hyoscyamus

[ hahy-uh-sahy-uh-muh s ]

/ ˌhaɪ əˈsaɪ ə məs /

the dried leaves, with or without the tops, of the henbane, Hyoscyamus niger, containing the alkaloids hyoscyamine and scopolamine, used in medicine.

Origin of hyoscyamus

1700–10; < New Latin < Greek hyoskýamos, equivalent to hyós (genitive of hŷs hog) + kýamos bean

hyoid arch, hyoid bone, hyolithid, hyoscine, hyoscyamine, hyoscyamus, hyp, hyp-, hyp., hypabyssal, hypacusis

Both belladonna and hyoscyamus contain variable amounts of similar alkaloids, chiefly hyoscyamin.

The Propaganda for Reform in Proprietary Medicines, Vol. 2 of 2 |Various
Hyoscyamus, belladonna, and cannabis indica are useful when the pupils are contracted and when spasmodic symptoms are present.

Insomnia; and Other Disorders of Sleep |Henry M. Lyman
The extract of belladonna is considerably stronger than the extract of hyoscyamus.

Insomnia; and Other Disorders of Sleep |Henry M. Lyman
In the various forms of insanity the tranquilizing influence of hyoscyamus is highly esteemed.

Insomnia; and Other Disorders of Sleep |Henry M. Lyman

He prepared a boiled oil of hyoscyamus, or henbane, in the usual way, with common oil.

The Book of Curiosities |I. Platts

hyoscyamus

/ (ˌhaɪəˈsaɪəməs) /

any plant of the solanaceous genus Hyoscyamus, of Europe, Asia, and N Africa, including henbane

C18: from New Latin, from Greek huoskuamos, from hus pig + kuamos bean; the plant was thought to be poisonous to pigs