Datura is an ornamental, poisonous and medicinal plant. Datura - poisonous plant

It's high herbaceous plant, similar to a bush - strong, stable with thick dark leaves and fragrant flowers in the form of complex original funnels, has bright view and a memorable name - dope, the Latin name Datura (datura).

Among all peoples, it is called diabolical, witchcraft and magical because of the intoxicating aroma, the ability to cause hallucinations and strong poisonousness.

Datura grass - photo and botanical description

Datura belongs to the nightshade family. It can be either annual or perennial. Grows up to one and a half meters.

The stem is hollow inside, dense and erect, forked-branched. Often has a slight degree of stiffness.

The root is taproot, has many branches. Perennials are very large and voluminous. In annuals, it is often woody to hold a heavy bush.

The leaves are bright green in color, alternate, on cuttings. They often have an odor that many describe as unpleasant.

Flowers from 5 to 25 cm, look up, look like bells. They bloom in nature for 1-2 days, in cultivated species, flowering was extended to 2-4 days. The color is different - white, purple, red, cream. Pollinated by nocturnal insects or independently. The smell is not strong, pleasant, they smell at dusk and at night. Flowering is abundant due to the large number of flowers on the bush, lasts from early summer to winter.

The fruit is a box with 4 wings. There are large spikes on the surface. Seeds black, brown. During the season, one Datura flower can bring about 50 thousand seeds. This helps Datura to have a large range, it is easy to capture new territories.

All types of Datura contain allaloids, due to which they are cultivated in industrial scale. The content of alkaloid substances in the plant increases with the improvement of living conditions by almost 3 times.

The flower is widely distributed throughout the world - it grows in the tropics and subtropics. It is believed that man, with his activities and movements, settled Datura around the world. On almost every continent there is a type of dope that is characteristic of this area, so disputes about the homeland of Datura continue.

AT folk descriptions datura herb is called "mad potion", since all parts of the plant are poisonous. Since ancient times, with its help, enemies and rivals have been eliminated.

Poisoning with datura alkaloids leads to excessive excitation of the nervous system with increased heart rate, overexcitation, senseless laughter and pathological activity. They are replaced by apathy, hallucinations, delirium. During sleep, vivid visions continue, often of a sexual nature.

Waking up is accompanied by a hangover syndrome and an inability to remember what happened the day before.

In case of poisoning, you should drink a lot, take sorbents, and it would be useful to consult a doctor.

"Devil's Grass", as Castaneda called the flower, is widely used in religious and mystical cults around the world to induce trance, zombification.

Consequences and symptoms of poisoning with dope seeds, photo:

Species and varieties

Although poisonous, the plant is widely cultivated. It is grown on summer cottages and in flower beds. There are many varieties of datura that have a delicate and pleasant smell.

In warm countries around the world, datura is common as a weed, everywhere.

Kinds

Datura ordinary (Datura stramonium) - in Russia grows on soft soils along roads in the southeast, including the Saratov, Volgograd regions. Loves moisture good conditions reaches 1.5 meters. Flowering is observed in June-August.

Datura Indian (Datura metel) appeared in the north of India, now this species has settled in wild nature South America and throughout Asia. The plant is widely grown commercially due to its high alkaloid content. Leaves contain a large number of atropine. The main producers are African countries and India.

Bushes reach 5 meters. perennial plants live no more than 3 years. Panicle has flowers of yellow, purple and white color.

Indian (Datúra innóxia) - grows in America - Central and South. Very similar to Indian. Has hairs on leaves and stem gray color, which makes the whole plant look greyish. Flowers after full blooming begin to slope down. Blooms until late winter.

Other types of dope:

• Datura ceratocaula;
• Datura ferox;
• Datura wrightii.

For cultivation in gardens and flower beds use different types datura. In spite of short term flowering, the bushes remain beautiful for a long time due to the large number of buds that bloom in turn.

The following varieties of Datura are cultivated:

• Datura stramonium f. inermis;
• Datura metel Fastuosa;
• Datura Tatul;
• Datura metel Atrocarmina;
• Datura metel var rubra form rubra.

Popular varieties in domestic stores are named:

• White knight;
• Yellow knight;
• Terry giant;
• Ballerina yellow;
• Lilac terry;
• Terry ballerina.

