Red belladonna that is still on the bush with a flower
Belladonna
[Atropa belladonna]

Belladonna: For sudden onset of symptoms

Belladonna has a long history as an outstanding cultivated plant. Already in ancient Rome it was extremely popular. In this era it also got its name, because Belladonna= Beautiful Woman was an epithet given to it, because the beautiful women of the Roman upper class put belladonna in their eyes before going to parties. For one thing, belladonna makes large pupils, which was considered beautiful, and for another, it ensured that the beautiful woman did not see who she was partying with. The rich and powerful thus ensured that they could not be blackmailed. In ophthalmology, Belladonna is used to this day during ocular fundus examinations to dilate the pupil.

Belladonna facts

Did you know that...

...Belladonna does not intoxicate, but sharpens the senses?
...Belladonna was a magic plant of the Germanic berserkers and a component of the witches' flying ointment?
...Belladonna is most 'non-toxic' just before sunset because the sun weakens the plant?

What is belladonna

Belladonna is a wild perennial native to our region, which has a long history as a poisonous and medicinal plant. It belongs to the nightshade family. Its name is derived from the Greek goddess of fate Atropos and the Roman term Bella Donna = beautiful woman. It usually grows in forest clearings or in the forest, where it has optimal conditions as a half-light plant. Its berries are the size of thumbnails and deep black-purple. It is perennial, forms a taproot up to one meter long and can grow up to 150cm high. The bell-like purple flowers are striking, giving the plant a somber appearance along with the black berries. Its toxin content is classically highest in the morning, just after dark. Small doses here can already be fatal. Towards evening, the toxin content of the plant decreases again.

General and medicinal properties of Atropa belladonna

The basic knowledge

Anti-inflammatory

Belladonna is anti-inflammatory. Belladonna is one of the plants used for highly red, highly acute and rapid inflammatory symptoms. It dampens this inflammation and brings the reaction back down to a normal level.

Nerve regulating

Belladonna is nerve regulating. Belladonna has a great effect in the central nervous system. It regulates the central nervous system and helps with great nervous overstimulation that has been going on for a long time. The nervous system shuts down, the tension disappears and the pressure leaves the system.

Pain-reducing

Belladonna is pain-reducing. A highly overstimulated nervous system usually also means a higher sensitivity to pain. Because belladonna regulates the nervous system, the sensitivity to pain also decreases, so that pain is no longer perceived with such intensity.

Antispasmodic

Belladonna is antispasmodic. It calms the central nervous system, regulates it into the norm and thus also has an antispasmodic effect, as the spasms and tension are triggered by the overstimulated nervous system.

Atropa belladonna: Ingredients

Belladonna is a plant that has a strong effect on the central nervous system. The reason is a mixture of various alkaloids, which is common to the nightshade plants.

You can find the following ingredients in the medicinal plant belladonna:

  • L-Hyoscyamine
  • Atropine
  • Scopolamine

Belladonna: effect for body and mind

Belladonna is one of the most important medicinal plants we have. Its toxin effect is characteristic and is accompanied by enormously enlarged pupils. The reason is that belladonna with its alkaloids has a direct stimulating effect in the central nervous system. The entire organism is stimulated without the hallucinogenic, psychotic potential of the nightshade plant coming to the fore, as would be the case, for example, with the related henbane. That is, the muscles become tense, the pupil dilated, pulse and blood pressure increased, and any perception heightened. In the worst case of poisoning everything beyond the measure with fatal consequences. Therapeutically used dilutions are now used exactly for the symptoms described above, which are often stress-related. Here a paradoxical effect is used. Only in ophthalmology is the alkaloid effect directly used to dilate the pupils.

Atropa Belladonna properties

  • Regulating
  • nerve stabilizing
  • decongestant
  • antihypertensive
  • antiperspirant
  • anti-inflammatory

Fields of application in naturopathy

[Atropa belladonna]
Belladonna has a wide range of applications due to its central action.

Belladonna for flu-like infections

Flu infections are often accompanied by rapidly rising fever, heavy sweating and great heat. All these symptoms can be treated well with belladonna, because it intervenes centrally regulative and normalizes these overstimulated states of the body again.

Belladonna for tonsillitis

Tonsillitis makes swallowing difficult because the palatine tonsils are usually swollen to a bright red in the acute stage and constrict the palate. Belladonna is anti-inflammatory, makes the tonsil lose its redness and makes it swell. This clears the palate and makes swallowing easier.

Atropa Belladonna for abdominal pain

Many abdominal pains have no identifiable cause and are simply due to cramping muscles of the abdominal organs. The intestines, stomach or gall bladder may be affected. Belladonna has a regulating effect on the nerves in the central nervous system and thus stops the cramping, since the nerves no longer cause the muscles to contract. The cramps are gone and well-being is restored.

Atropa belladonna for fever

In the case of fever, the body's temperature is deliberately raised because the immune defense works better at a higher temperature. However, there is also a limit that should not be exceeded. Since Belladonna is anti-inflammatory and is used especially for high red, hot inflammations, it is the remedy of choice to combat high fevers.

Belladonna for sunstroke

In sunstroke, radiation from the sun causes overheating and overstimulation of the meninges and central nervous system. These areas become easily inflamed and increase their activity. Belladonna is the remedy for hot overstimulation, dulls the CNS back down and addresses the inflammatory irritation. The headache goes away and the nausea subsides.

Belladonna for joint pain

There are joint inflammations that run so highly acute that the joint really glows red. For example, an acute attack of gout is such a joint inflammation. Since Belladonna is highly anti-inflammatory, it is the appropriate remedy here, and to take the heat out of the joint and cool it back to normal. It also provides analgesia, which relieves the patient.

Notes on the use of belladonna

Belladonna is used today in ophthalmology as eye drops for ocular fundus examinations. In naturopathy, only spagyric preparations or homeopathic dilutions are used. The homeopathic dilutions require a prescription up to D3 and are only available in pharmacies up to D4. An application should always be discussed with a doctor, pharmacist or alternative practitioner. It is often a component of complex remedies in higher dilutions.

Belladonna during pregnancy & lactation

Belladonna should be taken in lower potencies during pregnancy and lactation only after consultation with the attending practitioner. Higher potencies and spagyric preparations are usually no problem.

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Profile

Belladonna branch, bud, and flower

Name

Belladonna

Botanical name

Atropa belladonna

Plant family

Solanaceae

Other designations

Forest night shade, devil cherry

Flowering

June till August

Harvest time

September

Location

semi-shady to sunny

Origin

domestic

Flower color

purple

Flower shape

bell-shaped

Leaf color

green-grey

Leaf shape

ovate to lanceolate

Sheet properties

hairy

Soil type

loamy

Soil moisture

moderately dry to moderately moist

ph-value

weakly alkaline to neutral

Lime compatibility

lime-loving

Nutrient requirements

nutrient-rich

Toxicity

Highly toxic

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