Datura, also known as Manchurian thorn apple, mountain eggplant flower, or foreign hemp seed flower, is the dried flower of Datura metel L., a plant in the Solanaceae family. According to "Materia Medica Pictorialis", the flowers are harvested in the summer and early autumn when they first bloom, and then dried until they are about 70-80% dry. They are then tied into bundles and further dried or dried at low temperatures.
[Processing method] Remove impurities and stems, and sift out the ash.
[Appearance] The flowers are trumpet-shaped, often wrinkled and contracted into strip-like shapes, yellowish-brown in color. The flowers are 9-15cm long, with fine folds on the petals and a brittle texture. It has a slight aroma and a slightly bitter taste.
[Quality requirements] The product should be dried at 60℃ for 4 hours. The content of alkaloids, calculated as scopolamine (C17H21NO4), should not be less than 0.30%.
[Processing function] Datura has a pungent and warm nature and is toxic. It belongs to the lung and liver meridians. It has the functions of relieving asthma and cough, relieving pain and anesthesia, and stopping spasms and convulsions. It is used for asthma, cold and painful abdomen, rheumatic pain, epilepsy, and seizures. It is also used for surgical anesthesia. For example, "Stopping Asthma Smoke" is used to treat asthma (from "Thirteen Surgical Formulas"). "Expelling Wind and Drunkenness Powder" is used to treat yang collapse, rebellious qi, excessive anger, and madness (from "Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment"). Datura wine can also be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (from "National Compendium of Chinese Herbal Medicine"). After processing, Datura can be purified to ensure the dosage in medication.
