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Datura Stramonium
Family Name : SALANACEAE
Botanical Name : DATURA STRAMONIUM
Common Name : DATURA, JIMSON
WEED, STINK WEED, MAD APPLE, THORN APPLE STRAMONIUM, APPLE THORN, DATURA
TATULA, DATURA SEEDS
Part Used : SEEDS, FLOWERS,
LEAVES
Jimson weed grows in most
habitats, but thrives in high-nutrient soil. It is found throughout much
of the United States, barring the West, Northwest and the northern Great
Plains. It is most commonly found in the South. Datura stramonium is also
found throughout many other parts of the world. Goats will occasionally
eat jimsonweed, and subsequently die a slow and painful death. In California
and other western states, Datura wrightii is found, not Datura stramonium.
Datura is occasionally used
as an available alternative to illegal drugs. Typically it is not illegal,
although some American states do have laws regulating its consumption.
It is typically consumed as a sort of herb tea, though it can also be eaten
or smoked. Overall, it has a very low demand as a recreational drug, because
it has a reputation as a very poor/unpleasant
Habitat : Common in north
western Himalayas and foot hills on dry slopes upto 1800 m altitude.
Uses : It is Narcotic, Anti
Spasmodic, Anodyne, Ache Reliever. Helps in relieving the spasm of the
Bronchitis in Asthma. It is used in treatment of Parkinsonism and Haemorrhoids.
Young fruits are sedative and intoxicating. Leaves applied after roasting
are useful in relieving pain.
Datura stramonium is either
native to India or Central America. It was used as a mystical sacrament
in both possible places of origin. The Native Americans have used this
plant in sacred ceremonies. In some tribes datura was involved in the ceremonies
of manhood. The sadhus of Hinduism also used datura as a spiritual tool,
smoking it with cannabis in their traditional chillums.
In the United States it is
called Jimson weed, Gypsum weed, Angel Trumpet, Hells Bells or more rarely
Jamestown Weed; it got this name from the town of Jamestown, Virginia,
where British soldiers were secretly or accidentally drugged with it, while
attempting to stop Bacon's Rebellion. They spent several days chasing feathers,
making monkey faces, generally acting like lunatics, and indeed failed
at their mission
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