Hyoscyamus albus | White Henbane

Botanical Overview:

• Family: Solanaceae

• Common Names: White Henbane, Yellow Henbane

• Plant Type: Biennial or perennial herbaceous plant

• Native Range: Mediterranean region, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East

• Key Identifiers:

  • Pale yellow, veined flowers with a dark purple center

  • Sticky, hairy leaves with a foul odor

  • Produces small, capsule-like seed pods containing numerous tiny seeds

  • Similar in appearance to Hyoscyamus niger (black henbane) but with lighter flowers

Properties:

• Active Compounds: Tropane alkaloids (hyoscyamine, scopolamine, atropine)

• Pharmacological Actions: Anticholinergic, sedative, hallucinogenic, analgesic

Distribution and Habitat:

• Found in dry, rocky soils, coastal areas, and roadsides in Mediterranean climates

• Often grows in disturbed ground, abandoned fields, and near ruins

Medicinal Uses:

• Traditional Uses:

  • Historically used in ancient Greek, Roman, and Arabic medicine for pain relief, sleep induction, and muscle relaxation

  • Applied externally in poultices for joint pain and inflammation

• Modern Use:

  • Rarely used today due to its high toxicity

  • Some alkaloids derived from henbane are still used in medicine (e.g., scopolamine for motion sickness)

• Caution:

  • All parts of the plant are highly toxic

  • Symptoms of poisoning include dry mouth, hallucinations, dilated pupils, confusion, convulsions, and even death in severe cases

Psychoactive Properties and Effects:

• Psychoactive Nature:

  • Strongly psychoactive, primarily as a deliriant rather than a psychedelic

  • Effects:

    • Vivid, often terrifying hallucinations (both visual and auditory)

    • Disorientation, confusion, and memory loss

    • Intense dryness of mouth and throat

    • Can cause paralysis, seizures, and death at high doses

  • Unlike traditional psychedelics, Hyoscyamus albus induces a state of delirium where hallucinations appear indistinguishable from reality

    
    

Magical Correspondences and Uses:

• Element: Fire, Water

• Planetary Association: Saturn, Mercury

• Magical Uses:

  • Associated with necromancy, spirit communication, and divination

  • Used in historical European witchcraft for flying ointments and trance induction

  • Thought to confer invisibility and shape-shifting abilities in folklore

  • Traditionally planted near graves or temple sites for protection and spirit guidance

Folklore and Mythology:

• Ancient Uses:

  • Used by the Greeks and Romans in oracular and divinatory practices

  • Associated with the Oracle of Delphi and sacred rituals

• Medieval Witchcraft:

  • One of the key ingredients in witches’ flying ointments

  • Feared and revered for its ability to induce madness and visions

• Cautionary Tales:

  • Many historical accounts warn of the plant’s ability to drive people to insanity or even death if misused