Flos Daturae
Source
Flower of Datura metel L., family Solanaceae.
Characteristics
Flowers dried and shrunken as long strips, 9-15 cm long, grey-yellow,
consisting of calyx and corolla; calyx cylindrical, two-fifth as long
as 
corolla,
apex irregularly 5-lobed; corolla trumpet-shaped, apex 5-lobed, each lobe
presenting a mucronation in the middle and three veins undemeath; containing
5 stamens with filament growing inside the corolla tubes, and one pistaL
Calyx often dropping and corolla broken when dried. Acrid in taste, warm
in nature, toxic, and attributive to heart, lung and spleen channels.
Indication
1. Relieve cough and asthma: For chmnic bronchitis and bronchial asthma.
2. Anesthetize and alleviate pain: For surgical operation as anesthetic,
but its effect is not deep enough, so it should be used together with
small dosage of Wintermin, Promethazine, or Dolantin. Also used for epilepsy
and schizophrenia.
3. Expel wind and alleviate pain.
Pharmacological
Action
1. Exerting peripheral parasympatholytic effect, and causing tachycardia,
mydriasis, dryness of skin and mouth, and relaxation of alimentary and
bronchial smooth muscles.
2.
Acting as a central depressor stronger than Atropine, occasionally inducing
hallucinations.
3. Depressing basal ganglia.
Administration
Decoction:
0.3-1.0g; or 3-6g for anesthesia. Scopolamine: 3-Smg, half of the initial
dose may be supplemented if necessary.
Caution
This medicine may cause thirst, manic state, hallucination, blurred vision,
palpitation, etc. Contraindicated for glaucoma, serious cases of hypertension
and hyperthyroidism, as well as pulmonary, cardiac, hepatic and renal
insufficiency, and high fever.