MEDICINAL PLANTS

The jimson weed is a herbaceous annual plant of the Solanaceae family, can grow to three feet tall. It has an erect stem and branching, with large leaves 15 to 20 cm., Petiolate, asymmetrical and jagged edges. Young leaves are covered with a very light fluff and old are completely smooth. The flowers are very showy, tubular corolla composed of a large, white. It is a plant that grows throughout the peninsula erratically: in abandoned orchards, fallow not too dry, debris, etc., only needs water and land which is nitrogen, the leaves being richer in the more active nitrogen has on the ground.

FLOWERING

The plant flowers from May until late autumn. From the collection of interest on all the leaves and second seed, the leaves have collected very early in the morning, as it is at this moment that have higher concentration of active ingredient, and is usually done during flowering. Another point to consider is not raking leaves in the rainy days or days, because low wealth alkaloids. Once obtained the leaves, dried out of sunlight and temperatures not exceeding 40 grados CelsiusC. The seeds are extracted from the fruit once it is dry.

APPLICATIONS

It is a greenfield reserved for specialized personnel as may be extremely toxic. In its composition, the alkaloid found in more wealth is hyoscyamine, being equally in roots, leaves and seeds. You can also find scopolamine and atropine, but in lower proportion. In any case, these three alkaloids are found in lower concentrations than those obtained in belladonna. This plant, its alkaloids, anti-spasmodic properties, anti-asthmatic and mydriatic; also decreased glandular secretions and dilates the bronchial tubes. Scopolamine is a sedative action on the central nervous system. Plant is very toxic if used without proper knowledge, throughout history there have been many poisonings, particularly in boys, after the accidental ingestion of the seeds have been found that the lethal dose can be in the eating 15-20 seeds of this plant. Therefore, their use is not recommended, unless prescribed by a doctor. It is a plant that has been used as a hypnotic, cough, pulmonary emphysema, rheumatism, and, especially, for asthma.

ADMINISTRATION

Since it is a poisonous plant, you must be very prudent in their consumption: thus, do not ever use in decoctions or infusions and limit its administration as a powder or a cigarette for him to send the doctor.
Cigarettes. Jimson weed is mixed with belladonna, snuff, henbane, sage and jaborandi, the total is moistened with cherry laurel water and once dry the mixture, are produced cigarettes. Again according to medical criteria.

SUMMARY

FAMILY: Solanaceae
HABITAT: Peninsula
FLOWERING: May and autumn
PART USED: Sheets
CASTILIAN: Hierba hedionda
CATALAN: Estramoni, herba pudent
BASQUE: Ikozoro, pikozoro
GALICIAN: Herba do inferno

USES

Fort Antispasmodic, Moderate sedation on SN, Moderate local analgesic.