” “The Aztecs had great superstitions regarding [datura and peyote] . . . which they venerate as though divine. For in drinking these herbs they consult them like oracles. [They revere] these seeds . . . as if they were God.”¹⁰²
The Witches’ Ointment: The Secret History of Psychedelic Magic
By Thomas Hatsis
Datura is commonly called Thorn apple or Jimson Weeds and grows almost everywhere on the planet except the arctic. It has beautiful trumpet-shaped flowers that open at irregular times during the evening. The fruits are covered in spikes and oval-shaped. If bruised, any part of the plant will produce a foul odor. Datura is extremely toxic when ingested and can cause severe hallucinations and even death.
- Genus: Datura
- Species: stramonium
- Family: Solanaceae
- Common Names: Thorn Apple. Jimson Weed.
- Annual Active Constituents: Hyoscyamine. Atropine. Scopolamine.
Botanical experts have different theories on whether Datura stramonium was known in pre-colonial Europe. According to Thomas Hatsis, three species of Datura were known to have existed in the old world prior to colonial contact. Hatsis further states that one pre-Christain name for the plant is the Lithuanian dievažolynis, meaning “God’s herb”.(1)
Datura itself forms a genus of some 20 species of the nightshade family Solanaceae. The plants of the Solanaceae family have been used as hallucinogenics in both hemispheres of the planet. A Datura drug is generally made by dropping the pulverized seeds into a fermented drink or by steeping the leaves and twigs in water.
The effects of ingesting Datura are characterized by initial effects that are often so violet that physical restrain must be imposed. Thereafter hallucinations and drowsiness can be expected. Natural philosophers like Giambattista Della Porta declared that datura “will make one mad, and present strange visions, both pleasant and horrible.” Recreational consumption has also lead to fatal tragedies, for example in the USA in 1994, two boys, aged sixteen and seventeen died after consuming a drink brewed from the roots of Datura.
Datura – Medicinal Uses
Despite being poisonous, different parts of the plant are commonly used in Ayurveda to cure skin ailments, impotency, glaucoma, heart disorders, urinary problems, and asthma. Datura is also known to have been used as an anesthetic during childbirth and surgery since ancient times. A poultice made from the crushed seeds and roots and applied to the joints is also thought to relieve the pain of arthritis and rheumatism.
Datura – Ritualistic Hallocinogen
Aboriginal peoples from Columbia to Chile value Datura as a ritualistic hallucinogen and medicine. The plant was extremely sacred to the Aztec people. According to Richard Evans Schultes “datura has been used traditionally during initiation rituals, to induce dreams, communicate with the ancestors and gain occult powers and predict the future.”(2). Schultes further writes that “some Indians of the Andes of southern Columbia cultivate a number of clones or high ‘atrophied’ varieties of Datura. The medicine men from these regions maintain that these plants have a differing potency from the usual Datura’s“. This further illustrates that Datura inhabits a culturally significant and longstanding place within traditional folk medicine.
Another example of Datura being used ritualistically can be found in the traditions of the Algonquin Indians of Eastern North America. Young men of the tribe would be taken to a secluded area to drink a mixture called wysoccan (made primarily from Datura). This powerful hallucinogen was intended to remove memories of childhood and was administered over a period of 20 days. Surviving this ordeal was understood as a rite of passage, marking the transition from childhood to adulthood.
How To Harness Datura’s Magickal Properties
Datura is used to break spells by sprinkling it around the home. Some sources suggest a cure for insomnia by placing datura leaves into a shoe and setting the shoe underneath the bed with the toes pointing towards the nearest wall. Work with the dried leaves to remove negative energies and to banish fear. Invoke the spirit of the plant to guide you in the dream world.
The Vajramahabhairava Tantra, a 10th century AD Indian Buddhist tantric ritual text written in Sanskrit of which only a Tibetan translation is still extant outlines a number of magic spells that involve the use of Datura
Datura – Religious Association
The leaves…
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