Datura varieties Troubadour, Medea (see photo) are not so whimsical, easy to plant and care for, have smooth, simple flowers.

reproduction

Flower beds are also decorated with dope, grown on household plots. The plant is also suitable for decorating winter gardens, it can be grown in greenhouses and apartments. When breeding indoors, it should be remembered that he will have to allocate a whole corner and plant in a large pot.

seeds

Datura grass grows everywhere, because it is easily propagated by self-sowing seeds. For breeding datura at home are used cultivars, but they are just as easily bred from seed.

The plant has a long germination period, which can take 10-30 days. In the southern regions, sowing of datura can be carried out in open ground, in middle lane prepare seedlings, as for eggplant and tomatoes. For landing on the street, the soil temperature must reach 18 °.

In mid-March, you need to sow the seeds.

For this, the following soil composition is used:

• garden soil - 3 parts;
• humus -2;
• sand -1.

Before sowing, carry out the usual procedures to protect against pests and stimulate germination. The seed is treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, a fungicide against fungi. You can also add seeds hot water to speed up germination.

Seeds are buried 0.5 cm into moist soil, which must be covered with film or paper to provide warmth, retain moisture and enhance germination. Excess moisture is bad for seeds, but the ball should be moderately moist at all times.

Some prefer to wait until the seeds hatch in water or a damp cloth, and only then they are sent to the soil. Dive seedlings after the appearance of 2-3 true leaves.

Seedlings are planted in the ground when the threat of frost has passed, usually in late May - June. The neck of the root is not deepened. We must not forget that the dope bushes are large - the distance between plants is 0.5-1 m.

With a significant decrease in temperature, the seedlings should be covered with a film, and the pots should be transferred to the room.

Planting Datura seeds for seedlings, video:

cuttings

Propagation by cuttings is not difficult - the roots appear quickly. Cuttings 15-20 cm in size are cut off from the bush, put into the water at the end of summer and wait for the roots to grow back. After that, they are planted in pots.

Datura hibernates indoors, at the beginning of summer it is transferred to the ground.

Cultivation and care

Planting and caring for dope does not require much work and is within the power of any grower, even an inexperienced one. Datura grows well on compost heaps in loose moist soil.

Basic growing rules:

1. Regular watering. AT hot weather watered daily, in a cool - every other day. Only in this case the flowering will be plentiful. For irrigation, hard water with excess calcium is needed to form ovaries.
2. During the period high humidity and lowering the temperature, watering is stopped to prevent infection by the fungus.
3. Withered flowers must be removed so that the dope does not waste energy on the ripening of seeds, but produces new buds.
4. If seeds are needed, the first flowers should be left. To prevent dispersal of seeds from a ripe box, it must be fixed with gauze.
5. Top dressing is carried out once every 1-2 weeks in turn organic and mineral fertilizers. With a strong oxidation of the soil, it can be treated with lime milk.
6. Datura loves sunny open places and is not afraid of burns. With a lack of light, flowering is reduced, the bush is stretched, lengthened.
7. Old shoots, on which buds no longer form, and all the flowers have wilted, need to be cut off.

What to remember when growing: dope - poisonous plant. It is dangerous for people and pets. With small children who are interested in flowers and put everything in their mouths, you need to take extra precautions. It may be worth choosing in this case other ways to decorate the site.

All parts of the plant are poisonous - leaves, seeds, roots, flowers. If the juice gets on the skin, it should be washed well with soap. The consequences of poisoning are very unpleasant.

Wintering

In our latitudes, overwinter the plant in open field fails. If you do not want to plant seeds every year, you can keep the plant in a pot indoors. To do this, the bush is well cut in early autumn and transplanted into a large pot.

In winter, the plant is watered no more than once a week; it is not necessary to feed the dope. The recommended temperature of the content is not more than 20 °. Experienced flower growers it is advised to carry out cuttings in April-May, to plant not only the bush itself, but also young seedlings from cuttings.

If the plant has shed its seeds, the next year we should expect seedlings that have turned out to be self-sowing.

Diseases, pests

Most pests bypass dope.

plant in conditions high temperatures and lack of surface watering and spraying can affect:

• spider mite;
• whitefly.

A single treatment of the bushes with a tool such as Aktofit or a simple one is enough. soapy water.

With high humidity, infection with a fungus can occur, which can destroy the bush. It is necessary to reduce watering, ensure the drying of the earthy coma and treat the soil and plant with a fungicide.

The use of datura in landscape design

Datura bushes of any variety have a beautiful appearance due to the combination of bright juicy greenery and large flowers. Abundant flowering for a long time makes the plant a real decoration of the site.

Datura is planted on the lawn and in pots that can be moved to the right place. Curtains are decorated with seedlings different colors to create a flower bed.

