- With Mayo Clinic emeritus consultant
Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
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Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
Dr. Jay Hoecker, an emeritus consultant in the Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, brings valuable expertise to MayoClinic.com in general and primary care pediatrics. He has a particular interest in infectious diseases of children.
Dr. Hoecker, a Fort Worth, Texas, native, is certified as a pediatrician by the American Board of Pediatrics and is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He was trained at Washington University's St. Louis Children's Hospital, and in infectious diseases at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He has been with Mayo Clinic since 1989.
"The World Wide Web is revolutionizing the availability and distribution of information, including health information about children and families," Dr. Hoecker says. "The evolution of the Web has included greater safety, privacy and accuracy over time, making the quality and access to children's health information immediate, practical and useful. I am happy to be a part of this service to patients from a trusted name in medicine, to use and foster all the good the Web has to offer children and their families."
Tween and teen health (2)
- Test anxiety: Can it be treated?
- Flu school closing: Any benefit?
Teen health (1)
- Salvia divinorum: What are the risks?
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Question
Salvia divinorum: What are the risks?
What research has been done about the risks of Salvia divinorum?
Answer
from Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
Salvia divinorum, also known as diviner's sage, is a potent mind-altering herb that originated in Mexico. Salvia divinorum isn't thought to be addictive, but the herb hasn't been adequately studied in clinical trials — so researchers know little about the risks or long-terms effects of Salvia divinorum use.
Salvia divinorum is typically inhaled. The intense, sometimes debilitating effects of the herb strike quickly — often including senseless laughter, a sense of not being yourself and the loss of emotional reactions. And the risks are real, including nausea, dizziness, slurred speech, confusion, paranoia and hallucinations. Although Salvia divinorum effects usually subside within 30 minutes, some may linger for days.
Salvia divinorum is widely available online, and the herb is sold legally in many smoke shops throughout the United States and elsewhere — but that doesn't mean that it's safe. If you have children, discuss with them the dangers of drug use. You may want to involve other family members, a counselor or your child's doctor in the discussion as well.
Other types of salvia — including Salvia officinalis (sage) and Salvia miltiorrhiza (danshen) — don't have the mind-altering effects of Salvia divinorum. Sage is used as a cooking spice, as well as a treatment for digestive problems and various other medical conditions. Danshen also is used for various medical conditions, including circulation problems and a number of skin conditions.
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