Why Is Angel’s Trumpet Dangerous?

A. Sutherland – MessageToEagle.com – Both Angel’s Trumpet (Brugmansia suaveolens) and Devil’s Trumpet (Datura), also known as moonflower, devil’s weed and hell’s bells, are closely related.

They are ornamental plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as houseplant. However, these very beautiful plants are very dangerous.

They are extremely poisonous and deadly. Don’t trust their impressive appearance and please be careful!

Brugmansia ‘Feingold’. All parts of Brugmansia are potentially poisonous, with the seeds and leaves being especially dangerous. Source

Angel’s Trumpet is native to tropical regions of South America, along the Andes from Venezuela to northern Chile, and also in south-eastern Brazil. However, the plant also appeared in certain tropical areas within North America, Australia, Africa and Asian continent.

Angel’s Trumpet Is A Poison That Kills

All parts of Angel’s Trumpet are extremely poisonous, including its leaves and seeds being especially dangerous. Angel’s Trumpet contains several alkaloids.

It is a shrub with huge flowers in various colors. Especially teenagers who experiment with narcotic drugs but are unaware of the consequences of using this plant – are in danger.

Usually, for a few-year-old child, consumption of 5-10 seeds of Angel’s Trumpet leads to death; for an adult, it becomes dangerous to eat 15-25 seeds.

Despite strong hallucinations, the effects of using the plant are most unpleasant due to significant side effects.

Effects of ingestion include symptoms such as paralysis of smooth muscles, dry mouth, diarrhea, confusion, tachycardia (a rapid heart rate that can lead to stroke, cardiac arrest and death), migraine headaches, both auditory and visual hallucinations, and many other medical conditions leading to death.

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The hallucinogenic effects of Angel’s Trumpet (Brugmansia) were described in the journal ‘Pathology’ as “terrifying rather than pleasurable”.

In ‘An Encyclopedia of Shamanism’, Christina Pratt, writes that “Brugmansia [Angel’s Trumpet] induces a powerful, violent trance with several most unpleasant effects, sickening after effects, and at times temporary insanity”. The hallucinations caused by Angel’s Trumpet cause total loss of awareness, disconnection from reality, and amnesia.

Another case described in ‘Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience’ is about a young man who… cut off his penis and tongue, after drinking only one cup of Angel’s Trumpet’s tea – a horrible tea.

According to John Hayman, Department of Pathology, Gippsland Base Hospital, Sale, Victoria, Australia, a group of seven ate flowers of Datura arborea (“The Angel’s Trumpet” or “Trumpet Lilies”) and suffered severe hallucinations. One member of the group drowned in shallow water while suffering from these effects. Although poisoning with related species is common, poisoning with this plant is rare, perhaps due to its terrifying rather than pleasurable hallucinogenic effect.

In 1994, it was reported that in Florida, 112 people were transported to hospitals due to ingestion of Angel’s Trumpet. As a result, the purchase, sale, or cultivation of this flower plant were prohibited.

Angel’s Trumpet is a beautiful plant but it can kill you. Credit: Public Domain

In the Middle Ages, the church preached that the dangerous Angel’s Trumpet was used by witches and alike persons, (who even in modern times) devoted or devote their time to witchcraft, black magic, voodoo and similar activities.

In ancient times, Angel’s Trumpet and similar though also dangerous plants were used  to prepare various ointments and salves, which rubbed into the skin caused a state of semi-consciousness, at least.

Due to its narcotic and poisonous properties, the beautiful Angel’s Trumpet shrub  was formerly called the witch’s herb, devil’s herb or as it is called today the Angel’s Trumpet which means Brugmansia.

In modern medicine, it is known that the plant contains certain alkaloids that have medical value, however, they are now artificially synthesized.

According to tradition, several South American cultures have used Angel’s Trumpet as a treatment for children, so that they might be admonished directly by their ancestors in the spirit world, and thereby obey rules. Mixed with maize beer and tobacco leaves, the plant of Angel’s Trumpet was used in sacrifices to drug wives and slaves before they were buried alive with their dead lord.

Written by – A. Sutherland  – MessageToEagle.com Senior Staff Writer

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