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Description
Datura Inoxia, the moonflower, the devil's weed. Datura varies in species and location worldwide, most common in central and south america. Every part of this plant is both deadly poisonous and hallucinogenic and used by mexican shamans for divination and power in secretive and meticulous rituals. It also has medicinal uses.

History and Folklore
The origin of D. stramonium is disputed (Curtain, 1947). The Sanskrit dhattura and the Hindustani dhatur formed the basis of the general name, the origin of Jimson weed could be Asiatic. Some sources report a probable Central American origin, due to Datura's habitation of most temperate and subtropical parts of the world. "The native names applied by ethnic groups appear to be based upon the deliriant effects produced by the plant on the nervous system" (Bye, Mata, and Pimentel 1991: 32-34). Throughout the ages, the Devil's Trumpet has been used for both intoxication and as medicine.
Historic use of Jimson weed and various other species of Datura has occurred for many purposes throughout time. In Europe the plant was used for witch craft, in salves or ointments. Throughout most European countries the seeds were used to brew beer (Shaman Australis Ethnobotanicals). In Mexico various tribes (i.e. Opata, Seri) used Toloache in religious rituals. The weed was dried and smoked, the users were left on a high which consisted of hallucinations and total relaxation. Jimson weed was thought to cure those with deafness, soothe insomniacs, and release the heat of those with a fever. D. stramonium is thought to be one of two plants identified in 4,000-year-old rock paintings throughout the Pecos river region of Texas and northern Mexico, used by the Huichol indians along with peyote to commune with the spirit world (Boyd and Dering,2000).
Hernandez (!959, 3:67) reported that the Aztecs applied a decoction of leaves to the body for fever or administerd as a suppository. The fruit and leaves were considered good for pain in the chest. If too much was taken, it was beleived to cause insanity. In northwester New Spain, the Opata rubbed a leaf of Taguaro on the painfual area for "spleen disease". They beleived it also matured tumors and abscesses (Nentuig [1764] 1977:62). An ointment of the ground seeds and suet is rubbed on boils, pimples, and swellings; the powdered leaves are applied to hemorroids; and hot baths containing the plant give relief to colds and diarrhea (Curtain,1947).
Medicinal Uses

D. stramonium is now used to treat asthma, and gastrointestinal problems, also aches, abscesses,arthritis, boils, headaches, hemorroids, rattlesnake bites, sprains, swellings, and tumors (Sandoval,1998). It acts as a sedative in large doses and as a stimulant and deleriant in high ones.Datura is an anodyne, antibiotic, antispasmodic and narcotic. Relieving the pains of rheumatism and sciatica when applied as an ointment, and easing spasms of Parkinsons disease are unproven accounts of the effects of Jimson weed.
Most of the plant is used for medicinal reasons. Eating the seeds rapidly gets the plant to the nervous system, but also increases the risk of lethal overdose. The leaves can be dried and smoked to relax the bronchiole muscles of the throat, and leaves are used also to line beds of those with insomnia. Annette Sandoval in Homegrown Healing recommends using the fresh leaves,flowers, or seeds. In an infusion, 2 teaspoons of fresh leaves per cup of hot water, or a poultice using any variation of the recommended parts.
Datura is the mother of the drug Devil's breathe (scopolamine), used in columbia. It contains hyoscine, as well as atropine, hyoscyamine, apohyoscine, and meteloidine. Thus it is poisonous and hallucinogenic as well as acting as a pain killer

Description
Datura Inoxia, the moonflower, the devil's weed. Datura varies in species and location worldwide, most common in central and south america. Every part of this plant is both deadly poisonous and hallucinogenic and used by mexican shamans for divination and power in secretive and meticulous rituals. It also has medicinal uses.

History and Folklore
The origin of D. stramonium is disputed (Curtain, 1947). The Sanskrit dhattura and the Hindustani dhatur formed the basis of the general name, the origin of Jimson weed could be Asiatic. Some sources report a probable Central American origin, due to Datura's habitation of most temperate and subtropical parts of the world. "The native names applied by ethnic groups appear to be based upon the deliriant effects produced by the plant on the nervous system" (Bye, Mata, and Pimentel 1991: 32-34). Throughout the ages, the Devil's Trumpet has been used for both intoxication and as medicine.
Historic use of Jimson weed and various other species of Datura has occurred for many purposes throughout time. In Europe the plant was used for witch craft, in salves or ointments. Throughout most European countries the seeds were used to brew beer (Shaman Australis Ethnobotanicals). In Mexico various tribes (i.e. Opata, Seri) used Toloache in religious rituals. The weed was dried and smoked, the users were left on a high which consisted of hallucinations and total relaxation. Jimson weed was thought to cure those with deafness, soothe insomniacs, and release the heat of those with a fever. D. stramonium is thought to be one of two plants identified in 4,000-year-old rock paintings throughout the Pecos river region of Texas and northern Mexico, used by the Huichol indians along with peyote to commune with the spirit world (Boyd and Dering,2000).
Hernandez (!959, 3:67) reported that the Aztecs applied a decoction of leaves to the body for fever or administerd as a suppository. The fruit and leaves were considered good for pain in the chest. If too much was taken, it was beleived to cause insanity. In northwester New Spain, the Opata rubbed a leaf of Taguaro on the painfual area for "spleen disease". They beleived it also matured tumors and abscesses (Nentuig [1764] 1977:62). An ointment of the ground seeds and suet is rubbed on boils, pimples, and swellings; the powdered leaves are applied to hemorroids; and hot baths containing the plant give relief to colds and diarrhea (Curtain,1947).
Medicinal Uses

D. stramonium is now used to treat asthma, and gastrointestinal problems, also aches, abscesses,arthritis, boils, headaches, hemorroids, rattlesnake bites, sprains, swellings, and tumors (Sandoval,1998). It acts as a sedative in large doses and as a stimulant and deleriant in high ones.Datura is an anodyne, antibiotic, antispasmodic and narcotic. Relieving the pains of rheumatism and sciatica when applied as an ointment, and easing spasms of Parkinsons disease are unproven accounts of the effects of Jimson weed.
Most of the plant is used for medicinal reasons. Eating the seeds rapidly gets the plant to the nervous system, but also increases the risk of lethal overdose. The leaves can be dried and smoked to relax the bronchiole muscles of the throat, and leaves are used also to line beds of those with insomnia. Annette Sandoval in Homegrown Healing recommends using the fresh leaves,flowers, or seeds. In an infusion, 2 teaspoons of fresh leaves per cup of hot water, or a poultice using any variation of the recommended parts.
Datura is the mother of the drug Devil's breathe (scopolamine), used in columbia. It contains hyoscine, as well as atropine, hyoscyamine, apohyoscine, and meteloidine. Thus it is poisonous and hallucinogenic as well as acting as a pain killer