Hyoscyamus albus White henbane (Solanaceae)

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Hyoscyamus albus
White henbane
(1 Page of 5)

The Hyoscyamus albus plant species is found in S. Europe. It is a member of the Solanaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as White henbane.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Hyoscyamus albus
Common Name:  White henbane
Family:  Solanaceae
Author:  L.

Known Hazards:  All parts of the plant are very toxic[7, 10, 19, 65, 76, 200]. Symptoms of poisoning include impaired vision, convulsions, coma and death from heart or respiratory failure[238].

Mature Height:  0.9   Mature Width:

Habitat:  Dry, uncultivated ground, walls and field margins.

Medicinal Information: Henbane has a very long history of use as a medicinal herb, and has been widely cultivated to meet the demand for its use[4]. 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[254]. 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[254]. This species is generally considered the best for internal use, whilst the black henbane (H. niger) is the form most used externally[4]. 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[4, 9, 13, 21, 100, 165, 192, 218]. 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[238]. Henbane reduces mucous secretions, as well as saliva and other digestive juices[254]. Externally, it is used as an oil to relieve painful conditions such as neuralgia, dental and rheumatic pains[238, 254].The leaves should be harvested when the plant is in full flower and they can then be dried for later use[4]. This is a very poisonous plant that should be used with great caution, and only under the supervision of a qualified practitioner[21, 238]. See the notes above on toxicity. The seed is used in the treatment of asthma, cough, epilepsy, myalgia and toothache[218].

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
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