Hyoscyamus niger
| Hyoscyamus niger | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 5 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 3' |
| Width: | 3' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Late Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Medicinal Rating: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Hyoscyamus niger (common name: henbane)
Propagation: Seed - sow summer in a cold frame and pot on as soon as possible before the taproot is too long[1].
Cultivation: Prefers a sunny position[2] and a dry soil[3]. Succeeds in ordinary garden soil[4] but prefers an alkaline soil[1]. Plants succeed in sandy spots near the sea[2].
Cultivated commercially as a medicinal plant[5], only the biennial form is considered officinal[2].
Grows well in maritime areas, often self-sowing freely[1]. Older plants do not transplant well due to a brittle taproot[1].
The growing plant inhibits the growth of clover[6].
The flowers emit a sickly fishy smell[7].
Range: Much of Europe, including Britain, south and east to N. Africa and W. Asia.
Habitat: By the walls of fields, waste ground, near buildings and in stony places from low-lying ground near the sea to lower mountain slopes[8].
Medicinal: Henbane has a very long history of use as a medicinal herb, and has been widely cultivated to meet the demand for its use[2]. It is used extensively as a sedative and pain killer and is specifically used for pain affecting the urinary tract, especially when due to kidney stones[9]. Its sedative and antispasmodic effect makes it a valuable treatment for the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, relieving tremor and rigidity during the early stages of the disease[9]. This species is the form generally considered best for external use, whilst the white henbane (H. albus) is considered the most appropriate for internal use[2].
All parts of the plant, but especially the leaves and the seeds, can be used - they are anodyne, antispasmodic, mildly diuretic, hallucinogenic, hypnotic, mydriatic, narcotic and sedative[2][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. The plant is used internally in the treatment of asthma, whooping cough, motion sickness, Meniere's syndrome, tremor in senility or paralysis and as a pre-operative medication[17]. Henbane reduces mucous secretions, as well as saliva and other digestive juices[9]. Externally, it is used as an oil to relieve painful conditions such as neuralgia, dental and rheumatic pains[17][9].The leaves should be harvested when the plant is in full flower and they can then be dried for later use[2]. There is an annual and a biennial form of this species, both can be used medicinally but the biennial form is considered to be superior[2]. This is a very poisonous plant that should be used with great caution, and only under the supervision of a qualified practitioner[12][17]. See the notes above on toxicity.
The seed is used in the treatment of asthma, cough, epilepsy, myalgia and toothache[16].
The seeds are used in Tibetan medicine, they are said to have a bitter, acrid taste with a neutral and poisonous potency[18]. Anthelmintic, antitumor and febrifuge, they are used in the treatment of stomach/intestinal pain due to worm infestation, toothache, inflammation of the pulmonary region and tumours[18].
Usage: The leaves scattered about a house will drive away mice[19].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates maritime wind exposure
Seed Ripens: Late Summer-Early Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: All parts of the plant are very toxic[8][20][3][21][22]. Symptoms of poisoning include impaired vision, convulsions, coma and death from heart or respiratory failure[17].
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Stary, Frantisek. Poisonous Plants. Hamlyn, 1983.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Schery. Robert. Plants for Man. Prentice Hall, 1972.
- ↑ Philbrick, Helen and Richard Gregg. Companion Plants. Watkins, 1979.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Chiej, Roberto. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald, 1984.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley, 1996.
- ↑ Launert, Edmund. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn, 1981.
- ↑ Triska, Jan. Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn, 1975.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Lust, John. The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1983.
- ↑ Polunin, Oleg. Flowers of Europe. Oxford University Press, 1969.
- ↑ Mills, Simon. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
- ↑ Emboden, William. Narcotic Plants. Studio Vista, 1979.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Tsarong, Tsewang. Tibetan Medicinal Plants. Tibetan Medical Publications, 1994.
- ↑ Coffey, Timothy. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File, 1993.
- ↑ Altmann, Horst. Poisonous Plants and Animals. Chatto and Windus, 1980.
- ↑ Frohne, Dietrich and Hans Pfänder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Timber Press, 1984.
- ↑ Cooper, Marion. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. The Stationery Office, 1984.