The Effects of Jimson Weed

Jimson weed is the common name for a plant known botanically as Datura stramonium. It is an annual herb that grows up to five feet tall. The main ingredients in the plant are belladonna alkaloids, atropine and scopolamine. Atropine is among the active ingredients in prescription drugs of Donnatal, Lomotil and Unrised.

It has been used as a medicine and intoxicant for centuries. Uses included treatment for cough and bronchitis and it was smoked for the relief of asthma in many parts of the world. Although it is known for its medicinal purposes, all parts of the Jimson weed is poisonous and it is not recommended for medicinal use. Ingestion of Jimson weed caused a mass poisoning of soldiers in Jamestown, Virginia in 1676.

Teens commonly misuse it for the hallucinogenic and euphoric effects. Other effects of Jimson weed are dry mouth, dilated pupils, high temperature, reduced sweating, skin reddening, enlarged pupils, fast irregular heartbeat, blurred vision, confusion and delirium. Misuse can cause serious illness or death. Jimson weed has pronounced drying effects and may also cause diminished urination and extreme constipation.

The symptoms of Jimson weed poisoning include incoherent speech; impaired coordination; rapid heart beat; dry, flushed or hot skin; seizures; intense visual or auditory hallucinations and cardiac arrest.

Other names for Jimson weed include thornapple, stinkweed, locoweed, angel’s trumpet, angel’s tulip, apple-of-peru, devil weed, devil’s apple, devil’s trumpet, estramonio, green dragon, tolguacha, gypsyweed, inferno, Jamestown weed, loco seeds, mad apple, moon weed, stramoine, stechapfel, trumpet lily, zombie’s cucumber and thornapple leaf.

Jimson weed is not considered a controlled substance and addiction usually doesn’t occur because the effects are generally not considered pleasant. Jimson weed causes death by paralyzing the nervous system. A 100 mg. or more of atropine can be fatal. This amount of atropine is equal to approximately 15 to 100 grams of a Jimson weed or 15 to 25 grams of the seeds.