Medicinal Monday - Jimson Weed - A Sacred and Poisonous Herb

Datura stramonium has many common names from Jimson Weed and Thorn Apple to Devil's Weed and Angel's Trumpet. This herb is in the Nightshade family and was used by Native Americans carefully as this plant has powerful effects as well as a long history of use by humans. Native Americans were well aware of its uses long before European contact.

About Datura stramonium

In the same family as mandrake, henbane, and belladonna, this perennial belongs to the alkaloid-rich Nightshade family. The root of the plant is thick, fibrous. The pale yellow to the purplish stem stands erect and leafy. The stems branch off repeatedly and each fork has a leaf and a single white to creamy or purple-colored trumpet-shaped flower that blooms throughout the summer. The coarsely toothed leaves are dark green on the top and a lighter green on the bottom and have a bitter taste. The flowers open at night, emitting a pleasant fragrance. The egg-shaped four-chambered seed capsules can grow up to three inches. They are covered with spines and when mature they split to reveal dozens of small, black seeds. All parts of this plant contain dangerous levels of tropane alkaloids. The risk of a fatal overdose is high especially among recreational users who ingest the plant for its psychoactive effects. Datura stramonium intoxication produces delirium, hallucinations, hyperthermia, and bizarre behavior. The effects can last up to two weeks.

Medicinal and Ceremonial Uses

Datura can be found all over the world and is a sacred herb to nearly all Native American communities. Medicine Men use the hallucinatory power of Datura to manifest divine inspiration and visions that foretold the weakness of their enemies and revealed hidden truths. Some tribes administer a brew containing Datura during ritual dances initiating adolescents into manhood. The Virginia Algonquian peoples use this in an ancient coming of age ritual, the huskanawing ceremony.

Medicinally the Cherokee use a poultice of wilted leaves to treat boils. They also smoked the leaves to treat asthma. The Delaware, Rappahannock, and Mohegan use a poultice of leaves to treat open wounds and mixed crushed seeds with tallow to treat piles. A poultice of leaves mixed with tallow was also applied to the chest and to bruises. The leaves were also applied externally to horses to treat sores or bruises. The Iroquois considered the seeds poisonous.

Did You Know...

The genus name, Datura is derived from the plant's Hindi name.

In the United States, its most common name is Jimson Weed deriving from Jamestown, Virginia, where English soldiers consumed it while attempting to suppress Bacon's Rebellion and spent 11 days in an altered mental state.

Until the onset of the 20th century, a prescription of morphine and scopolamine containing plants such as Datura stramonium was used in surgery and to reduce inflammation and pain. The plant fell out of favor because it could lead to death if taken in high doses and, because of the advent of modern synthetic pharmaceuticals.