Datura

Botanical Name: Datura strammeium
Indian Name: Dhatura

Datum is a bushy plant growing upto one metre in height. It has large egg shaped leaves, very large white flowers and egg shaped fruits, covered with prickles. The dried leaves, top portion of the flower and seeds of the plant constitute the drug. Datura is referred to in ancient Indian literature as shivashekhera because the flowers are believed to be associated with Lord Shiva. They regarded the drug as an intoxicant, with emetic, digestive and healing powers. Smoking of datura seeds as a treatment for asthma was known during the vedic period. The leaves of the plant contain
alkaloids. Some amount of alkaloids are there in dried seeds and fruits.

Curative Properties

The dried leaves and seeds of datum are used as antispasmodic under critical conditions of asthma and whooping cough. Datum possesses properties analogous to those of belladonna. It counteracts spasmodic disorders and induces deep sleep.

Asthma Datum is very useful in asthma, when the smoke from the burning leaves is inhaled. The leaves rolled into cigarettes can be smoked to relieve asthmatic attacks.

A valuable remedy for heart disorders.
It relieves cardiac pains, distress, palpitation and aortic disorders.


Baldness Datura seeds with other ingredients is useful in patchy baldness. A paste made with datura seeds, liquorice, saffron and cream is heated in coconut oil thoroughly till the solid mass converts to a charred powder. The oil when applied on bald patches stimulates hair growth. As datura is poisonous, hands should be washed thoroughly after handling the oil. Do not use the mixture on the scalp of children.

Malaria Datura fruit is a specific remedy for phlegmatic and bilious types of malarial fever. A desired quantity of the fruit should be placed in an earthen pot and covered with a plaster composed of cloth and clay. It should be parched in 10 to 12 grams of cowdung cakes. When the fire gets extinguished and the pot is cold, the burnt fruit should removed, powdered and kept safely in a phial for use in malarial fever.

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