The efficacy and function of Datura

Do you know what Datura is? It is a kind of traditional Chinese medicine. There are many records about it in ancient medical books. Datura has many medicinal values ​​and can be used to treat some discomfort symptoms in our body. Let us learn about the effects and functions of Datura in detail.

【English name】 FLOS DATURAE

[Other names] Datura, sheep-startling flower, mountain eggplant flower, wind eggplant flower, maple eggplant flower, drunken peach, hemp seed flower, Guangdong sheep-startling flower, big trumpet flower, golden plate lychee, false lychee

[Source] This product is the dried flower of Datura metel L., a plant of the Solanaceae family . Harvest when the flowers first bloom from April to November, and dry them in the sun or at low temperature.

[Properties] This product is mostly wrinkled into strips, and the complete one is 9 to 15 cm long. The calyx is tubular, 2/5 of the length of the corolla, gray-green or gray-yellow, 5-lobed at the apex, with 5 longitudinal veins at the base, and slightly pubescent on the surface; the corolla is trumpet-shaped, light yellow or yellow-brown, 5-lobed at the apex, the lobes have short tips, and there are 3 obvious longitudinal veins under the short tips, and the space between the two lobes is slightly concave; there are 5 stamens, and the filaments are attached to the corolla tube, 3/4 of the length of the corolla; there is 1 pistil, and the stigma is club-shaped. The dried quality is flexible and has a unique smell; the sun-dried quality is crisp, has a slight smell and a slightly bitter taste.

【Identification】 (1) The powder of this product is light yellow. Pollen grains are spherical or oblong, with a diameter of 42 to 65 μm and striped carvings on the surface. The calyx has 1 to 3 non-glandular hairs, the wall has warty protrusions, the glandular hair heads have 1 to 5 cells, and the stalks have 1 to 5 cells. The margins of the corolla lobes have 1-10 non-glandular hairs and the walls have slightly verrucous protrusions. The non-glandular hairs at the base of the filaments are coarse, 1-5 cells, about 128 μm in diameter at the base, and obtuse at the apex. There are sand crystals, square crystals and cluster crystals of calcium oxalate in the thin-walled cells of the calyx and corolla.

【Nature and flavor】Pungent, warm; toxic.

[return through] return to the lung and liver meridians.

【Functions and indications】 Antiasthmatic and antitussive, analgesic and antispasmodic. Used for asthma cough, cold pain in the abdomen, rheumatic pain, slow convulsions in children; surgical anesthesia.

[Usage and Dosage] 0.3-0.6g, preferably made into pills or powder, or can be smoked as cigarettes in divided doses (daily dose not exceeding 1.5g). For external use, apply in appropriate amount.

[Note] It is contraindicated for patients with exogenous infection, cough and asthma due to phlegm heat, glaucoma, hypertension and tachycardia.

【Storage】Place in a dry place to prevent mildew and moth.

[Remarks] (1) Poisoning may cause dry mouth, dry skin, dilated pupils, rapid pulse, facial flushing, and even a drop in blood pressure leading to death. The rescue can be done by taking emetics, gastric lavage and tannic acid preparations, followed by saline laxatives, cardiotonic drugs and sedatives. There are also 4 liang of mung bean skin, 2 liang of honeysuckle, 1 liang of forsythia, and 5 qian of licorice. Boil 1000 ml of water until it becomes 200 ml. Take it once, every 2 hours.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Pharmacopoeia

【Source】《Medicine Illustrated Archives》

The effects and functions of Datura stramonium have been described in detail above, and I believe everyone has a certain understanding of it. However, the question of whether Datura stramonium has other therapeutic effects still requires further research.