Fructus seu Semen Daturae Metelis
Aliases：Zuì Pú Táo (Drunken Grape); Tiān Qié Zi (Heavenly Eggplant); Hú Qié Zi (Foreign Eggplant); Gǒu Hé Táo (Dog Walnut); Fēng Qié Guǒ (Wind Eggplant Fruit); Lè Xiān Táo (Thorny Immortal Peach); Yáng Dà Má Zǐ (Foreign Hemp Seed); Shān Dà Má Zǐ (Mountain Hemp Seed); Fú Qié Zi (Prostrate Eggplant); Zuì Xiān Táo (Drunken Immortal Peach), among others.
Màn Tuó Luó Zǐ (Datura Seed) is a Chinese medicinal substance. It is the fruit or seed of Datura metel L. and Datura innoxia Mill., plants of the Solanaceae family. Datura seed is a potent and drastic medicinal substance with high toxicity. Due to its severe toxicity, it must be used with extreme caution under the guidance of a qualified physician. Self-medication is strictly prohibited.
Efficacy & Actions
Relieves wheezing, dispels wind, and relieves pain.
Indications
Respiratory System: Cough with wheezing, asthma. Nervous System: Convulsions (epilepsy). Rheumatic Arthralgia: Wind-cold-dampness bi syndrome, joint swelling and pain. Surgery and Injuries: Rectal prolapse, traumatic injuries, boils and furuncles.
Modern Pharmacology
Effects on the respiratory system: The main components, scopolamine and atropine, can stimulate the respiratory center, but overdose can lead to respiratory depression. Anesthetic and analgesic effects: Its alkaloids can produce sedative and anesthetic effects by inhibiting the central nervous system. In ancient times, it was often used to stop bleeding or relieve pain from external injuries. Mydriatic effect: Its infusion has mydriatic (pupil-dilating) and paralytic effects. Other effects: It also exhibits antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, among others.
Ingredients
Seeds of Datura metel L. (White Datura): Contain total alkaloids ranging from 0.17% to 0.455%, primarily hyoscyamine, scopolamine, and trace amounts of atropine. Seeds of Datura innoxia Mill. (Hairy Datura): Contain total alkaloids ranging from 0.19% to 0.46%, primarily hyoscyamine and scopolamine. In addition, the seeds also contain various sterols, fatty acids (such as oleic acid and linoleic acid), and other components.
Usage & Dosage
Oral Administration: Decoction, 0.15–0.3g; or steeped in wine. Topical Application: Appropriate amount, decocted in water for washing, or steeped in wine for external application.
Contraindications
Highly toxic; overdose is strictly prohibited: The entire plant of Datura stramonium is toxic, with the seeds being the most toxic part. Consumption of as few as 3 seeds can cause poisoning. Contraindicated in patients with weak constitution or without blood stasis accumulation: The Sichuan Chinese Materia Medica explicitly records that “it is contraindicated in those without stasis accumulation or with weak constitution.” Contraindicated during pregnancy.
Selected Formulas
For rectal prolapse (Ru Men Shi Qin) Take one pair of Datura seeds (with shells) and 16 acorn cups. Crush together, decoct in water briefly, add Mangxiao (Glauber's salt), and wash the affected area while warm; the prolapse will retract. For rheumatic pain (Shanghai Common Chinese Herbal Medicine) Take 2 Datura fruits (Zuixiantao), soak in 500ml of sorghum liquor for 10 days. Drink 1-2 times daily, no more than 10ml each time. For traumatic injuries (Folk Common Herbal Medicine Compilation) Take 3g of Datura seeds, soak in 180ml of wine. Take 10ml each time. For abdominal pain and diarrhea (Hunan Materia Medica) Soak Datura seeds in wine, take an appropriate amount orally as needed. For boils (Fujian Materia Medica) Burn white-flowered Datura fruits to ash, mix with tea oil, and apply to the affected area.
Daily Consumption
Datura stramonium seeds (Mantuoluozi) are highly toxic and are by no means a daily dietary substance. Their use must be conducted under the guidance of a qualified physician, with strict adherence to an extremely small dosage. Any form of self-medication, including steeping them in wine, carries an extremely high risk of fatality. Symptoms of poisoning include dry mouth, skin flushing, dizziness, dilated pupils, rapid heartbeat, agitation, and convulsions. In severe cases, it can lead to respiratory arrest and death.
Medicinal Parts
Fruit or seed.
Selection & Storage
Protect from moisture, insects, mold, light, and high temperatures.
