By Anke Zimmermann, BSc, FCAH Angel's Trumpet, Devil's Trumpet Datura stramonium is a strange and fascinating plant with powerful hallucinogenic and toxic properties. It has a long history of being used in various traditional spiritual and shamanic contexts - but ie extremely dangerous and potentially lethal. The plant in its crude form contains various alkaloids which can cause altered perception, delirium and extremely realistic hallucinations that tend to be confusing at best and terrifying at worst. It can also induce alternating states of euphoria with laughing followed by sadness and depression. Let us explore this state by examining some of the experiences of people who intentionally or accidentally ingested the plant. I found a goldmine of this information in the comment section of a Youtube video on Stramonium. As Stramonium is a remedy I often use for children on the autism spectrum, reading these comments may give the reader an idea of what it might be like to be autistic and to perceive the world as a very confusing and threatening place. This is not to say that Stramonium helps all children on the spectrum and is certainly not a cure-all, more commonly it is a layer remedy, usually one of dozens a child with autism may require for healing. Here is the link to the video in case anyone wants to watch it and read the comments themselves: The Worst Trip Of My Life: Datura - The Stuff of Nightmares. Datura - The Stuff of Nightmares I felt as if I was having the same thought pattern over and over and over again and it was disconnected thoughts – where is my wallet? I can’t trust that person. Why do I fell so sick? I need to go to the bathroom. Where is my wallet? I don’t feel good. It was just the same thing over and over and over again. I was just delirious. But my body hurt, I didn’t feel good. Many children on the spectrum appear to be stuck in recurring loops of thoughts and behaviours, this description may be similar to what they may be experiencing. Met two people who took it. They went crazy & still are years later, Unhappily crazy too.They cannot care for themselves. Their personalities have just gone, like something died in them, brain damage. They don't even hear someone talking to them but seem to be listening to the wind outside or something, in a sad way. 'My child was gone' is one the most common and heartbreaking comments I hear parents of children with autism say. My mate was lost for 2 days, his mum had search planes and all looking for him. They found him in a tree. I was a volunteer medic at a festival when i saw a young dude with a baggie full of Datura flowers bragging hard about how high he was going to get. I tried to warn him that what he was about to do was reckless at best, but he just brushed me off. Later that night the medic tent got a call. The same dude was naked, up a tree, covered in pee and feces, gibbering terrified nonsense and crying for his mommy. Datura is NO joke. Many children on the spectrum cling to their parents, especially the mothers and especially at night. Many of them cannot sleep alone and need to be touching the parent all night. If the parent leaves the bed the child often wakes up looking for them. I know of a guy who died after taking datura, he and some friends took it at a remote beach one night, he ended up walking into the water and swimming out into the sea he was never seen again, his friends were found wandering around in the coastal wilderness lost and confused a couple of days later. Delusion, lost in the wilderness is a key symptom in Stramonium. When we were young, we grabbed dozens flowers, a pot and made a fire. We cooked it and drank it. It tasted like hot mud. An hour later we were all dispersed in the mountains, under the moon, howling like wolves, delirious, chasing things. I forgot anything I did or said that night. Next day it took me hours to recover my sight, I was almost blinded by the sun! Horrible experience, never repeated. Amnesia is a strong feature of the plant. I have seen many children who would have sudden attacks of violent rage and would not remember anything about what happened afterwards, while their families were in shock. My brother created a tea from the roots, stems, and leaves of Datura after he was home from college (Arizona) many years ago. He said it was the most horrible drug experience of his life. He laid on the bed for 7 hours and every time he moved even a little, the world would go roaring by. No other hallucinations, but he was filled with feelings of terror the whole time. He didn't fully recover for several days and said he would never, ever touch that plant again. Many children on the spectrum are sound sensitive, maybe this is how the also experience the world, roaring by and terrifying. I chugged that bitter tea, thinking nothing would happen. Hours later, I was arguing with a streetlamp I swore was my childhood dog. Tried to order pizza from a tree. Spent the night naked in my bathtub fighting imaginary bees. Woke up swearing I’d never touch datura again. Stramonium can have violence and fear of violence, in this case it was a delusion of being attacked by bees. Many parents of autistic children report that they seem to be seeing things the rest of the family does not, sometimes with great fear. This isn't a recreational drug, and it's probably one of the few drugs that actually deserve the name "hallucinogenic" because they make one experience what is termed in psychiatry as "true hallucinations" - you talk to people who aren't there, use objects which don't exist, pass through chain link fences and solid walls (or so you think). "Deliriant" is another name albeit probably not the best one as delirium typically refers to one's experiences when having a high fever. 24 hours later, when I came to, it was one of the most depressing and despondent states I had ever experienced. Alternating moods from joy and laughter for no reason to crying for no reason are frequently reported by parents of autistic children. The above describes the severe depression and despondency the plant can produce. I keep encountering this narrative that the Datura is somehow terrible and deadly, while my trip was enlightening and informative and maybe not entirely pleasant but somewhat and also strangely fun. As mentioned above, many parents of autistic children report their child laughing and having fun for no apparent reason, just staring at the wall for example. I can tell you that your eyes don't come back as fast as your brain after the trip , i couldn't read or write because words danced for weeks. Many children on the spectrum have a great deal of trouble learning how to read, perhaps they do see the words dancing or moving like this person described. I know a guy that took it in a professional ceremony. He went blind for months, couldn't have have a boner for 18 years, and says he can talk to plants now. that being said he is an amazing master gardener now. I took datura once, went to sleep and woke up in the morning. Nothing happened... Then one of my friends showed me a recording of me trying to literally climb the walls inside of my house for hours on end. Its strong be careful. Another example of the amnesia the plant can produce. Another common symptom parents of children on the spectrum frequently report is that their child can't remember and learn things. That they easily forget what they have just learned. Conclusion The homeopathic materia medica describes the essential state of Stramonioum as a feeling of being lost in the wilderness. Imagine being lost in a jungle at night in the dark all alone, hearing unfamiliar sounds, knowing there are predators around... My thoughts would likely be repetitive, I'd definitely not want to be alone and might want to cling to a tree, but be quite relieved in the morning. I found reading the comments above fascinating, especially in view of me using the remedy so commonly with children on the spectrum. This is a great potential remedy to help a child out of panic states with fear and horror, night terrors, attacks of rage, confusion and more. I would not be able to practice effectively without it. It is thanks to the genius of Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy, that this toxic, wild plant has become a balm for the tortured minds and brains of modern children suffering from autism. Disclaimer: Disclaimer: Information on this web site is provided for informational purposes only. This information is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. Do not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read on this website. Information provided on this website and the use of any products or services purchased from our website by you does not create a practitioner-patient relationship between you and Anke Zimmermann, Information and statements regarding dietary supplements or homeopathic remedies have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Information on this website is not intended to advise against any medical treatment, including, but not limited to, medications, surgery and vaccinations.
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