Datura is a plant with psychoactive effects, which qualifies as a deliriant. Datura plants have been known to be poisonous. Despite that, it has been used throughout recorded history in the Americas, Europe, and India, for various ritual purposes and as medicine.
There are some 9 species of Datura. The plant is also known as jimsonweed, moonflowers, thorn-apple, hell’s bells, and devil’s trumpets.
The active substance is mainly contained in the flowers and seeds of the plant. The potency of the anticholinergic substances (tropane alkaloids) of the plant depends on the strain, as well as on the age of the plant and the spot where it grows.
This makes dosage a tricky affair.
Besides the aforementioned 9 strains of Datura, tropane alkaloids can be sourced from the plants Atropa Belladona and Brugmansia as well.
Given the fact that potency can differ significantly from one plant to another, even within the same strain, it is difficult to put a precise time-stamp on when the effects of Datura kick in.
The onset of these effects can come as early as 20 minutes and as late as 2 hours. Effects take about 5-12 hours to culminate. After a further 2-3 hours, most effects wear off, although side effects can linger on for 6 to 24 hours.
Eating Datura seems to yield the most impactful effects. Anecdotal reports say that a person who once ate a whole Datura tree flower, tripped for 72 hours afterwards. Ingesting the tea brewed from flowers/seeds results in similar levels of psychoactive alteration. Brewing a few dozen seeds into a several cups of tea supposedly results in decent “trips” though. Moderation is definitely key here.
Smoking seems to be the safest way to take Datura, as it delivers less of the active substance to the brain. Smoking a whole dried flower has been reported to yield major results, with headaches as a side effect. Smoking just a small part of a flower has apparently generated satisfactory results.
What are Datura‘s effects?
Given the nature of the plant, there isn’t really any science underpinning its anecdotal effects observed by users.
That said, there is quite a bit of subjective knowledge out there in this regard.
The tropane alkalioids in Datura provoke a series of rather unpleasant side effects that accompany overall stimulation.
Such effects include constipation, abnormal heart rate, dehydration, dizziness, high blood pressure, increased perspiration, muscle cramps, spasms, nausea, overwhelming physical fatigue, tactile hallucination, and the dilation of the pupils.
As if the above weren’t enough, the compound also induces painful jolts through the body, which occur with hiccup-like frequency.
Users have reported feeling that their bodies become extremely heavy. Performing any movement under such circumstances is very uncomfortable.
Urination is affected by Datura as well. On one hand, it induces the urge to urinate frequently. On the other, the actual act of urination becomes extremely difficult and unpleasant.
Hallucination is one of the most prominent effects of Datura, even in very small doses. It encompasses every sense: it affects touch, taste, smell, and vision. Users have reported very confusing and intense experiences in this regard.
Datura‘s effects on the reproductive system are just as contradictory. On one hand, it increases libido. On the other, it causes erectile dysfunction.
Given its hallucinogenic effects, it is hardly a surprise that Datura also affects dreams. It may cause more vivid dream images, but it is doubtful that it helps with dream recall. After all, it does decelerate thoughts and it disorganizes the thought process.
It also suppresses language, focus and memory.
Cognitive fatigue is another one of its effects, as is cognitive dysphoria and amnesia.
Anxiety, photophobia, and the suppression of visual acuity are all after-effects of Datura.
Adding feelings of impending doom to the above picture does not do much to further tarnish Datura‘s already sketchy reputation.
Natural Plant Sources of Tropane Alkaloids
- Atropa belladonna
- Brugmansia arborea
- Brugmansia aurea
- Brugmansia candida
- Brugmansia sanguinea
- Brugmansia suaveolens
- Brugmansia versicolor
- Datura discolor
- Datura inoxia
- Datura insignis
- Datura metel
- Datura stramonium
- Datura wrightii
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If you have any questions regarding datura or any other topic related to sleep, dreams, and other altered states of consciousness, feel free to contact me or leave a reply below.