- Region
- Oceania
- Origin
- Central and Western Australia
Oceania · Herb · № 841
Duboisia hopwoodii
Herb · Oceania
Pituri
Duboisia hopwoodii
A shrub containing nicotine and related compounds; the dried leaves were chewed as a stimulant.
Safety notes
Contains nicotine and is poisonous. Do not use.
Cautions by tradition (1)
- Healing traditions of Oceania: Contains nicotine and related alkaloids; poisonous.
Preparation
Dried leaves were mixed with the ash of certain plants, which releases more nicotine, and rolled into a quid kept behind the lip or the ear.
Use in traditions
Pituri was chewed by Aboriginal peoples in Central Australia as a stimulant and narcotic, to suppress hunger and thirst on long journeys and during ceremonies. Pituri from the Mulligan River area in south-western Queensland was especially prized and was traded along trade routes over hundreds of kilometres for spearheads, ochre and other goods. The word pituri is also used for quids of wild tobacco (Nicotiana).
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Healing traditions of Oceania
Attributed effects
Chewed as a stimulant and narcotic to suppress hunger and thirst on long journeys and in ceremonies; an important trade good.
Preparation and amount
Do not prepare or use it yourself.
Caution: Contains nicotine and related alkaloids; poisonous.