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(Hyoscyamus niger)
INTRODUCTION :
Black Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) belongs to the Solanacea and is one of the oldest psychoactive plants known: its ritual and shamanistic use probably dates back to Paeolithicum. In ancient Greece black henbane was used for clairvoyance and as a poison and during the Middle Ages it was one of the main ingredients of the hallucinogenic brews. 3, 4
Until the introduction of the 'Deutschen Reinheits gebot' in 1516 henbane was a common beer additive (sexual stimulating properties were ascribed to henbane-brewed beer).
EFFECTS :
Parasympathetic: euphoria, relaxation, restlessness, visual hallucinations and confusion. Episodes of restlessness are often alternated by periods of relaxation.
Autonomic changes: pupilairy dilation (mydriasis), dry mouth, psychomotoric disturbances.
DURATION :
The primary effects last 3-5 hours. The hallucinogenic (side) effects may last up to 2 days.
Dosage and preparation :
The seeds and foliage contain the active ingredients; both may be used for the psychotomimetic effects. 3, 4 The plant material can be smoked (alone or in mixtures), prepared as a tea or just eaten. Because of the non-polar character of the active constituents absorption via the skin is also possible.
Always use with great caution!!! A henbane dose consists of 0.5-1.5 grams of plant material (maximum 3 grams a day).4
South-American Indians combine tropane-alkaloids containing plants (Datura- and Brugmansia species) with San Pedro cacti for synergic effects (see modifiers). Henbane combines well with cannabis and opium poppies.
Botanical aspects :
H. niger belongs to Solanaceae; subfamily Solanoidea, Tribus Hyoscyameae, Subtribus Hyoscyaminae. It is widely spread from Europe to Asia and now also appears in Noth America and Australia.
This plant reaches 80 cm in height and has light yellow, violet veined flowers. The plant can be cultivated from seed. 3, 4 The plant should be carefully transplanted when germinated indoors. Henbane is sensitive to 'over watering'. Henbane needs a nitrogen rich soil and should be isolated from the potato beetle and henbane flees (Psilloides hyoscami).
Phytochemistry :
The foliage and seeds of black henbane contain 0.03-0.28% tropane-alkaloids. 3, 4 The major active constituents are S(-)-hyoscyamine (which is converted to atropine upon drying) and S(-)-scopolamine. These active constituents are present in a ratio of 1.5:1. Aposcopolamine, norscopolamine, tropine, littorine, tigloidine, tigloyloxy tropane, scopoletine and flavonoids have also been isolated.4
Hyoscyamine is the ester of tropine with (-)-tropic acid, atropine with the racemic (±)-tropic acid and scopolamine is the ester of (-)-tropic acid with scopine.
Pharmacology :
Atropine and its derivates are muscarine receptor-antagonists; these compounds are competitive inhibitors with acetylcholine and muscarine receptor-agonists at postganglionic junctions.
Scopoletine (7-hydroxy,6-methoxycumarine) acts as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) in mice and may act similarly in humans, but this has not yet been demonstrated.
Scopoletine also inhibits plant growth in vivo.
Atropine and scopolamine are physiologically active at doses of respectively 1 milligram and 0.5-1 milligram. 1, 4 Henbane is also physiologically active in cattle, fish and birds, but inactive in pigs.
MODIFIERS :
- Tropane alkaloids reduce effectivity of muscarine receptor- agonists.
- The effects of cannabis and opium poppies are potentiated.
- The effects of harmala-alkaloids (Peganum harmala, Banisteriopsis species) are seriously altered and intensified.
- Positive synergic with mescaline (Peyote- and San Pedro cacti).
BOTANY :
Black henbane reaches 80 cm in height and has light yellow, violet veined flowers. The plant can be cultivated from seed.
The plant should be carefully transplanted when germinated indoors. Henbane is sensitive to ‘over watering’. Henbane needs a nitrogen rich soil and should be isolated from the potato beetle and henbane flees (Psilloides hyoscami).
REFERENCES :
1. [Forth/ Henschler/ Rummel/ Fostermann/ Starke, 2001]
2. [Hoffer/ Osmond, 1967][Hoffmann/ Schultes, 1973]
3. [Ratsch, 1998]
4. [Lee/ Chung/ Lee/ Yoo]
.(Text by Wout.) |
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