Toxic or healing or both?

Consumption of henbane can lead to symptoms similar to those known from deadly nightshade, but disorders of consciousness are usually the main focus. It can also lead to unconsciousness or anesthesia-like sleep, in severe cases even death. On the other hand, some people suffer from fits of crying, the urge to talk, or fits of rage.

Animals relatively rarely poison themselves with henbane. For birds and small mammals such as guinea pigs, rabbits or hamsters, however, consumption is very dangerous and also quickly fatal. In horses, around 300 g of the fresh herb is considered a lethal dose.

Henbane in ancient times

Henbane is said to have been known as early as Egypt in ancient Persia and the Babylonians. Fortune tellers have put themselves into a trance with the herb and it has been quite a reliable drug for poisoning. The Celts also knew the effects of henbane.

Henbane in the Middle Ages

The henbane made it easier to catch fish because it stunned them. The chickens fell from the perch in the smoke of the burnt herb and let themselves be carried away without complaining. Allegedly, the traveling people liked to use this method of catching chickens for strange animals.

In medieval medicine, henbane was used as a pain reliever and even as an anesthetic for operations. However, it also led to intoxication. For this reason it was often added to beer to enhance the intoxicating effect of the drink. Incidentally, henbane is said to have given the pils its name.

The henbane in homeopathy

Black henbane is available as a homeopathic medicine under the name Hyoscyamus niger. The areas of application range from nocturnal coughing attacks and asthma to insomnia to behavioral problems and recurring hiccups.

Symptoms of poisoning from henbane:

• Pulse acceleration
• Impaired consciousness
• unconsciousness
• anesthetic-like sleep
• Urge to talk
• Fits of rage
• Crying fits
• fatal at the appropriate dose