top of page
18 (3).png

These plants, funghi and insect illustrations
are part of my botanical oracle deck

Scopolia carniolica | Henbane Bell

Botanical Overview:

  • Family: Solanaceae

  • Common Names: Henbane Bell, Scopolia, European Mandrake

  • Plant Type: Perennial herbaceous plant

  • Native Range: Central and Southern Europe, particularly in mountainous regions

  • Key Identifiers:

    • Grows 30–60 cm tall

    • Glossy, ovate green leaves with a wavy margin

    • Bell-shaped flowers, purple-brown on the outside and lighter inside, blooming in spring

    • Produces a round capsule containing seeds


Properties:

  • Active Compounds: Tropane alkaloids (scopolamine, atropine, hyoscyamine)

  • Pharmacological Actions: Anticholinergic, sedative, hallucinogenic, antispasmodic

Distribution and Habitat:

  • Found in shaded, moist forests and limestone soils of Central and Southeastern Europe

  • Prefers cool, temperate climates and thrives in the understory of woodlands


Medicinal Uses:

  • Traditional Uses:

    • Historically used for pain relief, as a sedative, and to treat spasms or motion sickness

    • The anticholinergic properties of tropane alkaloids provide muscle relaxation and relief from gastrointestinal cramps

  • Modern Applications:

    • Rarely used in modern medicine due to its toxicity and the availability of safer alternatives

    • Tropane alkaloids are extracted for use in pharmaceuticals, particularly scopolamine for motion sickness and preoperative sedation

  • Caution: Highly toxic; improper use can cause severe poisoning, including delirium, hallucinations, and even death


Psychoactive Properties and Effects:

  • Psychoactive Nature:

    • Contains tropane alkaloids that act on the central nervous system

    • Effects: Hallucinations, confusion, delirium, and sedation; higher doses can lead to dangerous anticholinergic toxicity and death

    • Historically used in flying ointments and shamanic practices for its mind-altering effects

    • Known for inducing vivid, dream-like hallucinations but accompanied by a high risk of unpleasant and potentially harmful side effects


Magical Correspondences and Uses:

  • Element: Water

  • Planetary Association: Saturn

  • Magical Uses:

    • Historically used in flying ointments by witches to induce trance states or astral travel

    • Associated with protection and banishment rituals, particularly to ward off malevolent forces or entities

    • Used in potions or spells for divination, vision work, or connecting with the spirit world

    • Symbolic of transformation and mystery, reflecting its powerful yet dangerous nature


Folklore and Mythology:

  • Witchcraft and Magic: Scopolia carniolica was considered a "witch’s herb" due to its use in flying ointments and hallucinogenic brews

  • Symbol of Mystery: Its dark, bell-shaped flowers and toxic nature earned it a place in folklore as a plant of caution and intrigue

  • Association with Death and the Underworld: Due to its toxic properties and mind-altering effects, it was sometimes linked to death, rebirth, and the afterlife in traditional stories



Comentários


Connect with me: 

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • bluesky icon
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
  • Etsy
bottom of page