Practical
Plants

Hyoscyamus niger

Henbane

an annual or biennial member of the Hyoscyamus genus in the family Solanaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual, biennial
Height
1 m
Spread
1 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

All parts of the plant are very toxic[20][2][7][19][21]. Symptoms of poisoning include impaired vision, convulsions, coma and death from heart or respiratory failure[13].

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Henbane has a very long history of use as a medicinal herb, and has been widely cultivated to meet the demand for its use[17]. It is used extensively as a sedative and pain killer and is specifically used for pain affecting the urinary tract, especially when due to kidney stones[16]. Its sedative and antispasmodic effect makes it a valuable treatment for the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, relieving tremor and rigidity during the early stages of the disease[16]. This species is the form generally considered best for external use, whilst the white henbane (H. albus) is considered the most appropriate for internal use[17]. All parts of the plant, but especially the leaves and the seeds, can be used - they are anodyne, antispasmodic, mildly diuretic, hallucinogenic, hypnotic, mydriatic, narcotic and sedative[17][22][4][11][3][5][8][12]. The plant is used internally in the treatment of asthma, whooping cough, motion sickness, Meniere's syndrome, tremor in senility or paralysis and as a pre-operative medication[13]. Henbane reduces mucous secretions, as well as saliva and other digestive juices[16]. Externally, it is used as an oil to relieve painful conditions such as neuralgia, dental and rheumatic pains[13][16].The leaves should be harvested when the plant is in full flower and they can then be dried for later use[17]. There is an annual and a biennial form of this species, both can be used medicinally but the biennial form is considered to be superior[17]. This is a very poisonous plant that should be used with great caution, and only under the supervision of a qualified practitioner[11][13]. See the notes above on toxicity. The seed is used in the treatment of asthma, cough, epilepsy, myalgia and toothache[12]. The seeds are used in Tibetan medicine, they are said to have a bitter, acrid taste with a neutral and poisonous potency[14]. Anthelmintic, antitumor and febrifuge, they are used in the treatment of stomach/intestinal pain due to worm infestation, toothache, inflammation of the pulmonary region and tumours[14].

Product or use
Anodyne
Product or use
Anthelmintic
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Antitumor
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Hallucinogenic
Product or use
Hypnotic
Product or use
Mydriatic
Product or use
Narcotic
Product or use
Sedative

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves scattered about a house will drive away mice[10].

Product or use
Repellent

Environment

Range
Much of Europe, including Britain, south and east to N. Africa and W. Asia.
Habitat
By the walls of fields, waste ground, near buildings and in stony places from low-lying ground near the sea to lower mountain slopes[20].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
high wind, maritime exposure
Wind
Yes
Maritime
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow summer in a cold frame and pot on as soon as possible before the taproot is too long[9].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a sunny position[17] and a dry soil[7]. Succeeds in ordinary garden soil[1] but prefers an alkaline soil[9]. Plants succeed in sandy spots near the sea[17]. Cultivated commercially as a medicinal plant[18], only the biennial form is considered officinal[17]. Grows well in maritime areas, often self-sowing freely[9]. Older plants do not transplant well due to a brittle taproot[9]. The growing plant inhibits the growth of clover[6]. The flowers emit a sickly fishy smell[15].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Altmann. H. Poisonous Plants and Animals. Chatto and Windus 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-7011-2526-8

    ↩

  3. Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218

    ↩

  4. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩

  5. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

    ↩

  6. Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00

    ↩

  7. Stary. F. Poisonous Plants. Hamlyn 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-600-35666-3

    ↩1↩2

  8. Emboden. W. Narcotic Plants Studio Vista 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-289-70864-8

    ↩

  9. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  10. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩

  11. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2

  12. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2

  13. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  14. Tsarong. Tsewang. J. Tibetan Medicinal Plants Tibetan Medical Publications, India 1994-00-00 ISBN 81-900489-0-2

    ↩1↩2

  15. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  16. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  17. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  18. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

    ↩

  19. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

    ↩

  20. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2

  21. Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO 1984-00-00 ISBN 0112425291

    ↩

  22. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

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