Belladonna belladonna - perennial herbaceous plant up to two meters high, belongs to the Solanaceae family. It is called differently - belladonna, crazy cherry. This poisonous plant successfully used in conservative and folk medicine, helps get rid of many diseases.

Belladonna. Photo and description

Belladonna has a thick rhizome, shaped like a cylinder, and a long main root with shoots extending from it. The straight green or purple stem branches at the top. The dark green leaves of belladonna are ovoid in shape and have sharp edges. The lower leaves are larger than the upper ones, which are arranged in pairs.

Belladonna has large single flowers (2-3 cm) of a brown-violet or dirty purple hue. The fruit is a slightly flattened black berry, the size and shape of which resembles a cherry with a sweet and sour taste. Inside the berries there is dark purple juice. You can see what the plant looks like in the photo.

Belladonna seeds are about two millimeters in length, round in shape with a pitted surface, and black in color. The plant is included in the Red Book and is highly poisonous. For a child, two or three berries are enough, for an adult - fifteen to twenty for severe poisoning. Belladonna juice is also dangerous. Do not touch the mucous membranes of the mouth, eyes, or facial skin with contaminated hands.

Legend

The name Belladonna translated from Italian into Russian means “beautiful woman”. In ancient times, the beauties of Italy put belladonna juice in their eyes. This contributed to the dilation of the pupils, the eyes became shiny. The juice of the berries was rubbed onto the cheeks to give them a natural blush. has another name - “rabies”, since atropine, which is part of it, causes severe agitation and even rabies.

The plant received its generic name (Atropa) from the Greek goddess of death. Of the three goddesses of fate (parks), she was the eldest. According to legend, a parka named Clotho had a spindle and a thread of fate in her hands, Lachesis drew a person’s future on a ball, and Atropos cut the thread of life using scissors. Atropa was depicted with cypress branches in her hair. The terrifying name of belladonna indicates its strong toxicity.

The black berry was used by witches to reduce pain during burning at the stake. A condemned witch who was being led to execution was quietly given a little belladonna. By swallowing the potion, the witch made it easier for herself to transition to other worlds. Belladonna was also used to reduce pain during childbirth.

Spreading

Single specimens or small thickets can be found in forest clearings, road edges, and river banks. It grows wild in the Crimean and Carpathian mountains, the Caucasus, and the Krasnodar region. Also grows in Europe, Central and Asia Minor, Afghanistan, Pakistan, USA, South America.

The common belladonna is one of the endangered species of our flora. Intensive, irrational procurement of medicinal raw materials has led to a reduction in the range of this plant. In some places, a plant called belladonna has completely disappeared, a photo of which can be seen below.

Flowering time

It blooms in the first year of the growing season in August, in subsequent years flowering begins in May and continues until the end of the growing season. Fruit ripening occurs from July to September.

When to collect

Grass and leaves are collected from June to July. At the beginning of autumn or in early spring roots are dug up. This occurs in the second year of the growing season.

Blank

The leaves of the plant must be collected by hand. First, those from below are cut off; after two or three weeks, the leaves that grow on the branches are cut off. They are collected several times throughout the summer. After this, the plant needs to be mowed and the top foliage torn off.

The mown grass is cut into pieces 4 centimeters long. The raw materials, spread out in a thin layer, are dried under a canopy. In autumn, special dryers are used. As for harvesting the roots, they need to be shaken off the ground, washed, cut into pieces of 10-20 centimeters, dried in a dryer, then dried at a temperature of 40 degrees. Raw materials are stored for no more than two years.

When preparing belladonna, you need to take care to protect your hands and face. After work they are washed well with water.

Chemical composition

The roots and above-ground parts of the plant contain hyoscyamine. after processing it is converted into atropine, thanks to which the plant is effectively used in treatment various diseases. In addition, the plant contains minerals, wax, mucus, organic acids, protein, fats, as well as other poisonous alkaloids, such as scopolamine, hyoscyamine, apoatropine, hyoscine, belladonine, etc. Cuscigrin was found in the root.

Useful properties and scope of application

The alkaloids hyoscyamine (atropine) and scopolamine in the plant have a central and peripheral M-anticholinergic effect, as a result of which the tone of the muscles of the internal organs decreases, the secretion of the glands decreases, and the central nervous system is excited.

