Triptone - Witchcraft and Sorcery

Witchcraft and Sorcery

Scopolamine was one of the active principles in many of the "flying ointments" used by witches, sorcerers, and fellow travellers of many countries and cultures from millennia ago, ostensibly to the late 19th century or even to the present day. Scopolamine and related tropanes contributed both to the flying sensations and hallucinations sought by users of these compounds. Potions, solids of various types, and other forms were also used in some cases.

These ointments could contain any number of ingredients with belladonna, henbane, and other plants of the belladonna and datura families being present almost invariably; they were applied to large areas of the skin with the objective being to see the gods or spirits, and/or be transported to the Sabbat.

The hallucinations, sensation of flying, often a rapid increase in libido, and other characteristic effects of this practice are largely attributable to the CNS and peripheral effects of scopolamine and other active drugs present in the ointments, such as atropine, hyoscyamine, mandragorine, scopoline, solanine, optical isomers of scopolamine, and other tropane alkaloids.

The inclusion of belladonna- and datura-type plants amongst the dozens of ingredients in the Haitian zombie drug is thought by some authorities to be at least somewhat likely, although scopolamine-bearing plant matter is almost certainly not the main active ingredient, which has been theorised to possibly be tetrodotoxin or a related substance.