Datura looks good in the composition. Choice right combination different varieties plants will allow you to keep the flower bed in a constantly flowering state.

Datura is planted next to early flowers - daffodils, tulips, which by the time active growth and the blooming buds are already fading.

Planting bushes along the path is not worth it because of the toxicity. It is better to deepen the plant inside the site, the lawn.

Plants look good against the background of shrubs - lilacs, hydrangeas, jasmine. In front of the datura, low grassy flowers look good - cornflowers, marigolds, creeping grasses.

Some varieties of dope with double, large, beautifully colored flowers can decorate resting places with constant flowering without any decoration.

Datura flowers, photo:

Where to buy Datura seeds?

Seeds ripen almost 2 months after the formation of the bud. Buying datura seeds is easier than growing your own. They are sold in seed stores, large retail chains by the beginning of the planting season.

You can order Datura seeds via the Internet in stores: First Seeds, Semenapost, and others.

The cost of 4-5 dope seeds with beautiful double flowers is 20-70 rubles.

Growing datura at home and in the open field is an interesting and easy task. The plant is dangerous only for children. A long flowering period, beautiful greenery, stable strong bushes that do not require a garter make Datura a real find for all flower growers.

Datura belongs to the Solanaceae family. The name in Latin is Datura. In the people it is a poisonous herbaceous annual plant called crazy grass, grass of sorcerers, drunkard, bodyak, grass of the devil.

Pharmacy name: Datura leaves or seeds.

Datura are divided into four main types:

• Datura stramonium - dope ordinary, or dope smelly;

• Datura innoxia, or dope harmless;

• Datura metel;

Botanical description

Datura is a herbaceous annual plant that grows to a height of 0.5 - 1 m. The root is white, rod.

Characteristic appearance: the stem of the plant is erect, glabrous, ternate-forked.

Leaves up to 10 cm wide, up to 15 cm long, glabrous. Top part dark green leaves, slightly lighter below. They are long-petiolate, alternate, ovate-pointed. The lateral and main veins of the first order protrude noticeably from below, whitish in color.

Flowers are arranged in forks of the stem, solitary, big size. Corolla funnel-shaped, white. Calyx with five sides and five teeth, long-tubular. Ovary with two nests, most often the nests are divided into two half nests each.

The color can be red, blue, yellow and white. Datura blooms from June to October. Flowers bloom in the evening. Blooming Datura is a very beautiful sight.

The fruit is most often a large four-celled capsule, ovoid, with a large number of spines, fleshy or completely dry during ripening, either not opening or splitting into four wings.

Habitat

Datura grows in Africa, in Central and Southern Europe, in the Crimea, in the European part of Russia, in the Baltic states. The plant can be found on the outskirts of fields, in vegetable gardens, in wastelands, near residential buildings.

All parts of the plant contain alkaloids, mainly scopolamine, atropine and hyoscyamine. Also in the plant is carotene, essential oil, tannins. As a rule, it is not specially grown.

Medicinal properties and application

For medicinal purposes usually seeds and leaves are used, in some cases the tops of the plant. Datura leaves contain mainly the alkaloid glosciamine, atropine and scopolamine.

Because the plant is very poisonously, after harvesting raw materials, you must wash your hands. As a raw material, not dusty, healthy leaves are collected from still flowering plants. Then the leaves must be quickly dried. Seeds are harvested from mature fruits in autumn. The raw material is stored for two years.

Datura leaf medicines, thanks to scopolamine, have a calming effect on the central nervous system. These drugs reduce the secretory function of the glandular apparatus, and also have an antispasmodic effect.

A useful tincture is made from the seeds of the plant, which is part of anti-asthma drops. In folk and official medicine drugs from dope are known: asthmatin, asthmatol, anti-asthmatic collection, dope oil.

Datura is used to treat stomach and duodenal ulcers, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, bronchial asthma, with renal colic, pylorospasm, atropine sulfate is prescribed. In addition, it is prescribed for diseases of the upper respiratory tract, severe cough.

Also, this substance is available in the Efatin aerosol, which is used for bronchitis and bronchial asthma.

In the form of cigarettes, the drug Astmatin is used to alleviate the symptoms of bronchial asthma. Datura oil experts advise taking with rheumatism and neuralgia as rubbing.

Contraindications : should not be used during pregnancy, with glaucoma, do not take too much dope, otherwise it can lead to very severe headaches. Causes visions and hallucinations when rubbed into temples.

