hours. The greater spread of knowledge has led to a rise in recreational use of LSA by people other than Native Americans.
In fact, the effects of they synthetic LSA and iso-LSA are not particularly psychedelic. Whether or not these compounds account for the hallucinogenic effects of the seeds remain unclear.
Erowid, an authority in Psychedelic drug study, enlists the following effects of LSA:
Positive effects of Salvia divinorum
• mood lift
• feelings of insight
• increase in sensual and aesthetic appreciation
• feeling interested in things one normally ignores
• feeling engaged with the world
• open- and closed-eye visuals
Neutral effects of Salvia divinorum
• general change in consciousness (as with most psychoactives)
• altered perceptions
• changes in perception of time
• unusual thoughts and speech
• day-after effects are light, but no work should be planned
• enlarged pupils
Negative effects of Salvia divinorum
• anxiety
• nausea and gas (common), possible vomiting
• delirium, dizziness, confusion, vertigo
• paranoia, fear, and panic (infrequent, more common with higher doses)
• Potential of dDeath due to tachyarrythymias (fast and irregular heartbeat) in extremely large doses
The most remarkable characteristic of psychedelic effects (including LSA, of course) is that they are highly contingent upon the precise drug, dosage, setting and relative body reactions.
