Datura is considered a poisonous plant. By the way, it is called differently: "angel pipe", "crazy grass", "moon flower", "drunken cucumber" and "bleached". It is known that this flowering plant belongs to the nightshade family, and therefore is a relative of tomatoes, potatoes and even eggplant.
The people also call it dope herb. A description of this flower can be found in many textbooks on botany, and its photographs are also placed there.
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Datura ordinary properties
Datura plant can be found in large quantities in any area. Usually, the dope chooses the following territories for their habitation: vacant lots, roadsides and vegetable gardens.
This flower plant grows up to 1.5 meters. It has a thick stem and huge leaves with small teeth. The root of this herbaceous plant is completely white and rather long, with taproots. Fragrant and large flowers most often white, but you can also find lilac color.
In their shape, they resemble a small lily. They sprout in the convolutions of the stem, and in one place there can be no more than one of them. There are only five flower petals. The buds bloom only in the evening.
The fruits of the "naughty grass" consist of a capsule in which there are four sections covered with small thorns. Each box contains about 800 grains. Dope begins to bloom in July and ends its flowering only at the end of September, and already in October the fruits begin to ripen.
The bushes of this plant most often grow in small groups. Currently, biologists have counted 13 species of this plant, and it is worth noting that they are all poisonous. On the Internet you can find a large number of photos of ordinary dope.
In Europe, the following types of dope are considered the most common:
- Ordinary.
- Strong-bore.
- Indian.
- Indian.
The amount of poisons in this plant depends on what time this flower is collected and in what place. And for this you need to know the composition of the plant:
- alkaloids;
- carotene;
- tannins;
- essential oils;
- fats;
- trace elements.
Datura, of course, can be a natural medicine, be used as a remedy, but sometimes leads to the death of a person. It has been proven that alkaloids are found in all private plants in different proportions:
- 0.4% leaves.
- 0.15% - stems.
- 0.2% - seeds.
- 0.25% - roots.
- 0.2% - flowers
The history of the flower plant
Unfortunately, it is impossible to establish the homeland of this plant. But the first mentions of it are found in the legends of Europe, America, Africa and Asia. Therefore, there are two stories of the origin of bleached: American and Asian.
According to the first version, dope seeds were brought from America by Columbus's sailors. The second theory claims that roving gypsies once found strange and intoxicating seeds in the steppes near the Caspian Sea. They are then they were taken all over Asia.
But these legends do not find their documentary confirmation.And this herbaceous plant was widespread thanks to the healers, who transported its seeds.
It is worth noting that henbane was also used by soothsayers for mystical rites... And the Aztecs generally considered this herb sacred, since the priests used it, causing hallucinations, allowing them to communicate with higher powers.
The seed pods of this flowering plant were sacrificed to the deity. The Indian tribes also used this herb to carry out witchcraft rituals. Chinese doctors used this plant in the middle times for the treatment of many diseases.
Hindus gave the dancers of the Shiva temple to drink wine with dope to immerse themselves in ecstasy. But in Europe in the Middle Ages, there was a legend that sorcerers prepared a special ointment based on dope, which made it possible for them to fly on a broomstick.
The history of Datura goes far back in antiquity, as they appeared on the basis of the name of this flower plant and the surname in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine: Durmanovsky, Datura and others.
The use of Datura herbs in medicine
Even in ancient Greek medicine dating back to the 4th century BC, many of the healing properties of bleached are described. For example, the 11th century physician Avicenna described this herb as beautiful narcotic drug.
But of course, the medicinal properties of the plant depend on what is the content of alkaloids in it. So, hyoscyamine helps to reduce the secretion of bile, sweat, saliva, and stimulates heart function.
In the modern world, the pharmaceutical industry produces a variety of drugs that contain dope, and they are excellent for the treatment of the following diseases:
- Bronchial asthma.
- Bronchitis.
- Stomach ulcers.
- Duodenal ulcers.
- Colitis.
- Cholecystitis.
- Tachycardia.
- Sea and air sickness.
- Mental illness.
- Neuralgia.
- Rheumatism.
In medicine dope decoctions are usedperfect for rinsing, rubbing, enemas or douching. Datura oil tincture is used externally. But with constipation, it is possible to take it orally. And the oil is great for hair removal. There is also a dry powder of dope leaves, which is added to special cigarettes for asthmatics.