• Bath decoction: 20 grams per bucket of water.
• Decoction for inhalation: 200 ml of boiled water and 20 grams of the plant. Inhale for 15-20 minutes through the nose.

In the article we discuss dope ordinary. You will learn what medicinal properties it has, how to harvest raw materials, how to prepare medicines based on it and how to use them. You will also find out what precautions and contraindications the dope has.

Datura ordinary (smelly) is an annual flowering herbaceous plant of the Solanaceae family. Among the people, dope is called dope-grass, divderevo, foolish, foolish potion, smelly dope, prickly apples, badura, cocklebur, calf, crazy grass, datura. The Latin name is Datura stramonium.

What does it look like

Appearance (photo) dope ordinary. This is a densely branched plant up to 1.5 meters high. root system pivotal, developed, powerful. Stems erect, bare, yellow-green.

Leaves on fleshy petioles, alternate, ovate with large teeth along the edges, pointed. The upper part of the leaf is dark green, the lower part is slightly lighter.

Inflorescences are large, solitary, develop in the axils of the leaves. Corolla and calyx of a funnel-shaped flower with fused petals. The flowers are pale white in color, exude a sweetish intoxicating aroma.

The fruit is a multi-seeded box with four nests, light green in color, covered with prickly thorns. At the time of seed ripening, the box becomes stiff and acquires a gray-green color. When fully ripe, it opens into four wings and throws out seeds.

Datura seeds are matte black, reniform, about 3 mm in size, have bad smell. Up to 800 seeds ripen in one box. The flowering period is from June to August, the fruiting period is from late July to October.

Where does it grow

It grows in littered places near dwellings and along roads. Prefers moist, organic-rich soils. In Russia, dope ordinary can be found in the Astrakhan, Volgograd, Samara and Saratov regions. The plant also grows in countries of Eastern Europe, in the Caucasus and Central Asia.

Some gardeners grow dope ordinary in summer cottages and household plots. This is a fairly unpretentious plant in breeding, but very dangerous, especially for children and pets. Self-planting and caring for dope require increased precautions.

For more information about dope, see the following video:

Leaves and fruits

In ancient times, the plant was used as a hallucinogenic agent in various occult rituals and as an anesthetic for the seriously wounded. Today, in medicine, the leaves and fruits of Datura are used as an antispasmodic and sedative.

In pharmacognosy, the plant chemical composition defined as toxic, which in small doses can have a therapeutic effect in various diseases.

Chemical composition

The plant contains a large amount of alkaloids (about 0.25%) belonging to the tropane group - hyoscyamine, atropine and scopolamine. Datura also contains the following biologically active substances:

• essential oils;
• fixed oils;
• organic acids;
• flavonoids;
• phenolic compounds;
• steroids;
• tannins;
• carotene;
• vitamin C;
• minerals;
• ash.

Medicinal properties

Datura has the following therapeutic effects:

The plant is used in the treatment of the following ailments:

Dosage forms plants (tincture) can be bought at any pharmacy. Preparation of medicinal raw materials is carried out in dry, calm weather, observing precautionary measures and using means personal protection. Collect developed leaves as soon as Datura begins to bloom. Collection can be carried out until late autumn.

For drying, the leaves are laid out on a tarpaulin with a layer of 2-3 cm in a shaded, well-ventilated room - in the attic or veranda.

During the drying process, the leaves must be mixed. In automatic dryers, they are dried at a temperature of 40-45 degrees.

Seeds are harvested when the box is half cracked. Shake them gently onto paper. Store medicinal raw materials in a dry place away from food and other medicinal herbs in a tightly closed container. Shelf life - 2 years.

Currently, self-collection of Datura is not practiced due to the high toxicity of the plant. For use in pharmaceuticals, it is cultivated only in specialized garden farms.

How to apply

Datura ordinary is used as a medicine. AT folk medicine decoctions, oil, powder, water and alcohol tinctures are prepared on its basis. Also, the plant is used in cosmetology to remove unwanted vegetation on the body.

On the basis of dope produce the following types medicines:

• ointments and gels for rubbing;
• antitussive drugs;
• sedatives;
• cigarettes for asthmatics Astmatol and Astmatin;
• seed oil.

Ready-made medicinal raw materials can be purchased at pharmacies or online stores specializing in the sale of herbal remedies. average price- 200 rubles for 50 g of dry grass and 300 rubles for 100 ml of concentrated oil from Datura seeds.

