Psychiatria Danubina, Vol. 29 No. 3, 2017.
Short communication, Note
https://doi.org/10.24869/psyd.2017.379
"BUNANJE": XX CENTURY ABUSE OF ATROPA BELLADONNA HALUCINOGENIC BERRIES IN CONTINENTAL CROATIA
Zdravko Lacković
; University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Departments of Pharmacology, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Background: Atropa belladonna (Engl. deadly nightshade, Cro. velebilje, bunika) is a plant containing pharmacologically
active, potentially toxic alkaloids: atropine, hyocyamine and scopolamine. The risk of poisoning in children is important because of
possible confusion of black/dark blue belladonna fruit berries with other edible berries. There are many reports in literature of
accidental intoxication but no report on traditional intentional usage to achieve hallucinogenic effects.
Subjects and methods: Here we report purposeful ingestion of Atropa belladonna berries for hallucinatory effects among
adolescents in Bjelovar region in north part of Croatia. This has been happening among children/adolescents while they were
grazing animals. We visited a dozen villages in the region and spoke to the oldest mostly to the elderly residents.
Results: The existence of such abuse of Atropa belladonna berries in the first part of XX century was confirmed by eight narrators
from five distinct places in the region. Interestingly this type of behavior had a specific name "bunanje", unknown in Croatian
language, but clearly associated with local plant name bun or bunika. According to informants consumers of berries would develop
delirium or hallucinations associated behavior, incoherent and meaningless speech. However nobody remembers any severe case of
poisoning. At the regional hospital in Bjelovar in the Pediatric department, there is no record of poisoning with Atropa belladonna.
To our knowledge this is the first report of intentional consumption of belladonna berries to achieve the hallucinogenic effect.
Conclusions: The fact that the custom was observed in five distinct spots and it had its specific name "bunanje" suggest that
those are not isolated random events but the type of practices; seasonal abuse of hallucinogenic berries of Atropa belladonna,
among rural adolescents in the first part of XX century.
Keywords
Atropa belladonna; substance abuse; hallucinogen; ethnopharmacology
Hrčak ID:
187302
URI
Publication date:
26.9.2017.
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