DATURA Solanaceae Datura spp.

There is much confusion circling the Datura family of plants. There are many different species in the Datura genus. Probably the two most well-known species are: Datura inoxia (Devil's Weed) and Datura strammonium (Jimson Weed or Thornapple).

Datura brugmansia (Angel's Trumpet) is another well known plant which has recently been reclassified to the genus Brugmansia (Tree Datura).

Other species may include: Datura arborea, Datura aurea, Datura candida, Datura discolor, Datura dolichocarpa, Datura fatuosa, Datura ferox, Datura indica, Datura metel, Datura meteloides, Datura sanguinea, Datura suaveolens, Datura tatula, Datura vulcanicola, Datura willemsi .

All of the species of Datura are leafy green plants with bright pink to white flowers.

The flowers are all fragrant, with D. Inoxia having a very distinct aroma, very hard to mistake with any other plant. Datura grows all over the world, it would seem. The seeds are found in small fruit which are completely covered with short, sharp, spines (hence the name "Thornapple"). The stalks are bristly, and somewhat thin in comparison to the rest of the plant. The leaves are flat, mostly featureless, and can either be multi-edged (with between 4 and 15 points) or basically ovoid.

General Overview of Historical Usage

Datura has been used for a very long time. Originally, it seems it was used as a shamanistic tool, one that could help a shaman gain entrance to "other worlds of existance." It also contains several chemicals that are helpful to the body in certain conditions.

Atropine, a chemical derived from plants in the Solanaceae, is used in hospitals and generally a trusted drug. As such, one can imagine that it is fairly safe when used within the suggested dosages. It would seem that people discovered its medicinal properties through shamans, or "Medicine Men." Often shamanism is used to cure ilness, and certainly Datura would be a very good cure for some diseases.

Folk Uses

Folk uses of Datura is a tricky subject. First, since Datura grows all over the world, every culture has its own opinion of the plant's best use. Second, almost every field guide you will ever encounter will tell you of the dangers of Datura. A few will even tell you of "thrillseekers" that become ill looking for hallucinations. Only a very rare guide will actually tell you of non-poisonous doses, and use of Datura as a dietary supplement.

Here are a few Folk Uses:

• Powdered Herb Topical Salve: Dry herb Tincture 1:10, 60% Alcohol 3-12 drops up to 5x daily
• Smoking Preparation for Lung Ailments (especially bronchial spasms) Crushed leaves mixed with Western Coltsfoot
• Topical poultice for a local analgesic

Almost no other plant has such a history of crime. In the Middle Ages, especially in Italy, professional poisoners would concoct a brew of Datura that would be almost painlessly fatal. That Quality of deadening the senses before death, or during the perpetration of a crime, made it of the greatest value to criminals.

So well known was this ability that Christoval Acosta, who was in India in 1578, wrote that Hindu whores gave it to their patrons because 'these mundane ladies are such mistresses and adepts in the use of the seed that they gave it in doses corresponding to as many hours as they wish their poor victims to be unconscious or transported.

Still worse was the use of Datura Strammonium by the nefarious white slavers. Virgins who may not have wanted to become prostitutes were given a pleasant-tasting but diabolical brew containing an aphrodisiac and Datura. Under the combined influence of these drugs, the actively contributed to the loss of their virginity, but upon subsequent awakening had no memory of their actions." (Plant Drugs That Changed The World)

Dammerschlaf - translated almost literally to "twilight sleep." A mixture of morphine and scopolamine (from henbane, most likely) was used during childbirth to both prevent pain and to suppress memory of the incident. It is a sound assumption that it could serve as a mild pain-reliever (even without morphine) were one in serious need of one. Opiates, such as the California Poppy, could be combined with henbane or Scopola in small amounts to lower the pain from a hiking accident.

Shamanic Uses

Datura has been used shamanical for centuries, if not longer. It is used very widely as a psychotropic drug for shamanistic rituals, and more recently as as recreational hallucinogen.

