Brugmansia spp.
Brugmansia spp. Information
Brugmansia is a genus of flowering plants in the Solanaceae family. The name Brugmansia comes from Sebald Justin Brugmans (1763-1819), a Dutch professor of natural history. Often known by the common name tree daturas, the Brugmansia genus is also called angel's trumpet.
Angel's trumpet is also the common name of the Datura genus of plants, both genera are very similar. Species from both the Brugmansia and Datura genera contain the same active ingredient called scopolamine (hyoscyamine and atropine are also present).
The Brugmansia genus differs from Datura in being woody (having a woody trunk, like a tree) while the Datura genera are herbaceous (having no woody trunk, like a vine). The Brugmansia genus also has non-erect flowers while Datura flowers are erect.
Both Brugmansia and Datura are members of the Solanaceae (more commonly known as the nightshade or potato) family of plants. The Solanaceae family also includes belladonna, capsicum (used to make paprika and chili pepper), eggplant, jimsonweed, mandrake, petunia, potato, tobacco, and tomato plants.
Scientific Classification Of Brugmansia
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Solanales
Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Brugmansia
There are 7 species of Brugmansia.
These 7 species are divided into two groups.
These two groups normally do not cross with each other.
The Brugmansia arborea Group
--- Brugmansia arborea
--- Brugmansia sanguinea
--- Brugmansia vulcanicola
The Brugmansia aurea Group
--- Brugmansia aurea
--- Brugmansia insignis
--- Brugmansia suaveolens
--- Brugmansia versicolor
Brugmansia Crosses
--- Brugmansia x candida (aurea crossed with versicolor)
--- Brugmansia x flava - (arborea crossed with sanguinea)
--- Brugmansia x insignis ((suaveolens x versicolor) x suaveolens)
Note: Hybrids from crosses and hybrids from inter-breeding and back crosses (with uncertain lineage) are simply called Brugmansia hybrids. (reference 1)
History Of Brugmansia
A traveller in nineteenth century Peru gives the following description of the effects of psychoactive Brugmansia drink on an Indian man:
He was seen to be falling into a heavy stupor, his eyes vacantly fixed on the ground, his mouth convulsively closed and his nostrils dilated.
In the course of a quarter of an hour, his eyes began to roll, foam issued from his mouth, and his whole body was agitated by frightful convulsions.
After these violent symptoms had passed, a profound sleep followed for several hours duration and when the subject had recovered, he related the particulars of his visit with his dead ancestors. He appeared very weak and exhausted.
Like all of the members of the Solanaceae family that possess psychoactive properties, Brugmansia species have their sinister applications.
Among the pre-Conquest Chibcas of Colombia a concoction of Brugmansia, tobacco and maize beer was given to slaves and wives of dead kings in order to put them in a deep narcotic state so that they could be buried alive with their masters and husbands.
An account from 1589 details just such an occurrence: a dead chief was accompanied to the tomb by his women and slaves, who were buried in different layers of earth ... of which none was without gold.
And so that the women and poor slaves should not fear their death before they saw the awful tomb, the nobles gave them things to drink of inebriating Tobacco and other leaves of the tree we call Borrachero, all mixed in their usual drink, so that of their senses none is left to foresee the harm soon to befall them. (reference 2)
Brugmansia (and other psychoactive members of the Solanaceae family) are some of the most potent hallucinogens on the planet. South American shaman warn against their use by anyone not familiar with the plant.
Brugmansia use is restricted to all, except experienced shaman. Large doses can cause delirium and hallucinations that last for days, after-effects can last for weeks. (reference 3)
How To Use Brugmansia
Of all psychoactive drugs, alcohol and members included in the Solanaceae family (brugmansia, belladonna, jimsonweed, mandrake, etc.) have been in use the longest. They have been used in almost all parts of the globe for thousands of years.
