Externally it has been used for neuralgia and dental and rheumatic pain. It was added to laxatives to prevent griping, and to antiasthma and herbal cigarettes. Its sedative and antispasmodic effect makes it a valuable treatment for the symptoms of Parkinson s disease, relieving tremor and rigidity during the early stages of the illness. Henbane also has been used to treat asthma and bronchitis, usually as a burning powder or in the form of a cigarette. Applied externally as an oil, it can relieve painful conditions such as neuralgia, sciatica, and rheumatism.
Henbane reduces mucus secretions, as well as saliva and other digestive juices.
One of henbane s active components, hyoscine, is sometimes used as a substitute for opium. Hyoscine is commonly used as a preoperative anesthetic and in motion sickness formulations. It stops perspiration, is antispasmodic to the smooth muscle of the gastrointenstinal tract, gastric ulcer, colitis and irritable bladder syndrome. For use by qualified practitioners only. One of the traditional herbs of historic, medieval witchcraft.