Datura

Details
  • Datura is a woody-stalked, leafy herb growing up to 2 meters. It produces spiney seed pods and large white or purple trumpet-shaped flowers that face upward.
  • Most parts of the plant contain atropine, scopolamine, and hyoscyamine.
  • Datura has a long history of use both in S. America and Europe and is known for causing delirious states and poisonings in uninformed users.
  • Users usually boil the seeds and flowers into tea and drink the mixture.

Datura is also called: Jimson Weed; Devil's Apple; Thorn Apple; Stinkweed; Devil's Weed; Malpitte; Moonflower; Toloache (D. inoxia).

Effects
  • Pupil dilation and extreme thirst are usually the first symptoms, followed by hallucinations, elevated body temperature and increased heartbeat, or tachycardia.
  • The hallucinations brought on by datura use differ from those caused by drugs such as LSD. A datura user is unable to distinguish between the hallucination and reality, a condition known as frank delirium.
  • Users have reported a loss of appetite, thirst, dizziness, headache, feeling of sedation/stupor, nausea (usually without vomiting), loss of sense of the passage of time, uncoordinated movement, fear, anxiety, panic, confusion, delirium, amnesia, difficulty breathing and numbness.
  • Other side effects of datura use or ingestion include dry mouth and eyes, inability to focus eyes (can persist for multiple days), problems with speaking or swallowing, inability to urinate and muscle weakness.
  • The effects of datura can last up to 48 hours.

 

Risks
  • Datura may cause severe, long-lasting disorientation, confusion, delirium, and hallucinations. Accidents and self-injuries, sometimes requiring hospitalization, are alarmingly frequent among datura users.
  • Datura alkaloids can have toxic effects, including coma or death. 4-5 g of dried Datura stramonium leaves can contain a lethal dose of alkaloids, while flowers and seeds are considerably more potent.

 

Further Resources
Links