Devil's Weed (Datura Stramonium)

Jimson weed (Datura stramonium): Also known as Devil's weed. Rich in alkaloids, sometimes at highly toxic concentrations, throughout its entirety, jimson weed plays a leading role in European ethnobotany, both for its psychotropic effects and for its phytotherapy. Scopolamine, the main alkaloid in the plant, has multiple effects. The uneven concentration of the alkaloid in various parts of the plant made its use difficult. Its muscle-relaxant effect was used to calm asthma attacks by inhaling the smoke from the dried leaves. It is also used as a strong analgesic. The plant belongs to the Solanaceae family and produces white flowers that in autumn develop into spiny pods containing the seeds. If temperatures permit, or in air-conditioned environments, jimson weed is perennial. Growing is very easy, both in pots and in the ground. It produces numerous white trumpet-shaped flowers, which are very decorative, although they only last a few hours before wilting. The flowers are followed by spiny nuts containing the seeds. It is one of the ingredients in the flying ointment that "witches" (pardon the overuse of this word) used to reach the Sabbath; it has hallucinogenic and hypnotic effects.