Crazy grass is also used in veterinary medicine, for example, for the treatment of seizures in cattle or to increase the body fat in pigs.
But it is always worth remembering that if the dose of use for a person is calculated incorrectly, then this can be fatal. Therefore, without the advice of a doctor and consultation, use it Datura is undesirable for self-treatment.
Harvesting of plant materials
Traditional healers try to collect the dope on their own, but for this they follow a few simple rules: it is worth collecting in the warm season, the weather should be clear and sunny and this should be done no earlier than 10 o'clock in the morning.
But you should definitely observe and some precautions... For example, do not take this plant with your hands, but use gloves for this purpose. You cannot dry this raw material at home and even more so in the oven.
Already finished raw materials are divided into leaves, flowers and seeds and prepared separately in tightly closed jars. These blanks can be stored for 2 years. After any work with the plant, it is necessary wash your hands well.
Datura decorative use
Some varieties of datura are used in garden plots and as ornamental plants. Many gardeners like her for her unpretentious care. Its reproduction takes place by seeds.
In the spring, the seeds, soaked in hot water, are planted in pots with soil prepared in the fall. At the end of May, the resulting seedlings can be planted in open ground. After 3 weeks, the first buds will begin to appear. Datura grass flowers photos can be found on many sites on the Internet or in encyclopedias.
Datura is planted in dachas mainly because of the beautiful flowering. The natural color of dope is white, but you can also find hybrid forms of this plant, which bloom and lilac, violet, magenta and yellow flowers. The incredibly pleasant scent of flowers helps to mask many unpleasant odors in garden areas.
Datura care includes three main conditions:
- the sun;
- loose earth;
- timely watering.
But on the other hand, weeds do not form near the dope, the poisonous plant does not allow them to come to it. But it is still necessary to feed the soil with various minerals.
It is worth remembering that dope is still a perennial herb, so it you can not cut bush completely, and leave for the second year. By the way, the tincture from this toxic plant can also be used to combat pests: spider mites, cabbage moths, golden-tailed caterpillars and hawthorns.
Beetles and ants should not be afraid of this plant, but wireworms can even damage these stems. Bees willingly collect nectar from this flower, but humans cannot eat such honey.
For the winter, this grass can be transplanted into pots and even taken home, but provided that they are be in a large room... You cannot put such a plant in the bedroom or on the playgrounds.
Datura-herb danger
Datura is a poisonous plant. Therefore, it is contraindicated for pregnant women, as well as nursing mothers. People with glaucoma should not be treated with drugs based on dope and even contraindicated to care behind such landings.
Sometimes bleached poisoning occurs through negligence. But folk healers are trying to prepare their medicines, not knowing the correct dosage. Recently, more and more young people are dying due to the fact that they are trying to make an intoxicating potion out of dope, and this leads to trouble.
Small children, finding themselves near this toxic and poisonous plant, due to the carelessness of their parents, try to open the fruit bolls, and put the seeds in their mouths. As a result, all these cases lead to poisoning, sometimes to heavy, and sometimes even fatal.
Datura poisoning can be noticed immediately, since it symptoms appear very quickly and they are bright:
- Pupils dilate, lips and mouth become blue.
- Speech goes astray and heart rate quickens.
- Shortness of breath appears, the temperature rises, the face swells.
If the poisoning is very strong, then hallucinations and seizures occur... It is very difficult for a person to navigate in space, and even more so to realize reality. If you do not come to the rescue in time, then very quickly the respiratory center is paralyzed, and the person may die.
If the first symptoms of plant poisoning appear, then you should call an ambulance immediately... Doctors will necessarily wash the victim's stomach, inject proserin or any other psychotropic drugs, and also cold compresses on the head are required for such poisoning.
If there is no knowledge about the dope-herb, then, accordingly, it is impossible to prepare some preparations on your own, and you cannot collect raw materials from this herb. But conversations with children about the toxicity of this plant must be carried out by showing a photo so that the child can remember the appearance of the dope.
But it is worth noting that any drugs containing dope, despite the exact adherence to dosages, will still lead to negative consequences. Therefore, it is always worth remembering that if such drugs with dope are used for a long time, this will lead to various mental disorders, glaucoma and depression. Use a medicine that contains atropine is possible only temporarily.
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