For hair removal

Toxic substances of the plant destroy the hair follicles and inhibit hair growth. After a course of procedures, the hair becomes brittle, weak and gradually falls out.

To remove unwanted vegetation, a concentrated decoction of dope, tinctures for vegetable oil or alcohol. Alcohol tincture is suitable for oily skin, and oil tincture is suitable for dry skin.

Before applying the product, be sure to test for an allergic reaction. Lubricate with the resulting product small plot skin on your wrist and wait at least an hour.

Decoction

Ingredients:

1. Datura (leaves) - 150 g.
2. Pure water - 1 l.

How to cook: Pour dried dope leaves with water and place over medium heat. After boiling, reduce the heat and evaporate the liquid until the volume of the broth is reduced to 200-250 ml. Cool and filter the product. Keep tightly closed glass containers.

How to use: Soak a cotton swab in the decoction and lubricate the scalp. Apply the product daily until the complete disappearance of vegetation.

Alcohol tincture

Ingredients:

1. Datura (seeds) - ½ cup
2. food or medical alcohol(96%) - 1 glass.

How to cook: Grind the seeds in a mortar. Do not grind them in a coffee grinder, the seeds are poisonous! Place the raw materials in a glass container and fill with alcohol. Seal tightly and let steep for 3 weeks.

How to use: Apply a few drops of the product to the scalp and gently rub into the skin. Carry out the procedure with gloves. Apply twice a day daily. After the procedure, do not wet the treatment area for an hour. The course is 1.5-2 months, depending on the thickness of the hair. After 2-3 months, repeat the course if necessary.

Oil tincture

Ingredients:

1. Datura (seeds) - ½ cup
2. Olive oil - 1 cup.

How to cook: Grind the seeds and fill them with oil in a glass container. Seal tightly and let steep for 3 weeks.

Ingredients:

1. Datura (leaves) - ½ tsp
2. Wormwood - ½ tsp
3. Tansy - ½ tsp
4. St. John's wort - ½ tsp
5. Drinking water - 250 ml.

How to cook: Mix herbs. Take 1 tablespoon of the collection and pour boiling water over it. Let it brew for 6 hours. Filter the infusion through cheesecloth.

How to use: Take the infusion in the morning on an empty stomach. The course of treatment is up to 2 weeks.

Ingredients: Datura (leaves) - 1 tbsp.

How to cook: Heat the pan, put the leaves in it and cover with a lid. As soon as they begin to smoke under the lid, remove the pan from the heat.

How to use: Perform the procedure outdoors or with an open window. Lift the lid and inhale the smoke. It is desirable that the smoke also gets a little into the eyes. The duration of the procedure is no more than 1 minute. If you feel unwell, stop the procedure immediately.

Tincture from motion sickness

From motion sickness and nausea, take Datura powder or cook alcohol tincture from leaves. These prescriptions should never be used in children.

Powder

Ingredients: Datura (leaves) - 10 g.

How to cook: Grind dried leaves in a mortar to a fine powder.

How to use: Dilute 0.2 grams of powder in a glass drinking water. Take at the first sign of motion sickness. Store the remaining powder in a tightly closed jar.

Alcohol tincture

Ingredients:

1. Datura (leaves) - 100 g.
2. Food alcohol (40%) - 500 ml.

How to cook: Pour medicinal raw materials with alcohol and let it brew in a dark, cool place for 7 days. Filter the tincture through cheesecloth.

How to use: Dilute 10-20 drops of the product in 100 ml of drinking water. Take at the first symptoms.

Bath for rheumatism

For rheumatic pains, they take a bath with a decoction of dope leaves, and also use an oil or alcohol infusion to rub diseased joints and muscles. Datura quickly relieves pain and inflammation.

Ingredients:

1. Datura (leaves) - 20 g.
2. Pure water - 5 liters.

How to cook: Boil the water and pour the crushed dope leaves with boiling water. Let it brew for 30 minutes. Filter the decoction.

How to use: Take a bath, add the cooled broth to it. The water temperature should not exceed 35 degrees. Bath time is 10 minutes.

Infusions of dope seeds in alcohol and oil are prepared according to the above recipes. The rubbing procedure for rheumatism is carried out in disposable gloves. A few drops of the product are applied to the painful area of ​​​​the body and rubbed with massage movements.

Alcohol tincture for cough

With bronchial asthma, shortness of breath and a strong cough, an alcohol tincture is prepared. Datura dilates the bronchi, relieves muscle spasm, reduces coughing and makes breathing easier.

