Botanical Name: Datura metel Linn

Family: SOLANACEAE

 

 

 

 Introduction:

Dhattüra is found in Panini’s works. Sounaka quoted ‘Kanaknaka’ as a poisonous plant which is equated to Datura.

Scientific classification: Daturas belong to the nightshade family, Solanaceae. Angel’s trumpet is classified as Datura inoxia, horn of plenty as Datura metel, and jimsonweed as Datura stramonium.

 

 

Names in different Indian languages

 

English

Thorn-apple, Downy Datura

Hindi

Dhatura, kaladhattura

Kannada

unmatta

Malayalam

unmattu

Sanskrit

Dhatturah, dhustrurah

Tamil

Ummattai

Telugu

Ummattai

Unani

Dhaturaa

Folk

 

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Dhattuura, Dhuurta, Dhastura, Unmatta, Shivapriya, Harapriya, Hema, Haatta, Dhustuura, Dhustuuraka, Kanaka, Maatula.

Also equated with Raaj-dhatuura. (white var.)

 

Classification according to Charaka, Susrutha & Vagbhata

 

Charaka

 

Susrutha

 

Vagbhata

 

 

          
        

  

 

Varieties & adulterants - (CV – controversy, AD – adulterants) 

  1. sveta D. stramonium
  2. Krsna D. metel
  3. Nila, Krsna,

4.Rakta

  1. D. tatula
  2. Pita varieties.

6.D. innoxiä.

  1. D. alba Nees
  2. D. fastuosa

 

 Blue

 


Morphology

spreading annual herb or shrub 1-2 m. height, pubesscent.

Leaves— large, entire sinuate or toothed, unequal.

Flowers— erect, whitish- purple; calyx long- tubular, 5-toothed at apex; corolla long-tubular to funnel-shaped.

Fruit— capsule globose or ellipsoid, spinous, 4-valved or irregularly breaking up.

Seeds— Compressed, rugose, brown, yellowish brown.

 


Distribution & Habitat

Throughout India

 

Chemical constituents:

 Hyoscine, Scopalamine, daturadiol, daturalone, factusine, beta- sitosterol, hyosine, hyoscyamine, fastudine, fastunine, fastusidine, fastusinine; daturanolone, allantoin, norhyoscyamine, datumetine, datumetlin, datumelin, daturilin, daturilinol, withametelin, niacin, vit.C, apohyoscine, norhyscine, cuscohygrine, meteloidine, noratropine, tropine, pseudotropine, apoatropine, daturametelin A & B etc.

 

Properties:

Rasa Tikta,

Vipaka Katu

Virya  Usna

Guna Laghu, Ruksa Katu

 

Karma - Kapha-vata hara, Visaghna, Vrana, Kandü, Krimi, Kãsahara.

 

Various plant parts are used in headache, hemiplegia, epilepsy, delirium, convulsions, cramps, rigid thigh muscles, rheumatism.

Leaf— antitumour, antirheumatic. Leaf and corolla—anti-inflammatory.

Flower—antiasthmatic.

Seed, leaf and root—anticatarrhal, febrifuge, antidiarrhoeal, antidermatosis; also used in cerebral complications.

Seeds—used in asthma. Limited use in kinetosis (excessive salivation, nausea and vomiting).

Antidote : Mixture of shweta punarnava 1/2 tola  and datura root 4 gunja 500 mg) in cold water or milk should he given in rabies.

Srotogamitva:

Dosha : Vatavardhak. shleshmaghna.

Dhatu : Rasa ((ever), rakta (skin diseases).

Organ : Brain

 

 Indication:

 

Jwara, Kustha, Visha roga, Mütra Kricchra

  Narcotic, anodyne, antispasmodic, emetic, useful  asthma, cough, ulcer, skin diseases, lumbago, sciatica, epilepsy, dandruff etc.

Part used:

  Leaves, seed, root (seeds are purified by processing in dolayantra along with cow’s milk). Seeds are kept in cow’s urine for a week for purification.

 

Dosage: 

Seed powder 50-100 mg

External use : Leaf juice is applied in alopecia and inflammation. The paste of turmeric with juice of dhattura leaves is used in mastitis. In  galactorrhoea, hot fomentation of leaves is effective.

Internal uses:

Central nervous system : It is an intoxicant

Respiratory system : Fomentation of the leaves and seeds is useful in asthma.

 

Reproductive system : Seeds are useful as aphrodisiac in some patients.

Digestive system : Formulations of dhattura seeds are used in enteric pains. Formulations like sutashekhar are useful in pain induced by pitta.

Temperature: In fever with rigors, dhattura seeds in curds are given before rigors start. It alleviates rigors and also post pyrexia burning sensation and bodyache

 


Important Yogas  or  Formations:

 Kanakäsava, Sutasekhara rasa, Mahavisagarbha taila, Unmattarasa                             

 

 

Therapeutic Uses:

(1) Alarkavisa— Dhattüra and sveta Punarnavã combination is a very effective remedy (S.S.Ka. 7). – I am not recommending this treatment to patients.

(2) Krimi— Juice of Dhattura leaves mixed with mercury or juice of heated leaves singly destroys ticks and lice on local application (V.M.)

(3) Juice of Mandukaparni and paste of Dhattura root destroys the boils (C.D.).

 

Descriptions on  Ayurveda books / Nighandu:

  

1

2

3

4

Medicinal plants of India ; Ayurveda

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