Henbane

Henbane

Other Names: Beleño, Careillade, Devil's Eye, Fetid Nightshade, Fève à Cochons, Hen Bell, Herbe aux Engelures, Hog Bean, Hyoscyami Folium, Hyoscyamus niger, Jupiter's Bean, Jusquiame, Jusquiame Noire, Khurasani-Ajavayan, Parasigaya, Poison Tobacco, Potelée, Stinking Nightshade, Tue Poule, Bilzekruid.
See also : Hyoscyamus Niger (Homeopathy)

Special Precautions of Henbane

• The main active constituents of henbane are hyoscyamine (main ingredient), scopolamine and atropine, all highly toxic tropane alkaloids.
• Henbane is possibly safe for most people when taken by mouth for a short time with the help of a healthcare professional. Side effects include dry mouth, red skin, constipation, overheating, reduced sweating, vision disturbances, increased heart rate, urination problems, drowsiness, restlessness, hallucinations, delirium, manic episodes, and death.
• Henbane is UNSAFE when used for self-medication. Since henbane can be very toxic, the dose must be carefully chosen and side effects checked by a healthcare professional. Too much henbane can cause poisoning and death.
• The toxic alkaloids in henbane can easily be absorbed through the skin, and the herb was one of the main ingredients of the infamous “witches flying ointment”. The ointment was rubbed onto broomsticks so the toxins would be absorbed through the thin skin of the rectum and vagina.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Don’t use henbane if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Henbane is UNSAFE because of its risk of poisoning.
• Heart conditions such as heart failure or irregular heartbeat: Don’t take henbane if you have heart failure or irregular heartbeat. There are chemicals in henbane that could cause rapid heartbeat (tachycardia) and also make heart failure worse.
• Constipation: Don’t take henbane if you are constipated. There are chemicals in henbane that could make your condition worse.
• Down syndrome: Don’t give henbane to people with Down syndrome. They are likely to be especially sensitive to the toxic effects of henbane.
• Fever: Don’t use henbane if you have a fever. There are chemicals in henbane that may raise your body temperature even higher.
• Narrow-angle glaucoma: Don’t take henbane if you have narrow-angle glaucoma. There are chemicals in henbane that could make your condition worse.
• Trouble urinating (urinary retention): Don’t take henbane if you have trouble urinating. There are chemicals in henbane that could make your condition worse.
• Digestive tract conditions such as heartburn or “gastroesophageal reflux disease” (GERD), a hiatal hernia, an infection, stomach ulcer, constipation, a blockage, ulcerative colitis, a serious condition called toxic megacolon, or other digestive disorders: Don’t take henbane if you have any of these conditions. There are chemicals in henbane that could make your condition worse.
• Drying medications (Anticholinergic drugs) interacts with HENBANE
• Don’t confuse henbane, sometimes called “fetid nightshade” or “stinking nightshade,” with bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara) or deadly nightshade (belladonna).

Benefits and uses of Henbane are

Henbane contains chemicals, such as hyoscyamine and scopolamine, which might relax the muscles lining the digestive tract. Henbane might also relieve muscle tremors and have a calming effect.

• The main healing properties of the herb are due to the sedative, analgesic and antispasmodic effect the substance hyoscyamine. Henbane was used specifically for pain in the urinary tract, especially in the case of kidney stones.
• Henbane leaf is used for spasms of the digestive tract.
• Some people apply henbane leaf oil directly to the skin for treating scar tissue.
• The sedative and antispasmodic effect makes it a valuable remedy for Parkinson’s disease, where it relieves tremors and stiffness in the early stages of the disease.
• The herb has also been used for a toothache and nervous disorders such as mania and hysteria.
• The herb has been used as an herbal remedy for bronchitis because of its cough suppressant effect and the ability to clear the breathing passages from secretions.
• At one time the dried leaves of henbane were smoked as a treatment for asthma in the same manner as belladonna (Atropa bella-donna) and jimsonweed (Datura Stramonium).
• In modern medicine the substance hyocin is used to treat seasickness and as a calming agent in patients preparing for surgery.
• Therapeutic oil can be made by allowing the crushed dry leaves of the plant to be soaked in alcohol, mixed with olive oil and then heated in a double boiler so that the alcohol will evaporate.
• The oil can be used externally to treat ear ache, or applied to the skin to relieve pain from neuralgia, sciatica, arthritis and rheumatic conditions.