Ingredients:

1. Datura (seeds) - 50 g.
2. Food alcohol (70%) - 250 ml.

How to cook: Grind the seeds in a mortar, place them in a glass container and fill with alcohol. Let it brew for 14 days. Shake the container periodically. Filter the finished tincture through cheesecloth.

How to use: Dilute 2 drops in 15 ml boiled water. Take the remedy no more than 4 times a day before meals.

Cigarettes for asthma

Ingredients:

1. Datura (leaves) - 8 g.
2. Henbane (leaves) - 2 g.
3. Potassium nitrate - 1 g.
4. Cigarette paper.

How to cook: Grind all the ingredients in a mortar and mix thoroughly. Roll small thin cigarettes with the mixture.

How to use: Use one cigarette each to prevent severe coughing and choking in asthma.

Contraindications

Datura ordinary and medicines based on it have the following contraindications:

• individual intolerance;
• allergy;
• pregnancy;
• lactation period;
• age up to 18 years;
• glaucoma;
• alcohol or drug addiction, including history.

In case of an overdose, the following symptoms may develop:

• dizziness;
• clouding of consciousness;
• intoxication;
• hallucinations;
• memory impairment;
• nausea and vomiting;
• dry mouth;
• severe weakness;
• loss of appetite;
• convulsions;
• pupil dilation;
• visual impairment.

Do not ignore the symptoms, stop Datura immediately and seek help.

Precautionary measures

Due to the high content of alkaloids, Datura is classified as a highly poisonous plant. Please observe the following precautions when using it:

1. Don't inhale the smell flowering plant don't pick flowers in decorative purposes and do not pluck Datura leaves with your bare hands.
2. When collecting and harvesting Datura, use disposable gloves and a respirator.
3. Wear a disposable medical mask when making leaf powder and grinding seeds.
4. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling medicinal raw materials.
5. Keep Datura and its products away from food.
6. Make sure that medicinal raw materials are in a place inaccessible to children.
7. Do not use the plant in medicinal purposes without prior consultation with a physician.
8. Accurately observe the dosage of drugs based on dope ordinary.
9. Like any drug, dope is addictive. Funds based on it are not intended for regular and uncontrolled intake.
10. If possible, abandon the use of the plant in favor of traditional medicines.

Classification

The plant has the following taxonometric classification:

• department: Flowering;
• class: Dicotyledons;
• order: Solanaceae;
• family: Solanaceae;
• genus: Datura;
• species: Datura common.

Varieties

The Datura genus includes 13 species of flowering herbaceous, rarely tree-like, plants. The most common are the following types of dope:

• ordinary or smelly;
• Violet;
• Indian;
• Indian or harmless;
• blood red.

Datura vulgaris infographics

Photo dope ordinary, his beneficial features and application
Datura infographic

What to remember

1. Datura is a highly poisonous plant. Be careful!
2. Accurately observe the dosage of medicinal raw materials.
3. Consult with your doctor before taking Datura-based medicines.

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Classmates

Datura (from the Latin "datura") is a very beautiful herbaceous plant with large carved leaves, less often tree-like. However, its beauty is quite dangerous, since all parts of the plant are poisonous. Among the people, this representative of the Nightshade family received the name: “stupefyer”, “datura-grass”, “mad potion”, “water drunk”, “crazy grass”, “bodyak” for the ability to cause delirium, hallucinations, nervous excitement, mental disorders.

Datura can be found in steppe zones and in countries with temperate climate almost everywhere. It is distributed in Europe, Asia, Central America, Mexico. It tolerates drought quite well, grows in wastelands, landfills, roadsides as a weed, but prefers wet areas and black soil.

The height of the plant reaches 1.2 meters, the size of the leaves is 10 * 15 centimeters, the flowers are solitary, large (up to 15 centimeters), funnel-shaped, most often white. Datura fruit has an egg-shaped box, divided by valves into four nests, covered with thorns and filled with small black seeds.

Despite the fact that dope has earned an unkind reputation among the people, its properties were used by ancient priests and healers for medicinal purposes. The modern pharmaceutical industry isolates alkaloids from fresh raw materials, which are used for the manufacture of many drugs.

For medical purposes, seeds, leaves and young shoots of Datura are harvested. Seeds are harvested after they ripen, and leaves are harvested in dry weather, usually from the beginning of flowering of the plant until the first frost. At the same time, it should be remembered that dope is a powerful poison, so it is advisable to collect it with gloves, trying not to inhale the aroma of flowers. Dried raw materials in the shade at a temperature of 45-50 about C separately from other medicinal plants. The shelf life of finished raw materials is up to two years.

