Jimsonweed

Daturna stramonium is variously known as jimsonweed, thorn apple, stinkweed, Devil’s apple, and Gabriel’s trumpet. This fabulously dangerous plant is also fabled as an aphrodisiac. Its hallucinogenic qualities have been used by many peoples over the years in Europe, Asia and North America. Native Americans combined it with marijuana and smoked it to produce dreams. Daturna stramonium is variously known as jimsonweed, thorn apple, stinkweed, Devil’s apple, and Gabriel’s trumpet. This fabulously dangerous plant is also fabled as an aphrodisiac. Its hallucinogenic qualities have been used by many peoples over the years in Europe, Asia and North America. Native Americans combined it with marijuana and smoked it to produce dreams.  People  created “witch’s flying ointment” by mixing it with nightshade and aconite and rubbing it on the skin. The combination produced hallucinations of flying and astral projection, and likely the odd myth of witches riding brooms.  Generally, mind-altering chemicals are considered handy as aphrodisiacs because a lot of what prevents amorous actions is their prevention by the socially conditioned parts of the brain. Dodging around those can move things along very effectively. That said, jimsonweed dreams are not necessarily particularly erotic.  As well as being an extreme narcotic, the plant is extremely poisonous: more than two grams can be fatal. Nonfatal doses may still poison, giving symptoms such as increased blood pressure and heart rate, hallucinations, dry mouth, hot dry skin, confusion and urine retention. Nasty stuff. Don’t mess with it.

People  created “witch’s flying ointment” by mixing it with nightshade and aconite and rubbing it on the skin. The combination produced hallucinations of flying and astral projection, and likely the odd myth of witches riding brooms.

Generally, mind-altering chemicals are considered handy as aphrodisiacs because a lot of what prevents amorous actions is their prevention by the socially conditioned parts of the brain. Dodging around those can move things along very effectively. That said, jimsonweed dreams are not necessarily particularly erotic.

As well as being an extreme narcotic, the plant is extremely poisonous: more than two grams can be fatal. Nonfatal doses may still poison, giving symptoms such as increased blood pressure and heart rate, hallucinations, dry mouth, hot dry skin, confusion and urine retention. Nasty stuff. Don’t mess with it.

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