Raffaela Weyman, a pop singer-songwriter, and her best friend had an unexpected encounter with a poisonous flower that left them feeling unwell and experiencing vivid nightmares. The incident occurred when they stumbled upon a beautiful yellow flower on the street and decided to carry it with them to a birthday party. The flower’s fragrance, which smelled like a combination of lilies and honeysuckle, captivated them, and they spent the evening deeply inhaling its scent.
Unbeknownst to them, the flower was an “Angel’s Trumpet,” a plant known for its lovely appearance and potent aroma. However, every part of the plant is poisonous due to the presence of scopolamine, a chemical that can cause incapacitating effects. After arriving at the party, Weyman and her friend began feeling sickly and had to leave. The night took a strange turn when Weyman experienced her first sleep paralysis dream and had crazy nightmares.
The effects of scopolamine can be severe, causing dry mouth, constricted pupils, and hallucinations. It’s no wonder that experts describe it as “horrible stuff.” Weyman’s experience serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unknown plants and the importance of being aware of their potential toxicity. Despite its attractive appearance and fragrance, the Angel’s Trumpet flower is best admired from a distance [1].
