Datura
Timeline
c. 5th Century BCE | Legend has it that when the Buddha preaches, dew or raindrops fall from the heaven onto Datura plants. 1 | |
c. 301 BCE | Theophrastus, a student of Aristotle, writes about the hallucinogenic effects of Datura stramonium. The text contains one of the earliest references to the concept of tolerance to a drug. 2 | |
circa 40-70 CE | Datura as "thorn apple" included in Greek De Materia Medica (Περὶ ὕλης ἰατρικῆς) by Pedanius Dioscorides, describing its intoxicating properties. 3 [Details] | |
c. 4th-6th Century CE | The Kamasutra of Vātsyāyana includes at least two references to datura. One reference instructs a man to annoint his penis with honey infused with datura before sexual intercourse, to make his partner "subject to his will". 4 | |
c. 8th Century | The Buddhist scripture Guhyasamāja Tantra instructs in the ritual use of datura. 5 [Details] | |
c. 10th Century | The Buddhist scripture Vajramahabhairava Tantra refers to Datura metel several times. 6 | |
11th - 12th century | Datura is associated with the worship of Shiva, the Indian god associated with the creative and destructive aspects of the universe. 1 | |
11th Century | Arabian doctor Avicenna reported on Datura metel under then name 'Jouzmathal ('metel nut'). This report was later repeated in Dioscorides's writings. 1 | |
1543 | Leonard Fuchs includes a drawing of Datura stramonium in his herbal. 1 | |
1578 | Datura is used as an aphrodisiac in the East Indies. 1 | |
1676 | A group of soldiers in Jamestown, Virginia ingest boiled datura and become delirious for days. 7 [Details] | |
Apr 18, 1961 | Datura as "Jimson weed" used as poison in popular TV series, "The Rifleman". 8 [Details] [More Info] | |
1967 | Asthmador, a smokeable product containing Datura stramonium, belladonna, and potassium perchloride was sold as an asthma remedy. 9 [More Info] | |
1968 | Datura over-the-counter remedies for asthma are banned after people begin using them recreationally | |
1968 | Carlos Castaneda gives a fictionalized account of the use of datura in his best-selling book The Teachings of Don Juan. 10 | |
Oct 24, 1968 | In response to reports of the recreational use of medications containing Datura stramonium, the FDA adopted a policy that preparations of D. stramonium that are labelled with directions for use in self-medication will be considered "misbranded", a federal crime. 11 [Details] | |
Jul 23-27, 2006 | Solanaceae - Genomics Meets Biodiversity [Details] [More Info] |
References
- Schultes RE, Hofmann A. Plants of the Gods. Inner Traditions, 1992.
- Theophrastus. Historia Plantarum. c. 201 BCE.
- Dioscorides P. "De Materia Medica / Περὶ ὕλης ἰατρικῆς". aybe Book IIII:75.
- Vātsyāyana. The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana. trans. Richard Burton. Modern Library. 2002. p 181.
- Fremantle F. A Critical Study of the Guhyasamāja. Doctoral Dissertation, University of London. 1971. p 103.
- Siklós B. "Datura Rituals in the Vajramahabhairava-tantra". Curare. 1993;16(2):71-76.
- Beverly R. The History and Present State of Virginia, In Four Parts. 1705. Part II, pg. 24.
- The Rifleman. The Mescalero Curse. Season 3, Episode 30. 18 Apr 1961.
- Keeler MH, Kane FJ. "The Use of Hyoscyamine as a Hallucinogen and Intoxicant". American J Psychiatry. Dec 6, 1967;124:852-854.
- Castaneda C. The Teachings of Don Juan. Univ. of California Press, Simon & Schuster. 1968.
- Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. Microgram. Jun 1969;2(2):55.