Helen (grass) - Useful Properties And Uses Of Henbane. Henbane Black, White, Poisonous, Red

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Henbane

Useful properties and application of black henbane

Botanical characteristics of henbane

Helen is a biennial plant with a sticky soft downy 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. The branchy erect stem grows up to one meter in height. The flowers of this plant are of irregular shape, collected in leafy inflorescences. The fruit is represented by a graceful pitcher-shaped box. Each box contains up to 500 small brownish seeds.

Belena 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. Helen 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

Belena contains scopolamine, which causes heart rate and smooth muscle relaxation. In addition, the plant helps to reduce motor activity, providing a hypnotic effect, and also stops the secretion of sweat glands. The henbane is characterized by anticholinergic action.

Application of henbane

Prescription of medications containing henbane is a rather rare occurrence, since the amount of active substances in it varies greatly depending on the collection time. It should be noted, however, that this herb is excellent in relieving intestinal and stomach cramps, reducing anxiety and reducing senile tremors. Along with this, henbane oil is an effective remedy for severe pain. Due to the toxicity, the use of such an herb in traditional medicine is not common. The fatty oils of henbane are used only for rheumatic pains.

Henbane recipes

In ancient times, with 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, you need to moisten fresh leaves in ammonia in a 1: 1 ratio, then insist them in sunflower oil for at least a day. After such manipulations, you can rub sore spots with this excellent tool. 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 for 1 tbsp. l. before meals.

With otitis media, 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 harvested at the end of summer, and in the second year of vegetation, at the very beginning of flowering. The henbane leaves contain tannins and alkaloids. A decoction of the leaves is used as an external agent for compresses. To get rid of boils, take 1 tsp. pre-chopped 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 joint diseases 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 henbane fruit is a polyspermous two-celled capsule. It has an unusual jug shape, complemented by a hemispherical lid. The 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 oil, you need to take 15 parts of seeds and 100 parts of unrefined vegetable oil. The mixture should be infused for 10 days.

Black henbane

Poisonous black henbane is a biennial or annual plant of the Solanaceae family. It has a fleshy taproot. The plant has a heavy odor and sticky glandular hairs. The branched straight stem reaches a height of more than one meter. The alternate leaves are grayish-green in color. Large flowers are arranged in dense curls.

The fruit of the black henbane is a two-celled pitcher-shaped capsule. It is widened downwards, and at the top there is a small lid. Brown seeds are plentiful. Flowering of this type of henbane is carried out all summer months until the end of October. Black henbane is widespread in the Caucasus and Crimea, in Central Asia and the European part of the CIS.

Henbane white

This species is characterized by a high content of poisonous alkaloids. Such a glaucous-green winter plant has a woody vertical root. The stem of white henbane grows up to 90 cm. Small petiolate leaves are ovoid. 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 capsule hides a lot of seeds. The flowering of the white henbane continues from early May to mid-November. This plant is found near roads, in fields and wastelands. The henbane feels great in the Mediterranean regions, in the south of Ukraine, in Moldova, as well as in the Canary Islands.

Poisonous henbane

Poisonous henbane 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 soft pubescent 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. Fruits often ripen in July or August.

Numerous seeds are grayish or brown in color. Poisonous henbane grows along roads and fallow meadows, and also often settles near human habitation and in vegetable gardens. Such a plant lives in Siberia and central Siberia.

Henbane red

Red henbane is a biennial herb from the famous Solanaceae family. This plant has a reddish stem and soft ovoid leaves with whitish hairs. The height of the stem can reach 120 cm. This species has an intoxicating smell. The oblong yellow flowers have a purple network of veins. The red henbane blooms all summer months. The fruit is in the form of a capsule, the length of which is about 3 cm, with splayed teeth. The basis for the reproduction of this plant is small-cell seeds of a brownish shade. The henbane of this species grows everywhere in Russia, Crimea, the Caucasus, and also in Central Asia.

Contraindications henbane

An overdose of a medicinal product containing henbane causes convulsions, indomitable vomiting and dizziness. Such a poisonous plant as henbane should be used in strictly prescribed dosages. It is not recommended for expectant mothers to use bleached preparations.

The author of the article: Sokolova Nina Vladimirovna | Phytotherapist

Education: Diploma in "General Medicine" and "Therapy" received at the Pirogov University (2005 and 2006). Advanced training at the Department of Phytotherapy at the Peoples' Friendship University of Moscow (2008).