This product is the dried flower of the Solanaceae plant Datura metel L. (Southern Datura Flower) or Datura innoxia Mill. (Northern Datura Flower), collectively referred to as various Datura Flowers. It can be harvested during the flowering period, with higher yields in the south from April to September and in the north from July to August. The flowers are picked in the early morning after the dew has dried. For Southern Datura Flower, it is customary to remove the calyx, while for Northern Datura Flower, the calyx is retained. The flowers are then spread flat on mats to dry in the sun, shade, or with mild heat, and finally bundled into small bundles. The best quality flowers are large, unbroken, dry, and free of impurities. Southern Datura Flower is mainly produced in Jiangsu, Fujian, and Guangdong, while Northern Datura Flower is mainly produced in Henan, Hebei, and Shandong. It is traditionally believed that Southern Datura Flower is of superior quality.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Acrid, warm, toxic. Gangmu: "acrid, warm, toxic." Shengcao Yaoxing Beiyao: "sweet, warm, toxic." Bencao Biandu: "acrid, warm, extremely toxic. Act on lung meridian."

bubble_chart Efficacy

Relieves asthma and cough, alleviates pain, relieves spasms, and provides anesthetic pain relief.

bubble_chart Indications

Treats asthma, convulsions, wind-dampness arthralgia, beriberi, sores and ulcer pain. Also used as an anesthetic in surgical procedures.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Compendium of Materia Medica: "Flowers and seeds are pungent, warm, and toxic. They are primarily used for treating various wind disorders and cold-dampness beriberi, decocted in water for washing. They also treat fright epilepsy and prolapse of the rectum, and are included in anesthetic preparations."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

For oral use: 0.3-0.6g; can also be rolled into cigarettes for smoking (multiple uses, not exceeding 1.5g per day). For external use: decoct in water for washing or grind into powder for topical application.

bubble_chart Cautions and Contraindications

Use with caution for internal administration. Contraindicated in cases of external contraction, phlegm-heat cough and asthma, glaucoma, heart disease, and hypertension; use with caution in patients with abnormal liver or kidney function, those with a weak constitution, and pregnant women.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

Southern Datura Flower contains total alkaloids ranging from 0.125% to 0.82%, primarily scopolamine, with a content of 0.11% to 0.47%, and hyoscyamine, with a content of 0.01% to 0.37%. Northern Datura Flower contains total alkaloids ranging from 0.19% to 0.53%, mainly scopolamine, with a content of 0.17% to 0.51%, and hyoscyamine, with a content of 0.015% to 0.14%. The hairy Hindu Datura Flower (Northern Datura Flower) also contains demethyl hyoscyamine. Datura Flower also contains scopoletin.

1. Central inhibitory effect: The main component of Datura Flower, scopolamine, primarily exhibits inhibitory effects on the cerebral cortex and certain subcortical areas, such as causing loss of consciousness and producing anesthesia. It is believed that this is related to its blockade of M-cholinergic receptors in the cerebral cortex and brainstem reticular formation, and may also be related to its antagonistic effect on norepinephrine in the central nervous system. Clinically, Datura Flower is mainly used in combination with chlorpromazine and pethidine for intravenous compound anesthesia. Currently, scopolamine hydrobromide is used clinically to replace the total alkaloids of Datura Flower for Chinese medicinal anesthesia.
2. Analgesic and anti-shock effects: In mice with traumatic shock, the application of scopolamine significantly prolonged their survival time and restored blood flow in microcirculation stagnation caused by norepinephrine or traumatic shock. Clinically, scopolamine and atropine have been used for septic shock and Chinese medicinal anesthesia, especially in cases of shock requiring surgery, with good results. Datura Flower is also used clinically to treat pain such as wind-dampness arthritis.
3. Effects on the respiratory system: Datura Flower has an inhibitory effect on the tracheal mucous glands in experimental bronchitis rats, with a significant reduction in goblet cells. It has been clinically used to treat chronic bronchitis, with improvements in various symptoms and even approaching normal levels.
4. Toxicity: The minimum lethal dose for intravenous injection in dogs is 80 mg/kg.