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Sacred
Datura |
Sacred Datura's
Beauty is Only Skin Deep…
By Beverly Lehnhardt
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Sedona.biz
You’ve probably seen this beautiful, innocuous-looking plant growing by the side
of the highway or along a much-traveled hiking trail. After giving it some
thought, you may even recall that you’ve only noticed it early in the day…
This fascinating plant is the Sacred Datura (Datura wrightii). It has large,
white, fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers that grow up to 6 inches long; the outer
edges often tinged with purple or lavender. The plant is stout and branched with
thick, viney stems. The long, gray-green oval or heart-shaped, rubbery leaves
are up to 6 inches long and are covered with tiny, smooth hairs. The tuberous
roots store water and nutrients that spur rapid spring growth after the plant
dies back during the winter months.
Sacred Datura may grow up to 2 to 3 feet
tall and sprawl 6 to 8 feet across, preferring dry, disturbed areas along
roadsides, in dry washes, and along oft-traveled trails. Common to all four
deserts of the American Southwest, it grows throughout the Verde Valley and
across Arizona between elevations of 1,000 and 7,000 feet.
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Sacred
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The flower typically opens after dusk and closes by noon of the following day.
This night-blooming plant is pollinated by hawk moths with which it has formed a
partnership called “mutualism.” In exchange for pollination, the Sacred Datura
furnishes the moth with nectar for food and shelter for its eggs. The moth’s
hungry larvae munch ravenously on the plant’s leaves, often forcing the plant to
call upon its roots’ stores of nutrients to survive the summer season.Following on the heels of the fragrant blooms are thorny, walnut-sized
seedpods known as ‘thornapples’ that split open in late July or early August to
release several, semicircular, flattened, yellow-brown seeds.
A member of the Solanaceae Family, the Sacred Datura is a relative of the
tomato, potato, eggplant, cayenne, and red and green peppers. Some of the most
common names for the Sacred Datura are thornapple, Indian apple,
moon lily, moon
flower, angel’s trumpet, and Jimson weed. It sounds rather harmless, however,
the Solanaceae—also called the Deadly Nightshade Family—has a darker, more
sinister side. Its other, less innocent-sounding names are poison lily,
devilweed, locoweed, and Belladonna.Even the
inoffensive name “Jimson weed” is said to have originated from the
presence of a similar species of Datura in Jamestown, Virginia. Supposedly, the
seeds originally came from the Middle East, were cultured in English greenhouses
during the sixteenth century, and brought to North America for medicinal use by
colonists who settled in Jamestown. In 1676, these colonists used Datura to
poison British soldiers during Bacon’s rebellion; hence the name, Jamestown or
Jimson weed.
The seeds, as well as every other part of the Sacred Datura, are quite toxic,
containing many alkaloids. In both the Old and New Worlds, many species of the
Datura have been utilized for their medicinal, hallucinogenic, and poisonous
properties.The Indians know the dangers of Datura and say it is not to be touched because
it is one of the first plants made by the Gods. In Native American tribes of the
southwest, a young man coming of age might make a ‘vision quest’ in the wild,
alone, where he would fast and pray in order to purify himself. At the
appropriate time a Medicine man, tribal spiritual elder, or Shaman, might
accompany the initiate to a holy place atop a mountain or in a secluded cave.
The Shaman would make a tea from the roots, leaves, and seeds from the seedpod
of the Sacred Datura. After drinking the tea, the young man would have visions
and hallucinations—the hallucinogenic effects of tea from Datura are reportedly
even stronger than peyote or LSD.
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When Datura is used in a Native American ritual, it is always under the guidance
of a Medicine man, Shaman, or tribal elder. These men are experts on the use of
the plant and know what other plants to add in order to neutralize the harmful
effects. They also know how much to administer and when and where to pick the
plants—chemical constituents and levels vary greatly from plant to plant, time
of year, and from one area to another.
Datura is highly unpredictable. Dangerous alkaloids are found in every part of
the plant with younger plants containing mostly Scopolamine, a central nervous
system depressant. Older plants contain Hyoscyamine, a nerve toxin. The flowers,
fruit, seeds, nectar, and a smaller percentage of the shoots, roots, and leaves
are comprised of almost 60% Hyoscyamine. Touching this plant and then rubbing
your eyes could affect your vision for up to 24 to 48 hours. An extract of this
same alkaloid is what ophthalmologists used to put in your eyes
during exams to dilate the pupil—a condition called mydriasis. This extract is
no longer used due to the inherent dangers.
In medical terms, Datura ingestion is called Anticholinergic Toxicity. The
symptoms are:
- Dry mucus membranes of the nose and
mouth
- Thirst
- Difficulty swallowing and speaking
- Dry, hot flushed skin
- Mydriasis and Photophobia - difficulty
with light
- Hypertension
- Constipation
- Increased body heat
- Scarlatiniform rash
- Excessively rapid heartbeat
- Urinary retention
- Decreased muscle coordination
- Mental status changes, such as
agitation, confusion and hallucination
- Respiratory depression, paralysis and
death
Treatment for ingestion of Datura:
- Get the Datura out of the system.
Syrup of Ipecac, 30mL for adults, 15mL for children
under twelve is suggested (but only if ingested within
the last several hours). Don’t attempt it if they’re
already hallucinating.
- Keep patient safe in
non-threatening, non-stimulating environment
- Keep lights down; make it as dark
as possible
- Physical restraints may be
required
- Don’t give sedatives as they will
exacerbate the problem
- Get them to a medical facility as
quickly as possible
According to the American Family Physician, (Vol. 46, #2)
: “Patients usually recover from the effects of jimson weed
toxicity within 48 hours (if properly treated), with few side
effects. Fatalities are rare. Amnesia for most events after
ingestion of jimson weed are common. Long term sequelae are
rare.”
Sacred Datura is an attractive, fragrant-flowering plant with
large, prominent, and very noticeable blossoms—very obvious to those
walking anywhere nearby. When out hiking or picnicking, do not pick,
touch, or otherwise handle the flowers or stems. Carefully watch
children that might be even more susceptible to the dangers of
this beauty that is only skin deep…
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