-Psychedelic Shamanism- states that "It has been proved that the smoke from a strammonium cigarette, containing 0.25 grams of strammonium leaves contains as much as 0.5 milligrams of atropine. The leaves may be made up into cigarettes or smoked in a pipe, either alone, or with a mixture of cubebs, sage, belladonna and other drugs. Dryness of the throat and mouth are indications that too large a quantity is being taken."

Warning

The centers for disease and poison control state that 89% of all Datura usage results in poisoning. Whether they meant that the person hallucinated or became ill, I don't know. It would seem, however, that Datura is a VERY dangerous plant.

Plants vary. It is important to understand that. Just as there are more potent varieties of marijuana, some Datura plants may contain more atropine than others. don't ever take a heroic dose all at once (or at all!).

Common Hallucinations Experienced on Datura (the recreational user will be in a delerium for as much as three days)

• Auditory hallucinations involving speaking to people who arent there.
• Auditory hallucinations involving speaking to objects that may or may not be there.
• Minor color differences in the sky and or ocean (blue to green but nothing drastic).
• One does not recognize a mirror, and often winds up speaking to the person in the mirror (often getting agitated at the "other person's" repetition of their body movements).
• Plants gain a higher intelligence level - people seem to think plants are sentient and will speak with them, associate a personality with them, et cetera.
• Forgetting where one is going, yet continuing to go "there."
• Animation of inanimate objects - statues, walls, fences, all seem to take on a life of their own and will in fact speak with the user.
• "He who partakes of it is deprived of his reason; for a long time lauughing or weeping, or sleeping and oftentimes talking and replying, so that at times he appears to be in his right mind, but really being out of it and not knowing to whom he is speaking, nor remembering what has happenend after his alienation has passed." (Plant Drugs That Changed The World, regarding Datura in general)
• -The Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeon's Complete Home Guide To Mental Health- had this to say about delerium in general: "Visual hallucinations, usually including the appearance of animals, may precede delerium; this is particularly common during withdrawal from the use of alcohol and illicit drugs."

Cautions

• If you are taking ANY medicine on ANY basis, DO NOT take any form of Datura.
• Do not use Datura if you have a heart problem or have had a heart attack.
• Do not use Datura if you have never used a psychedelic drug.
• Do not use Datura if you are on antidepressants.
• Do not use Datura if you have not read the complet FAQ at the Vaults of Erowid.
• Do not use Datura if you are suffering from glaucoma.
• Do not use Datura if you are also currently taking sulfon amides.
• Do not use Datura if you are currently taking a drug for diarrhea such as Kaolin or Attapulgite.
• Do not use Datura if you are also currently taking antacids.
• Do not use Datura if you are also currently taking Amantadine.
• Do not use Datura if you are also currently taking antihistamines.
• Do not use nicotine products under the influence of Datura.
• Do not use Datura if you are also currently taking haloperidol.
• Do not use Datura if you are also currently taking phenothiazine.
• Do not use Datura if you are also currently taking tranquilizers.
• Do not use Datura if you are also currently taking procainamide.
• Do not use Datura if you are also currently taking quinidine.
• Do not use Datura if you are also currently taking tricyclic antidepressants.
• Do not use Datura if you are taking Thiazide Diuretics (water pills).
• Do not use Datura if you are taking stimulants of any kind, including MDMA (ecstasy, "e," "x") and Crystal Methamphetamine ("tweek," "speed").
• Do not use Datura if you are taking urinary alkalizers. Some of the brand names for urinary alkalizers are: Diamox, Daranide, Neptazone.
• Do not use Datura if you are using a MAOI (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor). These drugs may have the brand names: Catron, Marsilid, Niamid, Eutonyl, Furoxone, Iproniazid, Marplan, Matulane, Nardil, Parnate.

Conditions That Should Discourage Datura Use

People with the following conditions should NOT use any anticholinergenic drug under any circumstances:

• narrow angle glaucoma
• achalasia
• pyloric obstruction
• paralytic ileus
• bladder neck obstruction
• prostatic hypertrophy
• glaucoma
• Low Sodium Diet
• Low Sugar Diet

The Vaults of Erowid: documenting the complex relationship between humans and psychoactivs