![]() ![]() Like henbane, datura can have hallucinogenic effects when absorbed through the skin as a lotion, causing those who used it to embark on spiritual journeys or enter a trance in medieval Europe, evidence suggests that during the Spanish Inquisition, the use of the plant could lead to persecution for witchcraft. Datura stramonium, native to North and Central America and now widespread throughout the world, has been used for magical, ceremonial and medicinal purposes for centuries. It’s likely you’ve seen these pretty pinwheel-shaped flowers growing in your backyard late in the summer. In some parts of the U.S., henbane, which belongs to the nightshade family, is classified as a noxious weed, so be sure to keep children and pets away if you spot it growing on the roadside. However, it can be lethal in large doses, so we don’t recommend picking some for a little Halloween fun. When mixed with fat an applied as a salve, henbane is absorbed through the skin and is said to give one the dizzying sensation of flight: the reason it is the key ingredient in witch’s ointment. Native to Europe, henbane not only looks rather spooky with its green petals and black center, it has a long history as a poison, medicinal and ritualistic plant across that continent. Henbane, also known as “the witch’s drug,” is one of several plants in the Solanaceae (nightshade) family that contains alkaloids including hyoscine, hyoscyamine, and atropine, which can cause powerful hallucinations. It’s no wonder plants that help you see and experience interesting and terrifying things have long been associated with magic.
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