Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs - Scott Cunningham 1985

Datura
The Herbs

(Datura stramonium, D. metel, D. spp.) Poison Datura is extremely poisonous—do not eat! Sensitive skin may be irritated simply by touching the plant.

Folk Names: Devil’s Apple, Ghost Flower, Jimsonweed, Love-Will, Mad Apple, Madherb, Manicon, Stinkweed, Sorcerer’s Herb, Thornapple, Toloache, Witches’ Thimble, Yerba del Diablo (Spanish: Herb of the Devil)

Gender: Feminine

Planet: Saturn

Element: Water

Powers: Hex-Breaking, Sleep, Protection

Ritual Uses: Datura has been used in shamanic practices and religious rites for untold centuries. The Aztecs considered the plant to be sacred.

Magical Uses: Datura is used to break spells by sprinkling it around the home. It also protects against evil spirits. If insomnia persists night after night, it may be cured by placing some datura leaves into each shoe and then setting the shoes under the bed with the toes pointing toward the nearest wall.

A few datura leaves placed on the crown of a hat protects the wearer from apoplexy as well as sunstroke.