Brugmansias are known by many names, including Angel’s Trumpet, Trumpet Tree, Borrachero in Colombia, and Toé or Mishas in Peru. Brugmansias are part of the nightshade family Solanaceae and are related to eggplants, tomatoes, peppers, and Datura plants. Native to South America, they can now be found thriving in various climates around the world. These plants display beautiful trumpet-shaped flowers in a range of colors, including cream, yellow, peach, orange, pink, and red. Each variety is a different species of Brugmansia.
Mostly used as an ornamental plant, Brugmansia has also been used in traditional medicines in Colombia, Peru, Mexico, and Guatemala. It also contains compounds that have contributed to modern pharmacology. However, Brugmansia plants can be “toxic” in high doses due to their high tropane alkaloid content. While many plants in the Solanaceae family contain tropane alkaloids, some—like tomatoes, peppers, tobacco, and eggplants—are safe to consume without adverse effects.
In traditional medicine, various parts of the plant—leaves, flowers, and seeds—are used for divination, dreamwork, rituals, ceremonies, and as a remedy for a range of conditions. Flowers are sometimes gathered around the full moon when they are open and harnessing the moon's energy. Solanaceae means "to soothe", which is how these plants have been used. Ointments have been applied to burns, inflammation caused by arthritis and rheumatism, cramps, and hemorrhoids. Vapors from dried flowers and leaves are used as a remedy for bronchitis and severe coughs. Additionally, Brugmansia has been employed to treat pain, fungal skin infections, and as a vaginal antiseptic.
In Peruvian medicine, Brugmansia’s have been called Toé or Misha’s. Each species has been recognized and used differently. Some remedies would only be for topical uses by creating a tincture/liniment or poultice with only leaves, both flower and leaves or combining with tobacco. For dream work, the leaves would be tied to one's forehead and back of the neck before going to bed. Brugmansia’s contain tropane alkaloids such as hyoscyamine, scopolamine, and atropine, collectively known as parasympatholytics or belladonna alkaloids. The seeds have the highest content of these alkaloids. The flowers also contain terpenes like linalool, terpineol, nerolidol, and ocimene, which can contribute to their antibacterial and antifungal properties.
In pharmacology, scopolamine has practical uses, such as preventing nausea, vomiting, motion sickness, and muscle spasms. It is commonly delivered via a low-dose transdermal patch containing 1 mg, worn behind the ear for up to three days. This slow absorption minimizes side effects. However, scopolamine has also been nicknamed “Devil’s Breath” or “Burundanga” because it can alter consciousness without causing full sedation. This property has reportedly been used to make individuals vulnerable, leading to them being taken advantage of. This was said to be done by touching soaked business cards, having the powder blown in the face, or added to drinks. Fatalities have been linked to this, typically through oral consumption.
Historically, scopolamine has been used in combination with morphine and chloroform to create "Twilight Sleep," a mixture designed to manage pain and induce amnesia during surgeries. Its amnesic properties also led to its use as a "truth serum." Tropane alkaloids from Brugmansia arborea have also shown potential in helping with morphine withdrawal, suggesting it could serve as a remedy for addiction.
I grew up playing with the Brugmansia plant; my grandma had one in her yard, and I would collect its flowers. When I was about 15 years old, I became aware of its psychoactive properties. I remember brewing five flowers in a large pot of water with a friend. The taste was earthy, so we sweetened it with honey. Soon after, I experienced difficulty reading and extreme dryness in my mouth. Everything seemed to glow and be in a haze. I felt light but also weighted. The next morning my vision and everything returned to normal, but the experience left me with a deep respect for the plant. I didn’t engage with her after the experience, but it did open the door to exploring other entheogenic plants.
Tropane alkaloids are anticholinergic. They act on the muscarine receptors, inhibiting the neurotransmitter acetylcholine from binding to them. They have also been found to act on the nicotinic receptors. The saying “hot as a hare, blind as a bat, dry as a bone, red as a beet, mad as a hatter” describes the symptoms associated with the anticholinergic effects of Brugmansia. Mild symptoms would be dry mouth, urinary retention, and disruption in bowel elimination/constipation. In some cases, elevated body temperature, blurred vision, hallucinations, and respiratory difficulty are also experienced. Long-term use is not recommended.
In astrology and herbalism, poisonous plants are governed by Saturn. When I think of some themes associated with Saturn, boundaries, discipline, and restriction come to mind. All of these themes are taken into consideration when working with plants such as Brugmansia's or in the Solanaceae plant family. If we push our own boundaries with this plant, it can cause harm and even death. Therefore, knowing our limitations, restrictions, and discipline is going to be essential if we choose to explore them.
Contraindications:
In a study, each blossom of Brugmansia contained about 0.65 mg scopolamine and 0.3 mg atropine. Fatalities due to atropine have been reported at 10 mg. Ingestion of 1 mg of atropine produces maximal effects in 1 to 3 hours. The half-life of atropine is about 4 hours. Depending on the person and dosage, effects can be felt for up to 24 - 48 hours.
Physostigmine is used as an antidote for anticholinergic toxicity. They inhibit the actions of scopolamine and atropine. Benzodiazepines and other sedatives have also been prescribed to help calm the individual. Consuming high doses of Brugmansia can be fatal and there have been reports of deaths linked to its use or the compounds derived from it.
