From: x91007@phillip.edu.au
Newsgroups: alt.drugs,alt.pagan
Subject: witchcraft & drugs
Date: 1 Sep 92 05:32:50 GMT
Organization: RMIT (Bundoora Campus)

I am looking for references on the role hallucinogenic drugs 
played in Medieval witchcraft. One of my and long-term aims 
is to draw out the differences and similarities in the states 
engendered by the drugs used by Medieval witches and those 
used by shamans in Latin America and Asia. Hopefully 
eventually to develop a comparative phenomenology of these 
states.

The only major reference I have been able to track down that 
deals directly with this issue is:

Harner, M. J. (1973) 'The Role of Hallucinogenic Plants in 
European Witchcraft' in Chapter 8 of 'Hallucinogens and 
Shamanism'. Harner, M. J. (Ed.) New York: Oxford University 
Press.

Below I have provided a brief summary/condensation of the 
article as I understand it. If you can see any glaring errors or 
omissions please let me know. The article has an excellent 
bibliography - and if people are interested I can provide 
references for most of what Harner argues - I have omitted 
most of them simply to save space.

Four plants belonging to the order Solanaceae were used in 
ointments to produce the illusion of flying and communion at 
the sabbat. The plants in question were: Deadly Nightshade or 
Belladonna (Atropa belladonna); Henbane (Hyoscyamus): 
Mandrake (Mandragora); and Thorn Apple (Datura). All these 
plants contain the hallucinogen atropine and other closely 
related tropine alkaloids hyoscyamine and scopolamine.

Unlike most hallucinogens these drugs are extremely 
dangerous, and injudious use can result in death. Physical side-
effects include: dryness of the throat and mouth; difficulty in 
swallowing; great thirst; impaired vision; and staggering gait. 
In addition large doses can produce memory loss and 
disorientation. 

An interesting property of atropine is that is readily absorbed 
through intact skin. Indeed due to its extreme toxicity this may 
be the preferred method of application. 

Harner quotes from several sources that suggest at least some 
people believed that witches accounts of flying to the sabbat 
were no more than delusional tales engendered by the use of 
various ointments. 

To give one example Spina in 'Qvaesto de Strigibvs' (1523; 
Venice) gives the following account:

"First, indeed, there should be adduced the thing that 
happened to the illustrious Prince N., within the lifetime of 
those who are now alive. A certain witch, who said that she 
had often been carried on the journey, was being held in the 
prison of some cleric Inquisitor. The Prince, hearing of this, 
desired to find out whether these claims were true or dreams. 
He summoned the Inquisitor D., and finally prevailed on him 
to let the woman be brought forth and anoint herself with her 
usual ointment in their presence and in the presence of a 
multitude of nobles. When the Inquisitor had given his 
consent (even if in error), the witch asserted in their presence 
that, if she might anoint herself as before, she would go and be 
carried off by the Devil. Having anointed herself several times, 
however, she remained motionless; neither did anything 
extraordinary manage to happen to her. And many noble 
eyewitness of this event survive to this very day. From this fact 
it is obviously false that witches are carried on the ride as part 
of their pact; it rather that they think that they are so carried, it 
happens to be a delusion of the Devil."



1. I am looking for references telling the experiences of the 
users of these ointments. What are the common themes of 
these states?

2. Does anybody have recipes for these ointments? It would be 
interesting to see whether combinations of drugs were taken 
for their synergistic effects.

3. The many accounts listed by Harner present the witches as 
delusional because their physical bodies obviously never went 
to the sabbat. Was it a commonly accepted fact by witches 
believing that something akin to astral projection occurred 
instead?

4. Are their any recent accounts of the use of atropine 
containing ointments? Harner mentions the occultist Karl 
Kiesewetter made a flying ointment around the turn of the 
century and upon which application gave him the experience 
of flying in spirals.

5. Were any other types of hallucinogenic drugs used by 
Medieval witches, e.g. Nutmeg, Amanita Muscaria etc.?

Many thanks,

			Patrick Wilken
			x91007@phillip.edu.au
Newsgroups: alt.drugs,alt.society.civil-liberty,talk.politics.drugs