The original caretakers of salvinorin A and recognizing Indigenous contributions to science.
Nat Chem November 1, 2024
This work argues that Indigenous communities, particularly the Mazatec people of Oaxaca, Mexico, are the original caretakers of salvinorin A, the psychoactive compound in Salvia divinorum. It calls for recognizing their historical and ongoing contributions to the scientific understanding of this substance, challenging the erasure of Indigenous knowledge in Western scientific narratives. The text emphasizes the ethical importance of acknowledging Indigenous stewardship and intellectual contributions to research on psychoactive plants.