Datura

Definition
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Widespread in temperate and subtropical areas, originally from Central America, a fast-growing plant belonging to the nightshade family (Solanaceae) - poisonous plant! All parts of the plant are very poisonous!

It is named after the spiky fruits of the approx. 1.2 m high plant, which has egg-shaped or triangular leaves and trumpet-like, white flowers up to 10 cm in size. Flowering time: June to September, fruit ripening: August to October.

Now obsolete, in the past a tincture of datura seeds or leaves was used for asthma drops or whooping cough, also as incense or cigarettes against asthma.

The dried leaves (Stramonium leaves - Stramonii folium), which are up to 20 cm long and stemmed, were used phytopharmacologically. In addition to the leaves, the seeds (Stramonii semen, see under Stramonii folium) were also used in traditional medicine for asthma and spasmodic coughs.

Parts of the common datura (Datura stramonium) were used as an aphrodisiac. Still used worldwide today as a legally available intoxicant
(smoking dried leaves), also as a tea infusion or chewing the root of Datura species.