Henbane Seed

Henbane Seed original: Langdangzi (莨菪子); botanical name: Hyoscyamus niger. In historical contexts, it was also referred to as "Stinking Nightshade" due to its potent odor.

Henbane Seed is a plant of significant medicinal and historical weight. According to traditional records, it is often found growing in coastal regions. The seeds are typically harvested during the fifth lunar month.

Though the primary text for this entry is brief in this edition, Henbane was known in ancient pharmacopeias for its "sweet and bitter" flavor and its "cold" and highly toxic nature. In the Ming dynasty, it was used with extreme caution as a sedative and to treat coughs or persistent pain, often requiring specific processing to mitigate its poisonous effects.

The illustration accompanying this entry highlights the plant's rugged nature, often depicted alongside rocks to suggest its hardy growth habits. The serrated edges of the leaves are a key identifying feature used by herbalists of the period to distinguish it from other nightshades.