The chemicals (scopolamine, hyoscyamine, and atropine) produced by members the Solanaceae family can be so terrifying and unpleasant, and the loss of contact with ordinary reality so complete that they are used only with great caution. Strong hallucinations and delirium are common.
All parts of any species of Brugmansia will be psychoactive, even the seeds. However, flowers and leaves are usually the best parts to use for psychoactive purposes. Potency can vary widely (even in different parts of the same plant).
Don't assume that because a certain amount had the desired effect with a previous batch than a new batch will produce the same effect (if you take a similar size dose). Overdose can cause death.
South Americans drink hot and cold infusions of Brugmansia leaves and flowers, and also mix its ground seeds into a fermented drink called chicha.
Brugmansia is also sometimes used in conjunction with tobacco. The present-day Tzeltal Indians of Mexico smoke the dried leaves of Brugmansia suaveolens with Nicotiana rustica (a very potent variety of tobacco with a high concentration of nicotine) in order to obtain visions that will indicate the cause of various diseases. (reference 2)
You can buy Brugmansia from a supplier that ships from the United States here. To use Brugmansia, the suggested first test would be to smoke some in a pipe (flowers and leaves are preferred for smoking) and see what you think.
If you are interested in a stronger dose, making Brugmansia tea would be a good idea. See this for more info about preparing tea, and other ways of consuming herbs.
Brugmansia can also be used as an additive when using Trichocereus pachanoi (san pedro cactus). The san pedro cactus contains concentrations of mescaline and folk healers from Peru mix Brugmansia and Trichocereus pachanoi in order to see better on their journey.
Brugmansia is also sometimes used in preparing the South American drink known as ayahuasca. Although not an essential ingredient of ayahuasca, Brugmansia can be added to the drink and add its own psychoactive effect to the mixture.
Note: In South America, Brugmansia is used as an aphrodisiac. Decoctions of leaves and seeds are mixed with water or maize beer and ingested. Many Indians also smoke the dried leaves or flowers to increase erotic sensations. (reference 4)
To make a Brugmansia aphrodisiac tea, mix one fresh flower (about 0.5 to 1.0 grams of dried plant material) with hot (not boiling water). Wait 10 minutes, then strain out any plant material, and drink. (reference 5).
Cultivation Of Brugmansia
Brugmansia grows along the Andean and Pacific fringe of the South America continent from Colombia to Peru and Chile. All species of the genus are native to South America.
They like humid, warm days, and cool nights. 80-85 degrees is the ideal daytime high and if the temperature never fell below 40 degrees at night, Brugmansia would be in a perfect environment.
However, this environment is not common in most of the USA. Fortunately most Brugmansia do survive higher temperatures (100+ degrees), and all survive lower temperatures. All Brugmansia can be brought indoors over the winter months.
They will survive winters if the roots do not freeze. However, repeated freezing of the ground where the roots are, will eventually weaken and kill the plant. (reference 1)
Brugmansia is a long lived perennial and can grow to become a small tree up to 20-35 feet tall in nature. It can grow up to between 6-15 feet tall when grown in containers.
Images
--- 1 cultivated brugmansia x candida (with double flowers)
--- 2 wild brugmansia x insignis (in Mexico)
--- 3 cultivated brugmansia hybrid (species unknown)
References
reference 1 - american brugmansia & datura society
reference 2 - encyclopaedia of psychoactive substances
reference 3 - shamanism and tantra in the himalayas
reference 4 - plants of love: aphrodisiacs in myth, history...
reference 5 - the encyclopedia of psychoactive plants
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Very nice book and considering the subject matter, it's easy to understand. The botany, history, distribution, cultivation, preparation and dosage of more than 400 psychoactive plants. Over 900 pages with hundreds of black and white illustrations and full color photographs.
Information about almost every plant that has been used for medical, spiritual, or recreational purposes. Includes all the common and most of the less common plant drugs. This is the most thorough plant drug encyclopedia available at the present time. Contains 16 pages of info about various species of Brugmansia, with color images.
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