WILD DAGGA (LEONOTIS LEONURUS)
WILD
DAGGA
LEONOTIS LEONURUS
HIPNOTIC,
SEDATIVE,
HALLUCINOGEN,
STIMULANT.
COMMON NAMES : Dacha, Daggha, Lion’s Tail, Wild Hemp.
Leonotis
leonurus or wild dagga (Lion’s Tail), is a member of the mint family, is a
perennial shrub native to southern Africa. The flowers are a red-orange color,
grow in spikes, and are a favorite of many gardeners because of their beauty.
The spikes become clustered inflorescences of interrupted flowers with five
two-lipped petals, all joined. Wild dagga’s leaves are opposite, simple, and
petiolate (leafstalk), narrowly oblong and linear, and taper at the base.
Mildly fragrant, the leaves are densely hairy and grow to about 100 millimeters
long and 20 millimeters wide. The shrub itself can grow up to 5 meters high
(plants.usda.gov n.d.).
L. leonurus
favors warm, dry climates and is drought-tolerant, though it may be grown in
almost any temperate environment including shrublands, grasslands, and
swamplands. Wild dagga grows in California, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and has
become naturalized in Western Australia and New South Wales in Australia. While
it can grow in the spring and summer months in temperate climes if well
protected and in full sun, it does not endure frost well and may not survive
winter unless brought indoors. Wild dagga is a favorite of butterflies, bees,
and hummingbirds (Grubber 1991).
Wild dagga
propagates via seeds that, in temperate climates, must be sown indoors before
the last frost or outdoors after the last frost. To collect seeds from the
plant, allow the seedheads to dry before collection. If properly cleaned, the
seeds can be successfully stored. In warmer climates, the shrub can grow in the
wild (Grubber 1991).
The wild
dagga is a robust shrub which grows up to 2-3m tall and 1.5m wide. It is common
and widespread throughout South Africa and grows amongst rocks in grassland.
Stems are velvety
and woody at the base. The leaves are long, narrow, rough above, velvety below,
with serrate edges. The wild dagga flowers profusely in autumn with its
characteristic bright orange flowers carried in compact clusters in whorls
along the flower stalk. Apricot and creamy white flowered forms are also found.
This is an
excellent plant for attracting wildlife to your garden as the flowers profuse
copious nectar which attracts birds, bees and butterflies. The wild dagga is
fast growing and is frost hardy. It should be well watered in summer but does
not require much water in the winter months. It is very easy to grow but will
do best in well drained loamy soils with plenty of compost added. Plants should
be cut right back at the end of winter. Propagate from seed, cuttings or by
dividing up large clumps.
TRADITIONAL USES: Wild dagga is purported to
have mildly hallucinogenic effects when either its buds or leaves are dried and
smoked. Some cultures have been known to smoke it with cannabis or as a
marijuana substitute. As always; we do not advocate this use of the plant
in any particular way, and all information herein is provided for historical
and educational purposes only.
In some internet
reports, there is an urban legend that in Africa, the Hottentot tribe and the
Bushmen are known to smoke the buds and leaves of the wild dagga plant as
inebriants, either alone or mixed with tobacco. Since the Hottentot didn’t have
tobacco, I find this story a bit difficult to believe. L. leonurus is
used for recreational purposes, and the Nama tribespeople chew quids of
powdered leaves to produced psychoactive effects. Similarly, in Mexico where
wild dagga is known as flor de mundo (“flower
of the world”) and mota (a
colloquial name for marijuana), the plant is used as a Cannabis substitute (Schuldes 1995 cited in
Ratsch 1998, 564).
TRADITIONAL PREPARATION: The resin from L. leonurus flowers and
leaves may be rubbed off and smoked alone or with other herbs. Likewise, the
flowers and leaves themselves may be dried and smoked, or steeped as tea. Wild
dagga roots, in addition to the flowers and leaves, may be used to create an
extract for medicinal purposes. The Hottentots of South Africa prepare the
plant for use as a Cannabis or tobacco substitute by picking
shoots and flower buds, drying them, and smoking them or scraping the resin
from the leaves and smoking it with tobacco (Ratsch 1998, 564).
