Henbane: The Dark Plant Behind Witches & Warriors

Step into the mysterious world of henbane, the dark plant entwined with witches, warriors, and ancient rituals. In this captivating episode of "The History of Plants," I explore henbane's shadowy past—from its role in Viking berserker rage to its eerie presence in witchcraft and medieval poisonings. Discover how this "stinky nightshade" has influenced history, mythology, and even modern medicine. What secrets lie in its powerful chemistry, and how did it blur the lines between healing and harm, reality and hallucination? 

Join me as I uncover the untamed power of henbane and its haunting legacy. If you’re into tales of ancient plants, folklore, and the strange ways nature and humanity intertwine, this episode is for you! 

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

00:54 - Henbane Origins and History

04:05 - The Chemistry Behind Henbane's Power

7:09 - Henbane: Catalyst for Berserker Rage

10:51 - Henbane in Flying Ointments

12:45 - Henbane and Witch Trials

13:46 - Henbane in Literature and Culture

Sources: 

https://poisonousplants.cvmbs.colostate.edu/plant/6

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4224707/

https://academic.oup.com/fqs/article/doi/10.1093/fqsafe/fyad043/7313441?login=false

https://www.summitcountyutah.gov/1238/12136/Black-Henbane

https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/816657-overview?form=fpf

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557825/

https://sites.evergreen.edu/plantchemeco/henbane-medicine-andor-magic/

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/evidence-of-the-intentional-use-of-black-henbane-hyoscyamus-niger-in-the-roman-netherlands/A06E000B17E1642C878E469157D5131C 

https://en.natmus.dk/historical-knowledge/denmark/prehistoric-period-until-1050-ad/the-viking-age/religion-magic-death-and-rituals/a-seeress-from-fyrkat/ 

https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/ethnobotany/Mind_and_Spirit/henbane.shtml 

https://www.jstor.org/stable/4251861 

https://brewery.org/library/ReinHeit.html 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280210350_POISONS_POISONING_AND_THE_DRUG_TRADE_IN_ANCIENT_ROME 

https://sites.usc.edu/mousavi/research/neural-probes-for-acetylcholine/

https://archive.org/details/SnorreSturlesons000366019v0SnorReyk/page/n9/mode/2up 

https://www.wvnstv.com/digital-exclusives/five-of-the-best-superpowers-to-have/

https://www.thetoptens.com/list/most-wanted-superpowers/

https://www.comicbookherald.com/superpowers-reviewed-01-flight/

https://www.thisamericanlife.org/178/superpowers

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Horns_of_Gallehus 

https://archive.org/details/hin-wel-all-00002756-001/page/n193/mode/2up 

https://www.monstrous.com/flying-ointment/

https://doctorlib.org/herbal/encyclopedia-psychoactive-plants-ethnopharmacology/164.html 

https://www.alchemy-works.com/hyoscyamus_niger.html#gsc.tab=0 

https://www.nesl.edu/blog/detail/a-true-legal-horror-story-the-laws-leading-to-the-salem-witch-trials 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawley_Harvey_Crippen 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98425713q4o 

https://www.montana.edu/extension/invasiveplants/documents/publications/extension_publications/black_henbane.pdf 

Karsten’s work: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31404578/