So, I have to admit to being intrigued with what are known as the witches’ herbs. I have yet to actually ingest any, but I have them growing and have made tinctures and poultices for external application. The list includes black henbane (Hyscyamus niger), datura (Datura stramonium), mandrake (Mandragora officinalis) and belladonna (Atropa belladonna). All have a rich history of what, in my opinion, is often demeaningly referred to as “folklore.” Of course, the vast majority of non Christian, non Western, non FDA approved medicine is relegated to be based in the non scientifically substantiated category of folklore.
Belladonna, which means “beautiful woman,” is the latest harvest. These berries are jet black and shine like polished onyx or obsidian. Looking at one is to peer into an abyss-like multidimensional blackness where spatial perspective eludes the beholder. It is to view a tiny piece of black hole in the form of a centimeter-wide sphere.
The berries and really the whole plant, is considered to be lethally poisonous, with 10 berries said to be the deadly dose for the average adult. With such a background, it’s no wonder it is commonly known as deadly nighthshade. This is a photo of twelve berries.
All the fear-mongering aside, belladonna is a very important herb, as are all the other herbs mentioned above. Its alkaloids are even used in emergency rooms today to dilate the pupils and relieve pain. It is also purported to be an effective wound healer. So much for “folklore.”
For now, the plan is to harvest about 24 more berries and make a tincture. The berries have been ripening at the rate of 4 to 5 every two days. Previously, I used some leaf in a footbath for a friend who suffered a severe stubbed toe. It eased the pain quickly and helped heal the obvious internal damage (made apparent by the penny-sized blood clot visible beneath the nail on his big toe as well as his inability to walk at all or even put a sock or shoe on).
I have already made tinctures with datura and henbane. Mandrake has proven a bit more tricky. I have yet to get the one plant I have to bloom. It “dies” back every year, but sends up new leaves the following spring. Just when the leaves are beginning to become lavish, they get attacked by snails and/or slugs, then the plant dies back again. The next year, it tries yet again. This has gone on for 4 years now. I’ve tried snail pellets, but obviously I’m not applying it often enough to keep them entirely at bay until the plant blooms. I may start new ones and keep them indoors in pots.
Anyway, back to the topic at hand and the start of my first belladonna tincture.
2 comments:
Try spreading something sharp around the plant, like crushed seashells or gumball tree seed pods. I've heard that snails and slugs don't like crawling over sharp things. Or perhaps there's still some salt on the shells, which is poison to snails and slugs.
Take care, Ruth
Hey Ruth. Good to see you. Thanks for the advice. Will definitely give it a try.
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