Hyoscyamus niger

Family: N.O. Solanaceae

Common Name:  Henbane, Hog's-bean, Jupiter's-bean, Stinking Nightshade, Black Henbane.

Synonyms:  Symphonica, Cassilata, Cassilago, Deus Caballinus, (Anglo-Saxon) Henbell,

(French) Jusquiame.

Parts Used: Fresh leaves, flowering tops and branches, seeds.

Habitat: Central and Southern Europe, Western Asia, India and Siberia; considered a weed in America and Brazil.

Growing:  Biennial.  Thick, fleshy, brittle taproot;  well-drained soil; called "Black Henbane" as the flowers have heavy purple veining.

Possible Name Origin:  Henne of henbane means 'death' and originates from a German god by that name.

Planet: Saturn (considered by early astrologers to be associated with Jupiter)

Deity: Hekate

Mythos

In Scotland henbane is known as an 'herb of the dead.'  In ancient times it honored gravesites.  Henbane and barley residue was detected in drinking horns dating back to the Neolithic period and found in an enclosure thought to be used as a mortuary.  Once used as a flavoring ingredient in ale, henbane can be toxic.

In ancient Greek mythology, it is written 'that the dead wear henbane crowns as the wreath of forgetfulness' to aid them in their grief.  Oracles mention its use to divine the future. Could henbane have been an herb burnt and inhaled at the Oracle of Delphi?

In Witchcraft

Henbane is also known as 'the plant of witches' and was used specifically for blighting crops and poisoning livestock.  Accounts of extensive crop failure were blamed on witches when in fact poor soil condition is a favorite of weeds and henbane in particular. But consider this, wouldn't blight affect all the inhabitants of a village including the supposed witch?  Cunning cuts both ways in the days when property could be seized for offenses such as witchcraft.  Where widows dwell there was money to be made.  Blame had its benefits.

As a Flying Ointment

Henbane is best known as a 'Witches Herb' and one of the ingredients in the infamous Flying Ointment due to its psychotropic action. By rubbing the handle of the broom with the ointment and mounting it the ingredients found their way against and easily into sensitive mucus membranes causing erotic fantasies of flight.  An account, obtained from an individual who experienced such hallucinations recalled the sensation, 'as if the soul separates from the body and flies through the skies' which would account for the belief that one was shape shifted and flew above the earth. 

In Ritual Use

Agrippa, of Middle Ages fame, created incense using henbane as a main ingredient which he designed specifically for raising spirits from the dead.  Practitioners of necromantic rites were particularly interested in order to acquire secrets of the occult known, of course, only to the recently departed.  Under a dark moon in deserted graveyards censers fumed while the recitation of specific incantations cut the still air creating trance-like states.  Messages from the other side were quickly transcribed in gimoires illuminated in candlelight by a shaky hand at a safe distance until the specter was released back to it's inky grave. 

Due to henbane's Saturian nature, many spells both beneficial and deviant, were performed in desolate places and charms were routinely left in ditches where henbane grew under the light of a full moon.  Saturn is understood to govern limitations, darker aspects, authority figures, disciplinary action, boundary issues, striving and responsibilities needing attention.  Known as a hard task-master, its influence in spells or in one's chart can be a friend or an opponent one that you will not win against easily.

Medicinal Use

According to Grieve, henbane has similar effects to belladonna which contains the alkaloid hyoscyamine. Sedative effects are reported surrounding the central nervous system; symptoms of dry mouth and nervousness leading to delirium with a coma crescendo and possibly death have been reported.

However, there are accounts as to Henbane's effective treatment surrounding the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease with direct reference to tremor and rigidity in the condition's early stages; this appears to be due to its depressive and analgesic effects which cause a kind of drowsiness.

Dental problems were treated with henbane as a painkiller during the Middle Ages and achieved by heating the seeds over coals and then deeply inhaled; it was said to bring the patient needed relief.

The ancient Egyptians smoked Hyoscyamus muticus known as Egyptian Henbane which contains higher concentrations of alkaloids and therefore produces even more powerful effects then our European variety.

Some Old Quotes

Henbane is the noxious herb referred to by Shakespeare in Hamlet:

'Sleeping within mine orchard,

My custom always of the afternoon

Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole,

With juice of cursed hebenon in a vial,

And in the porches of mine ear did pour

The leprous distillment.'

Speaking of Henbane, *Gerard says:

'The leaves, the seeds and the juice, when taken internally cause an unquiet sleep, like unto the sleep of drunkenness, which continueth long and is deadly to the patient. To wash the feet in a decoction of Henbane, as also the often smelling of the flowers causeth sleep.'

*Culpepper says:

'I wonder how astrologers could take on them to make this an herb of Jupiter: and yet Mizaldus, a man of penetrating brain, was of that opinion as well as the rest: the herb is indeed under the dominion of Saturn and I prove it by this argument: All the herbs which delight most to grow in saturnine places are saturnine herbs. Both Henbane delights most to grow in saturnine places, and whole cart loads of it may be found near the places where they empty the common Jakes, and scarce a ditch to be found without it growing by it. Ergo, it is a herb of Saturn. The leaves of Henbane do cool all hot inflammations in the eyes.... It also assuages the pain of the gout, the sciatica, and other pains in the joints which arise from a hot cause. And applied with vinegar to the forehead and temples, helps the headache and want of sleep in hot fevers.... The oil of the seed is helpful for deafness, noise and worms in the ears, being dropped therein; the juice of the herb or root doth the same. The decoction of the herb or seed, or both, kills lice in man or beast. The fume of the dried herb stalks and seeds, burned, quickly heals swellings, chilblains or kibes in the hands or feet, by holding them in the fume thereof. The remedy to help those that have taken Henbane is to drink goat's milk, honeyed water, or pine kernels, with sweet wine; or, in the absence of these, Fennel seed, Nettle seed, the seed of Cresses, Mustard or Radish; as also Onions or Garlic taken in wine, do all help to free them from danger and restore them to their due temper again. Take notice, that this herb must never be taken inwardly; outwardly, an oil, ointment, or plaister of it is most admirable for the gout . . . to stop the toothache, applied to the aching side....'

Toxicity

Henbane is still considered poisonous and therefore ingestion is dangerous unless under the direct supervision of a trained herbalist or physician.  It will also cause dermatitis if left on the skin any length of time. Wear gloves when handling this herb and do not touch your eyes or mouth without washing them first.  Do not grind the herb to a fine powder or burn as an incense unless in a 'well ventilated' area.

Oil of henbane can blister the skin, do not include it as an ingredient to oils or salves.

I personally have had the same dermatitis reaction when my wrist was exposed to the juice of common mugwort while pruning back a large stand in my garden. I experienced pain and then a temporary scarring effect which lasted for several weeks.