MEDICINAL USES: In South Africa, the leaves and roots of
L. leonurus are used as a remedy for snake bite and to alleviate the pain of
other bites and stings. The decoction of dried leaf or root is used as an
external wash to treat itchy skin and eczema. Internally, the tea of the dried
leaves is taken to treat headache, bronchitis, high blood pressure and the
common cold. Leaf infusions have been used to treat asthma and viral hepatitis.
The extract of
wild dagga has antispasmodic effects, and is an antiacetylcholine and antihistamine.
Wild dagga can be used to treat irregular or painful menstruation and to
improve circulation. In one experimental study, which was undertaken to
investigate the anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic
properties of the leaf extract, it was found that the plant possesses
properties that help manage or control pain, arthritis, and other inflammatory
conditions, as well as adult-onset type-2 diabetes mellitus. This study gives
pharmacological credence to South African folkloric uses of the plant
(University of KwaZulu-Natal 2005).
TRADITIONAL EFFECTS: Wild dagga is reported to have
hallucinogenic or cannabis-like effects, though these effects alone are mild
and the plant is thus mixed with other plants that potentiate the effects such
as B. caapior L. sibiricus (Siberian motherwort). Few chemical
studies have been done on wild dagga, though caution in using the plant as an
inebriant is recommended as it is rumored to be mildly addictive.
The main active
component leonurine has both antioxidant and cardioprotective properties and
has shown to significantly improve myocardial function.
DRUG EFFECTS : History of use in S Africa as a cannabis substitute. The
foliage is commonly made into a medicinal tea, which is favoured for the
hypnotic focus it gives
SHORT TERM EFFECTS : Calming, euphoric marijuana-like experience, higher
appreciation of soft things, relaxing of muscles & cns, reduce fatigue
LONG TERM EFFECTS : Antirheumatic, expectorant, vermifuge, antispasmodic, antihistamine
NEGATIVE / OVERDOSE RISK: Diarrhoea, dizziness, nausea, sweat inducing
DEPENDENCY: For some people can be as addictive as tobacco
WITHDRAWAL : No real withdrawal symptoms
ACTIVE CONSTITUENS : (E)-Beta-Farnesene, (E)-Beta-Ocimene, (Z)-Beta-Farnesene,
(Z)-Beta-Ocimene, 2-Pentyl- Furan, Allo-Ocimene, Alpha-Cadinol, Alpha-Copaene,
Alpha-Cubebene, Alpha-P-Dimethyl-Styrene, Alpha-Pinene, Alpha-Thujene,
Beta-Bourbonene, Beta-Caryophyllene, Beta-Cubebene, Beta-Myrcene, Borneol,
Calamenene, Caryophyllene-Oxide, Delta-Terpineol, Gamma-Muurolene, Leonitin,
Leonurine, Limonene, Linalol, Marrubiin,
P-Cymen-8-Ol, P-Cymene, Premarrubiin,
Quinones, Resin, Sabinene, Saponin, Spathulenol, Tannins.
CONTRAINDICATIONS / INTERACTIONS: Not recommended for use by pregnant women
PSYCHOACTIVE INGREDIENT IN: Smoking Blends: Sence, Spice, Black Magic, Dream Herbal
Incense.
REFERENCES
Argueta
Villamar, Arturo, Leticia M. Cano Asseleih, and Maria Elena Rodarte, eds. 1994.
Atlas de las plantas de la medicina tradicional mexicana. 3 vols. Mexico City:
INI.
Grubber, Hudson.
1991. Growing the hallucinogens. Berkley, Calif.: 20th Century Alchemist.
Antinociceptive,
antiinflammatory and antidiabetic effects of Leonotis leonurus (L.) R. BR.
[Lamiaceae] leaf aqueous extract in mice and rats. Department of Pharmacology,
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa,
27(4): 257-64, 2005.
Plants Profile
for Leonotis leonurus. plants.usda.gov.
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=LELE3
Ratsch,
Christian., The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants: Ethnopharmacology and its
Applications. Rochester: Park Street Press, 1998.
Schuldes, Bert
Marco. 1995. Psychoaktive Pflanzen. 2nd ed. Der Grune Zweig 164. Lohrbach:
Werner Pieper’s MedienXperiment; Solothurn: Nachtschatten Verlag.
Sinead O’Mahony Carey
; Psychoactives Substances.
Leave a Comment