European black henbane has a long history of use in ceremony. Grow to admire, observe, and for a flower essence.
Connect to your European Ancestors.
"Known as the ‘witches plant’, henbane had great importance during the Middle Ages, being used by magicians and healers in ritual purifications by smoke as well as in the preparation of concoctions, love philtres and ‘flying ointments’. Atropine, one of the alkaloids found in henbane and other Solanaceae species, can be easily absorbed through the skin when mixed with fat or oil and rubbed to the body. Exposure to this ointment, applied mainly to the armpits or the genital area, produced the sensation of flying. Administered rectally after smearing on a stick or pole, this is reputedly the reason why witches are often depicted as flying on broomsticks.
Species of Hyoscyamus are highly toxic and can cause loss of muscle control, dilatation of pupils, palpitations, hallucinations, delirium, and, in high doses, seizures, coma, cardiac arrest and death. They contain several psychoactive alkaloids such as atropine, scopolamine, and especially hyoscyamine. These are contained in all parts of the plant, although the highest concentration is found in the seeds. In modern medicine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine have several applications as an antispasmodic, in treatment of intestinal problems, respiratory disorders, neuralgias, and Parkinson´s tremors. Scopolamine is used to relieve nausea and vomiting after operations, to reduce saliva secretion in terminally-ill patients, and is also prescribed in the form of pills or patches to treat motion sickness."
From https://www.europeana.eu/en/exhibitions/magical-mystical-and-medicinal/henbane
Start indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost.
Full sun.
Keep away from children and animals.
Contains 10-20 seeds