Datura Blooming in Real Time
A Word Of Warning
Nightshade plants are extremely dangerous and are responsible for more deaths and hospital visits than any other recreational psychoactives. The Center for Disease Control reports that nearly 90% of recreational Datura use results in poisoning. Experience stories on Erowid.org seem to support these statistics.
This page is for entertainment and reference ONLY and not meant to suggest that nightshade plants are safe in any way.
This page is for entertainment and reference ONLY and not meant to suggest that nightshade plants are safe in any way.
The Nightshade Family
The Nightshade family (Solanum, Solanaceae) includes a diverse variety of plants ranging from edibles such as potatoes and eggplants to ethnobotanicals with a long history of use.
The most common psychoactive nightshade plants are Deadly Nightshade (Atropa belladonna), Jimson Weed (Datura), Angel Trumpet (Brugmansia), Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger), and Mandrake (Mandragora).
Nightshade plants contain a variety of active alkaloids, notably scopolamine, atropine, and hyoscyamine. These actives are classified as anticholinergics, which take effect by blocking acetylcholine. Nightshades are known for producing extreme delerium and true hallucinations in users, and have also been historically used as poisons.
The most common psychoactive nightshade plants are Deadly Nightshade (Atropa belladonna), Jimson Weed (Datura), Angel Trumpet (Brugmansia), Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger), and Mandrake (Mandragora).
Nightshade plants contain a variety of active alkaloids, notably scopolamine, atropine, and hyoscyamine. These actives are classified as anticholinergics, which take effect by blocking acetylcholine. Nightshades are known for producing extreme delerium and true hallucinations in users, and have also been historically used as poisons.
What is a Deliriant?
One might think all hallucinogens are equal, but there are 3 seperate classes of these drugs with different levels of effects.
Most hallucinogens are classified as psychedelics, which could be thought of as the weaker class. This group would include classic drugs such as psilocybin, LSD, and mescaline. The effects of psychedelics at normal doses generally produce distortions on reality, but aren't usually powerful enough to produce dissociation from reality.
Dissociatives such as Salvia are more powerful and often cause major distortions in the perception of reality to the extent that users may have trouble remembering they took a drug. Hallucinations appear more realistic and thinking can become more disjointed.
The most powerful class of hallucinogens is deliriants such as Datura and Brugmansia, which function as acetylcholine inhibitors. Most users completely forget they are under the influence of a drug and experience true hallucinations. In comparison to the mild hallucinations produced by classic psychedelics, such as fractal patterns, true hallucinations are almost impossible to distinguish from reality. A Datura user might smoke a cigarette while talking to a friend, only to later find that neither were real.
This can be extremely dangerous for obvious reasons. While most urban legends about people jumping out windows or running in front of cars on mushrooms or acid are completely unfounded and unlikely, these sort or dangers become possible for users of deliriants.
Most hallucinogens are classified as psychedelics, which could be thought of as the weaker class. This group would include classic drugs such as psilocybin, LSD, and mescaline. The effects of psychedelics at normal doses generally produce distortions on reality, but aren't usually powerful enough to produce dissociation from reality.
Dissociatives such as Salvia are more powerful and often cause major distortions in the perception of reality to the extent that users may have trouble remembering they took a drug. Hallucinations appear more realistic and thinking can become more disjointed.
The most powerful class of hallucinogens is deliriants such as Datura and Brugmansia, which function as acetylcholine inhibitors. Most users completely forget they are under the influence of a drug and experience true hallucinations. In comparison to the mild hallucinations produced by classic psychedelics, such as fractal patterns, true hallucinations are almost impossible to distinguish from reality. A Datura user might smoke a cigarette while talking to a friend, only to later find that neither were real.
This can be extremely dangerous for obvious reasons. While most urban legends about people jumping out windows or running in front of cars on mushrooms or acid are completely unfounded and unlikely, these sort or dangers become possible for users of deliriants.
