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Useful properties and use of black henbane
Botanical characteristics of henbane
Henbane is a biennial plant with a sticky soft fluff and an unpleasant odor. It has a long thickened root of a dark shade and an interesting rosette of elliptical alternate leaves with incised edges. A branched erect stem grows up to one meter in height. The flowers of this plant are irregular in shape, collected in leafy inflorescences. The fruit is represented by an elegant pitcher-shaped box. Each box contains up to 500 small brownish seeds.
Henbane blooms from mid-May to mid-autumn. As a rule, the fruits ripen by June. Such a plant has a high level of seed productivity. Henbane is common in North America and Eurasia, and is also often found in Australia. This plant settles on the outskirts of fields, on shallows, wastelands, as well as in gardens.
Useful properties of henbane
Henbane contains scopolamine, which causes an increase in heart rate and relaxation of smooth muscles. In addition, the plant helps to reduce motor activity, having a hypnotic effect, and also stops the secretion of sweat glands. Henbane is characterized by anticholinergic action.
The use of henbane
The prescription of medicines containing henbane is quite rare, since the amount of active ingredients in it varies greatly depending on the time of collection. However, it should be noted that this plant is excellent at relieving spasms of the intestines and stomach, reducing anxiety and reducing senile trembling. Along with this, henbane oil is an effective remedy for severe pain. Due to its toxicity, the use of such a herb in traditional medicine is not common. The fatty oils of henbane are used only for rheumatic pains.
Henbane Recipes
In ancient times, with a serious inflammation of the oral cavity, it was recommended to smoke dry henbane leaves, retaining smoke in the mouth. For rheumatism, neuralgia and gout, henbane is used externally. To do this, moisten fresh leaves in ammonia in a ratio of 1: 1, then insist them in sunflower oil for at least a day. After such manipulations, you can rub sore spots with this excellent remedy. For unpleasant gastrointestinal diseases, the following infusion should be prepared: 1 tsp. leaves are poured with 500 grams of boiling water. The mixture is infused for about one hour, after which you can use it three times a day, 1 tbsp. l. before meals.
With otitis, it is recommended to instill henbane oil, which must be slightly warmed up.
henbane leaves
They are excellent medicinal raw materials. It should be noted that in the first year of flowering they should be collected at the end of summer, and in the second year of vegetation – at the very beginning of flowering. The leaves of henbane contain tannins and alkaloids. A decoction of the leaves is used as an external compress. To get rid of boils, take 1 tsp. pre-shredded leaves and boil them for a couple of minutes in one liter of water. The mixture is infused for 10 minutes, after which it is filtered. In addition, such a decoction is used for colds in the form of rubbing before bedtime, and for diseases of the joints it is used as foot baths. For the treatment of bronchial asthma, it is recommended to use a mixture of dope leaves, henbane and sage.
Henbane fruit
The fruit of henbane is a multi-seeded two-celled box. It has an unusual jug shape, complemented by a hemispherical lid. Henbane seeds are small and very similar to poppy seeds.
Henbane seeds
Numerous small seeds produce an oil that is an excellent pain reliever. To prepare such an oil, you need to take 15 parts of seeds and 100 parts of unrefined vegetable oil. The mixture should be infused for 10 days.
Bleached black
Poisonous henbane black is a biennial or annual plant of the nightshade family. It has a fleshy tap root. The plant is distinguished by a heavy smell and the presence of sticky glandular hairs. The branched straight stem reaches a height of more than one meter. The alternate leaves have a grayish-green tint. Large flowers are arranged in dense curls.
The fruit of black henbane is a two-celled jug-shaped box. From top to bottom, it is expanded, and at the top there is a small cap. Brown seeds are numerous. The flowering of this type of henbane is carried out all the summer months and until the end of October. Black henbane is common in the Caucasus and Crimea, in Central Asia and the European part of the CIS.
Belena is white
This species is characterized by a high content of toxic alkaloids. Such a bluish-green winter plant has a woody vertical root. The stem of white henbane grows up to 90 cm. Small petiolate leaves are ovoid in shape. Sessile flowers up to 1 cm long are located on pedicels in a spike-shaped one-sided inflorescence. The fruit in the form of a box hides a lot of seeds. Flowering of white henbane lasts from early May to mid-November. This plant is found along roadsides, in fields and wastelands. Henbane feels great in the Mediterranean regions, in the south of Ukraine, in Moldova, as well as in the Canary Islands.
Henbane poisonous
Henbane poisonous is a unique biennial plant with a very unpleasant odor. The height of the stems of this plant is on average about 30 cm. The basal leaves are petiolate, and the stem leaves are sessile and have an oblong shape. The plant has pubescent soft hairs and large bell-shaped flowers. The fruit is presented in the form of a jug-shaped box, which is decorated with an unusual lid. The fruits often ripen in July or August.
Numerous seeds have a grayish or brown tint. Poisonous henbane grows along roads and in fallow meadows, and also often settles near human habitation and in vegetable gardens. Such a plant lives in Siberia and central Siberia.
Belena is red
Henbane red is a biennial herb from the well-known nightshade family. This plant has a reddish stem and soft ovate leaves with whitish hairs. The height of the stem can reach 120 cm. This species has an intoxicating smell. Oblong yellow flowers have a purple network of veins. Henbane red blooms all summer months. The fruit is in the form of a box, the length of which is about 3 cm, has splayed teeth. The basis of reproduction of this plant are fine-mesh seeds of a brownish hue. Henbane of this species grows throughout Russia, the Crimea, the Caucasus, and also in Central Asia.
Henbane contraindications
An overdose of a drug containing henbane causes convulsions, indomitable vomiting and dizziness. Such a poisonous plant as henbane should be used in strictly prescribed dosages. Expectant mothers are not recommended to use preparations with henbane.