Datura is a little-known but powerful hallucinogen with a reputation for frightening effects on the user. Rumored to have been used in shamanic rituals for purposes ranging from healing to mind control, it has sometimes been called the “zombie drug” for its ability to put users in a highly suggestible state. In this article, we’ll explore the history and effects of this mysterious and powerful drug.
Is Datura a Drug? Understanding This Potent and Toxic Plant
Datura is a nightshade plant that, when consumed, causes powerful hallucinations. As a nightshade, it’s toxic – extremely toxic, in fact – and can cause slowed breathing, heartbeat irregularity, fever, delirium, hallucinations, psychosis, and death if too much is taken.
The name Datura originates from the Hindi and Sanskrit word for “thorn-apple,” likely in reference to its spiny, oval-shaped fruits. In English, it is sometimes referred to as Jimson weed. Other names for the drug include “Devil’s weed,” “Moonflower,” and “Hell’s Bells.”
Currently, Datura is not on the Controlled Substances Act scheduling list, meaning it is not illegal to grow or possess on the federal level. However, some states, like Louisiana and Oklahoma, have taken steps to restrict the use of Datura.
Datura in Folklore and Popular Legend
A Haitian man named Clairvius Narcisse admitted himself to a hospital in 1963. He complained of fatigue, sported a high fever, and was spitting up blood. Doctors could not make sense of his condition, and after three days, he appeared to die on the hospital bed. He was pronounced dead and slated to be buried, his body held in cold storage.
Incredibly, in 1980, a man purporting to be Narcisse showed up, approaching Angelina Narcisse, the deceased’s sister, and convincing her of his identity by his knowledge of his childhood nickname and other personal information presumably only the deceased would know. Incredibly, he recounted that he had indeed been buried–paralyzed, but conscious–then dug up and forced to work on a sugar plantation.
He claimed his paralysis to have been a result of being tricked into drinking a concoction containing tetrodotoxin (a pufferfish poison) and bufotoxin (a toad toxin). This left him completely paralyzed and in a state of near-death, fooling the doctors into allowing him to be buried. He was then dug up and administered Datura, which revived him but also left him in a comatose, “zombie”-like state.
In this state, he was kept for the next sixteen years, slaving away on the plantation until the “bokor” (witch doctor/voodoo priest) administering the Datura to him died.
What Is a Datura Trip Like?
Datura has been prized throughout history for its hallucinogenic effects and is commonly used in shamanic rituals. Tracing back to ancient times, it has been used for divination, prophecy, and healing by such southwestern tribes as the Navajo and Paiute.
However, in comparison to other hallucinogens like LSD or psilocybin mushrooms, datura drug effects are much more commonly negative and unpleasant.
The drug contains compounds known as tropane alkaloids, such as scopolamine, hyoscyamine, and atropine. These alkaloids attack the central nervous system, causing intense hallucinations, delirium, confusion, and even amnesia. If a person takes too much, seizures, coma, and respiratory failure can occur.
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Datura Effects on the Body and Brain
Jimson weed affects both the body and brain by blocking the action of acetylcholine, a crucial nervous system chemical involved in memory, attention, and muscle function. This can lead to a variety of psychological effects that are often both severe and unpredictable.
Short-Term Effects
The alkaloids in Datura can lead to effects such as:
- Dry mouth and skin
- Dilated pupils
- Blurred vision
- Rapid heart rate (tachycardia)
- Difficulty urinating
- Constipation
- Elevated body heat
- Loss of coordination
- Hallucinations and delusions
- Amnesia
- Suggestibility
- Seizures
- Coma or death (in cases of overdose)
Delirium caused by a Datura plant trip is usually highly fragmented, confusing, and frightening. Users may not recognize these visions and hallucinations or be aware of their surroundings. This can lead to them being a danger to themselves or those around them.
Long-Term Effects and Risks
Repeated exposure to Datura can lead to a variety of problems, including:
- Lasting cognitive impairment, particularly memory loss
- Increased risk of developing psychosis
- Organ damage
- Potential for permanent visual hallucinations
Due to the severity of Datura effects, its use is rarely repeated voluntarily.
Is Datura Poisonous? Yes — Here’s Why
It absolutely is poisonous. As a nightshade plant, Datura is inherently poisonous, and that includes all of the plant, from the roots to the flowers. The alkaloids found in Jimson weed attack the nervous system and can be fatal in large enough doses.
Poisoning and overdose can ensue within thirty minutes of consumption, with early symptoms including extreme thirst, flushed skin, dilated pupils, hallucinations, and disorientation. There is no reliable way to predict the potency of a Datura trip, as alkaloid levels are a product of the plant’s growing conditions, species, and the part of the plant consumed. There is also no specific antidote to a Datura overdose, though some success using physostigmine (an anticholinergic reversal agent) has been reported in clinical settings.
Getting Help After a Datura Experience
Repeat use of Datura or other drugs could be a sign of hallucinogen dependence syndrome, a condition involving psychological tolerance of and dependence on drugs like Datura and cravings to use it. While there are no physical withdrawal symptoms, depression, anxiety, and dissociation can occur in chronic users after ceasing use of Datura drugs.
First-line treatment is cognitive behavioral therapy, as well as treatment for any co-occurring mental disorders as needed. If you or a loved one is seeking treatment for abuse of this or any other drug, reach out to Footprints to Recovery, a drug and alcohol rehab center in Hamilton, New Jersey.
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