Composition and medicinal properties

All parts of the plant contain tropane alkaloids: hyoscyamine, atropine, scopolamine, which are cholinergic receptor blockers, as well as tannins and essential oils. Thus, the content of alkaloids in Datura stems is 0.15%, in roots - 0.26%, flowers - up to 1.9%, in seeds - 0.22%, and fatty essential oils 15-25%.

Once in the body, these substances reduce the secretion of gastric, sweat, salivary glands, glands of the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx, bronchi, trachea, reduce the tone and motility of smooth muscles gastrointestinal tract, biliary and urinary tract. At the same time, they increase the heart rate and blood ejection, dilate the pupils, increase intraocular pressure, and cause accommodation paralysis.

In addition, the plant has antispasmodic, analgesic and sedative properties, is part of the pills for motion sickness and the treatment of bronchial asthma, prolonged convulsive cough. Medicinal preparations based on dope are recommended for people suffering from diseases of the upper respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, neuralgia and Parkinson's disease. Used externally to treat various forms rheumatism and sciatica.

Kinds

The family includes more than 13 species, the most famous include: common dope, Indian and purple, dope Indian or harmless, blood red.

Datura Indian is better known as decorative look, with large beautiful flowers, violet, magenta or yellow color, distributed over vast areas of Asia and China.

In our country, dope or stinky prevails, the seeds of which contain up to 0.5% alkaloids. It has a strong analgesic effect, so it can be used in surgery as anesthesia.

Datura tree or brugmansia tree - very showy plant up to 3 meters high, with large half-meter flowers. homeland of the species South America, in our country grows only in closed ground. The fruit consists of a two-celled capsule filled with dark brown grains (100-150 pieces). Like the rest of the family, it is also very poisonous.

Preparations

Datura is used in classical pharmacology, homeopathy, traditional medicine in various forms:

• Alcohol tincture from seeds or leaves can relieve pain in stomach cancer, and as a sedative is often recommended for mental disorders, convulsions, epilepsy, increased sexual excitability. A tincture is prepared from 100 grams of crushed raw materials and 500 milliliters of alcohol, infused for 7-10 days in a dark place, then filtered.
• Seed oil tincture Datura has been used since ancient times as a powerful aphrodisiac and remedy for impotence. For these purposes olive oil or warm wine insisted on the crushed grains of the plant and rubbed into the genital area.
• Aqueous infusion of root and seeds Datura help cleanse blood vessels, improve blood circulation, dissolve blood clots and treat varicose veins.
• Datura oil extruded from the seeds and fruits of the plant in the factory, packaged and sold in a pharmacy. It is designed to remove unwanted hair, remove fecal stones from the intestines, stones from the gallbladder, normalize the peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract, and stabilize the state of the central nervous system. As an external agent, it is used for skin diseases, eczema, rashes, burns, arthritis, sciatica, etc.
• leaf extract plants are used to produce drugs that have an antispasmodic effect and suppress the secretion of the salivary glands, which is necessary in the treatment of bronchitis and asthma.
• dried leaves dope ordinary and carefully crushed is recommended for severe shortness of breath and convulsive cough, as depressant after stress.

Datura cones or fruits are part of many drugs used for severe pain, convulsions, cancerous tumors.

• Sometimes used as an astringent and antiseptic decoction of seeds plants for rinsing the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat, to relieve toothache. External compresses help with mastitis and mastopathy, inflammation of the lymph nodes, tumors, hematomas and bruises.
• Decoction of grains and leaves herbs are prepared in the proportion of 20 grams of dry crushed raw materials per 8-10 liters of boiling water, infused for half an hour, then filtered. A decoction is used as an anesthetic and antiseptic for sitz baths, compresses, douches for prolapse of the uterus in women, hemorrhoids, inflammation of the ovaries and genital organs, cystitis and other diseases of the genitourinary system.

Application in traditional medicine

Since ancient times, dope grass has been used in witchcraft rites. different peoples and in folk medicine as a powerful hallucinogenic agent. For example, plant substances can cause a complete inability to distinguish between reality and fantasy, a feverish state and an increase in body temperature, strange, nervous, and sometimes aggressive behavior, amnesia, severe dilation of the pupils, followed by photophobia for several days, and other conditions.

Since ancient times, in folk medicine, decoctions and ointments have been prepared from Indian Datura for healing wounds, cuts, removing calluses, ulcers, boils and acne, as it has antiseptic and anesthetic properties. As a sedative and sedative component is part of many drugs.

