D is for Datura - Your Toxic Friend

Datura is an extremely poisonous plant that has many fun and interesting folk names such as Devil's Apple, Ghost Flower, Jimsonweed, Love-Will, Mad Apple, Madherb, Manicon, Stinkweed, Sorcerer's Herb, Thornapple, Toloache, Witches' Thimble, Angel's Trumpets, and Yerba del Diablo (Herb of the Devil). My, so many foul names for such a fascinating and useful plant. Tisk tisk herbalists, sticks and stones can break my bones but datura always wins!


Being extremely resilient once started, datura can grow in a wide variety of conditions. For this reason, you can find it all over North America. In fact, American colonists used to use it to poison British invaders! In a way, you could say that datura helped win a revolution. I would expect nothing less from a plant known as "Sorcerer's Herb." The poison comes primarily from a chemical called atropine found in almost all parts of the plant from the flower down to the root. Atropine is also a chemical found in other "Witch Herbs" such as belladonna, henbane, and true mandrake. Atropine has a sinister effect on the human body such as hallucinations, delirium, and even death. Though some have attempted to take daturna for its hallucinogenic properties, there is no other psychoactive plant that will result in more negative effects than the Devil's Apple. Its just not worth it folks. Use your common sense when handling datura and certainly do not ingest it.

With datura being such a powerful and deadly poison, why on earth would it claim its fame as plant commonly used in Traditional Witchcraft? Well simply put, Witches see beyond what the physical components of a plant have to offer. As plants are seen as another spirit ally in the natural world, datura's spirit is seen as a helpful aid in some highly powerful and effective works of magick. Known throughout magickal history for many purposes, I have seen datura used for love, protection, banishment, astral travel, invoking spirits, and breaking hexes. As a plant spirit ally, Datura should be grown from seed yourself to develop the appropriate relationship needed. A relationship with the Datura is a most splendid thing. A Datura spirit will offer protection to your home, power to your person, and even whispers of ancient and lost magickal lore. You might even leave offerings at the base of the plant, including a pinprick drop of your own blood (please use caution).

In spellcraft, one might tuck bits of the flower into a red sachet bag to draw love. The kind of love that inspires intense attraction and desire. Beware though, as datura's love magick effects are not easily reversed! One might also grow it along side the home to protect the house from intruders, both human and spirit. I've also seen datura crushed and sprinkled around the boundary of homes to serve as a magickal barrier against diabolical spirits and the deliverance of hexes and maligned magick.

Many herbal Witches say that because of its poison, its not "worth it" to work with datura. Hogwash! With some care and common sense, I think developing a personal relationship with this interesting plant is well worth the time and dedication.