Botanical Index No. 503

Henbane

hyoscyamus niger

Medicinal Actions

Analgesic, Anesthetic, Antiacetylcholine, Anticholinergic, Anti-CNS Tremors, Antidiaphoretic, Antidote, Antisialagogue, Antispasmodic, Astringent, Carminative, Convulsant, Hypnotic, Intoxicant, Laxative, Mydriatic, Myorelaxant, Narcotic, Parasympatholytic, Piscicide, Secretolytic, Sedative, Soporific, Climacteric, Colic

Primary Conditions Treated

lead Aphrodisiac Depilatory Hemostat Poison Rodentifuge Adenopathy Alcoholism Amaurosis Amenorrhea Angina Atherosclerosis Arthrosis Asthma Bleeding Bronchosis Cancer anus bladder breast eye face foot gum knee leg nose parotid scrotum testicle uterus Cardiopathy Caries Catarrh Chorea Cold Coma Condyloma Constipation Convulsion Cough Cramp Croup Cystosis Delirium Dentition Diabetes Diarrhea Dysentery Dysmenorrhea Dyspepsia Dysuria Earache Eczema Enterosis Epilepsy Epistaxis Fever Gas Gastrosis Gingivosis Gout Headache Hemorrhoid Hiccup Hydrophobia Hypochondria Hysteria Induration Inflammation Insomnia Laryngosis Mania Mastosis Melancholia Meningosis Morphinism Motion Sickness Nephrosis Nervousness Neuralgia Nyctalopia Nymphomania Nystagmus Ophthalmia Orchosis Pain Parotosis Pertussis Photophobia Pneumonia Proctosis Psychosis Rheumatism Rhinosis Scabies Scar Scarlet Fever Scirrhus Schizophrenia Scrofula Sore Spasm Swelling Toothache Tremor Tuberculosis Tumor Urogenitosis Uterosis Uvulosis Worm

General Dosage

Reporting dose levels of 0.05 g, 0.15 g, 0.65 g, 1.0 g, 3 g leaf, HHB recounts daily maximum doses of 1, 1.2, 1.5, 3, and 6 g leaf, smaller doses for powdered leaf; e.g., maximum daily dose of 0.6 g powdered leaf; 0.5 g powdered herb corresponding to 0.25–0.35 belladonna alkaloids; 0.4 g leaf in tea as a calming clyster.

Safety & Contraindications

Not covered. Commission E reports leaf permitted for oral use. Same contraindications, adverse effects, and interactions as for belladonna alkaloids.“Health hazards not known with proper therapeutic dosages”. Overdoses may cause arrhythmia, deliria, dysuria, erythema, hallucinogens, lethargy, mania, mydriasis, obstipation, tachycardia, visual disturbance, water retention, and xerostoma. Contraindicated in arrhythmia, enlarged colon, GI stenosis, glaucoma, prostadenoma, pulmonary edema, and tachycardia. Leaves used as a sedative and a substitute for opium, where this is inadmissible as in children’s complaints.

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