It is recommended to inhale the smoke of cigars from Datura ordinary for patients with bronchial asthma to relieve attacks of suffocation. A decoction of flowers is taken for angina pectoris and epilepsy, children are given to get rid of fear, as an external remedy it is used in the form of compresses for inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eye.

Instructions for use:

Datura vulgaris (datura stinky, dope potion, dormant, divderevo, thorny apples, crazy grass, spice, badura, dope-grass, cocklebur) is a poisonous annual herbaceous plant with an unpleasant odor, from the genus Datura of the Solanaceae family. The genus includes 25 plant species native to the tropics and subtropics. Datura ordinary is the only species that grows in the south and in the middle zone of the European part of Russia, in the North Caucasus and in the Crimea, rarely in the northern regions. It has analgesic, antispasmodic and anticholinergic properties.

Chemical composition

All parts of the plant contain alkaloids, mainly atropine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine: in the roots - 0.12-0.27%, in the stems - 0.06-0.24%, in the leaves - 0.23-0.37%, in flowers - 0.13-1.9%, in seeds - 0.08-0.22%.

The leaves also contain: essential oil (up to 0.04%), tannins (1.7%) and carotene (up to 0.1%).

Beneficial features

The properties of dope ordinary are due to the antispasmodic and anticholinergic action of alkaloids.

Indications for use

How poisonous and medicinal plant Datura vulgaris has been known for a long time. Already in the Middle Ages, the leaves of the stray grass were used in Europe as an analgesic.

For medicinal purposes, mainly dope leaves are used. Preparations based on them are used for diseases of the respiratory tract, accompanied by spasm of the muscles of the bronchi. The leaves are included in the compositions of anti-asthma smoking preparations, as well as anti-asthma drugs such as Astmol and Astmatin.

Datura oil is an ordinary part of liniments intended for rubbing with neuralgia and rheumatism.

Preparations from the leaves of the herb have a calming effect on the central nervous system, reduce the secretion of the glands of the gastrointestinal tract.

In folk medicine various countries the world cocklebur is used for nervous and mental illness, neuralgia, epilepsy, shortness of breath, convulsive cough, persistent hiccups, whooping cough, acute and chronic rheumatism, spasm of the stomach and intestines, partial prolapse of the uterus and colon, excessive sexual desire in women and priapism in men, mastitis, tumors.

Contraindications

• glaucoma;
• pregnancy;
• breastfeeding period;
• individual hypersensitivity to the plant.

Datura ordinary is a poisonous plant, and all parts are poisonous, and especially the seeds.

Do not abuse the preparations of crazy grass, because in case of an overdose, severe poisoning can occur. Its symptoms are: dryness of the oral mucosa, intense thirst, headache, dilated pupils, unrelated speech, motor agitation, frequent pulse, hallucinations, flushing of the skin of the face and neck, hoarseness, coma is possible. Help in case of poisoning: gastric lavage with a weak solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate), the appointment of adsorbents, morphine, anticholinesterase and cholinomimetic drugs (prozerin, ezerin, pilocarpine), symptomatic therapy.

Datura home remedies

• convulsive cough tincture: grind the seeds, mix with 70% alcohol in a ratio of 1:5, insist for 14 days. Take 2 drops, stirring in 1 tbsp. l. water, 4-5 times a day, preferably before meals;
• sitz baths recommended for rectal prolapse: pour 20 g of dried leaves with 1 cup of boiling water, insist for 1 hour, dilute with a bucket of warm boiled water and mix, insist for another 1 hour in a warm place;
• remedy for epilepsy, depression, nymphomania: dilute 1 drop of dope juice with 2 tbsp. l. water. Take 3 times a day;
• tincture for convulsions, excessive drowsiness, spasms, neuralgia, bronchial asthma, convulsive cough and whooping cough: 2 tbsp. l. Medicinal raw materials pour 1 cup boiling water, boil for 5 minutes in a water bath. Inhale through the nose a couple of infusions for 15-20 minutes;
• remedy used for mastitis and tumors: 1 tbsp. l. dilute dope seed tincture with 100 ml of water. Use in the form of lotions;
• broth for rheumatism: 30 g of dried and crushed leaves pour 10 liters cold water, bring to a boil, boil a little over low heat, cool and strain. The decoction must be added to the bathroom filled with hot water. Take baths every other day for 15 minutes, the course of treatment is 20 days.