Datura Common.

Datura Common

An annual herbaceous plant of the Solanaceae family, up to 1 m high. The root is taproot, branched. The stem is erect, smooth, forked-branched.

The leaves are alternate, large, ovate, long-petiolate, notched-toothed, with a pointed apex. Flowers, solitary, apical or axillary, large, white, fragrant. Blooms in June - August.

The fruit is an ovoid capsule, densely covered with unequal spines, which opens into four leaves when ripe. The seeds are matte black, flattened, kidney-shaped. The plant is poisonous.

Datura is common in the European part of Russia, Crimea, Western Siberia, Ukraine and the Caucasus. It grows in deposits near housing, in landfills, littered places, along river banks, along roads, in gardens and orchards.

The medicinal raw materials are leaves, grass (tops) and seeds.

Leaves and grass are collected while the plant is flowering using gloves. Dry immediately in the shade, in a well-ventilated attic or in a dryer at a temperature of 40-50°C.

Seeds are harvested in the fall from ripe fruits, sorted and dried in a dryer or oven. Store in closed jars or boxes with well-closing lids for 2 years.

The leaves of this plant contain alkaloids such as hyoscyamine, scopolamine and atropine.

Preparations from Datura leaves have a calming effect on the central nervous system, relieve spasm of the smooth muscles of internal organs and reduce the secretion of the glands of the gastrointestinal tract.

In folk medicine, Datura is used for neuralgia, bronchial asthma, convulsive cough, whooping cough, persistent hiccups, epilepsy, excessive sexual desire in women, severe spasms of the stomach and intestines, for the treatment of partial prolapse of the uterus and colon, as well as for long-term treatment of rheumatism ( externally).

The pharmaceutical industry produces a number of Datura preparations: anti-asthmatic collection, Astmatol, Asthmatin, Datura oil.

The anti-asthmatic mixture contains 2 parts of belladonna leaves, 1 part of henbane leaves, 6 parts of datura leaves and 1 part of sodium nitrate. This mixture is a brownish-green powder with a peculiar odor, which is used for bronchial asthma.

To do this, burn 1/2 teaspoon of the powder and inhale the smoke or smoke a cigarette filled with raw materials. The powder produced in the form of cigarettes is called “Asthmatol”.

Asthmatine is a mixture containing 8 parts of dope leaves, 2 parts of henbane leaves and 1 part of sodium nitrate. It is prescribed for bronchial asthma. Used in the form of cigarettes.

Stupefying oil is a transparent oily liquid from yellow to yellow-green in color with a peculiar odor. Prescribed externally for rubbing for neuralgia and rheumatism. Included in liquid ointments used for rubbing.

An infusion of dope leaves is also used for inhalation. To prepare it, pour 2 tablespoons of the raw material into 1 glass of boiling water, keep it in a water bath for 5 minutes, then inhale the vapors of the drug through the nose for 15-20 minutes.