Preparations based on the plant help to enhance mental and physical activity, increase endurance and performance. They relieve increased irritability, insomnia, are used in the treatment of neurodermatitis, vegetative dystonia,

Belladonna also has an effect on the digestive system - it suppresses the motor function of the gastrointestinal tract, relieves spasms, reduces the secretion of the salivary and gastric glands, the pancreas. Belladonna extract is included in stomach tablets as an antispasmodic, anticholinergic, analgesic, and antiseptic agent.

Belladonna is used in ophthalmology, in particular in diagnosing eye diseases, due to the ability of the respiratory system, when taking drugs based on this plant, the respiratory center is excited, breathing is stimulated, and the bronchi dilate. Taking medications in which belladonna is the main active ingredient improves cardiac conduction and increases heart rate.

Black berry is a raw material for the manufacture of local preparations that are used to treat hemorrhoids and anal fissures. Suppositories containing belladonna help to quickly reduce pain, relieve inflammation and swelling. The instructions say that to alleviate the condition, you first need to give a cleansing enema, then insert a suppository into the anus. The procedure is repeated 1-3 times a day for a week.

Belladonna is also used in gynecology in the form of suppositories. They are used before childbirth to relax the uterus and reduce the risk of prolonged labor. Starting from the 35th week, you can put one candle before bed (or one or two before giving birth). Self-medication in this case is unacceptable.

Homeopathic preparations are prepared from fruits, seeds, root extract and aerial parts. They are used in the treatment of spasms of blood vessels and muscles, mastitis, erysipelas, scarlet fever, sore throat, headaches, neuritis, convulsions, otitis media, conjunctivitis, gynecological diseases, nephritis, epilepsy, urinary tract diseases, ARVI, laryngitis, dysentery.

Belladonna in folk medicine

Traditional medicine uses belladonna to treat impotence, paralysis, arthritis, radiculitis, bronchial asthma, pulmonary tuberculosis, rabies, gastrointestinal diseases, intestinal, hepatic and renal colic, epilepsy, neuroses, migraines, depression, rheumatism, some sexually transmitted diseases, urinary and cholelithiasis illness, skin diseases, mental illnesses, obesity, constipation, whooping cough, scarlet fever and even, according to healers, breast cancer.

Powder

Anti-asthma preparations and preparations are prepared from belladonna leaf powder and are used to treat bronchial asthma and bronchitis. A teaspoon of powder is burned and the smoke is inhaled.

Belladonna infusion

An infusion of the plant is taken for spasmophilia, paralysis, depression, epilepsy, neuralgia, convulsions, tuberculosis, and rabies. African trypanosomiasis is treated with root extract.

Alcohol tincture

To obtain a tincture, you need to infuse the leaves of the plant in 40% alcohol. Take 10 parts of alcohol per part of the herb. Use 5-10 drops. The product relieves diarrhea, colic, and insomnia. Belladonna tincture is used externally for breast tumors and infiltrates. Dysentery is treated with tincture of the fruit.

Decoction

In folk medicine, a decoction of the roots of a plant such as belladonna is also used. The use of the medicine helps relieve pain in diseases such as gout, rheumatism, and neuralgia. To prepare it, you need to place five grams of herb in glassware, pour white table wine (100 ml), add 0.1 g activated carbon. The mixture needs to be boiled for about 10 minutes, then left for two hours, strained. The resulting product should be stored in a cool, dark place for no more than 15 days. Use 1 tsp, gradually increasing the dosage to 2 tbsp. l.

Rubbing for arthrosis

Joint pain caused by arthrosis and degenerative changes is treated with a decoction of the plant. To prepare the product, you need to take ground belladonna roots (1 tsp) and pour 200 ml of boiling water. The medicine is boiled over low heat for half an hour, cooled, and filtered. Sore joints are rubbed twice a day for two weeks.

Belladonna powder for bronchial asthma

Dried belladonna leaves are ground into powder, which is taken three times a day before meals on the tip of a knife. The course of treatment is 7 days.

Insomnia remedy

In this case, vodka tincture is used. The leaves need to be poured with vodka (1:10) and left for 21 days in a dark place. Take 15 drops twice a day. If necessary, the dosage can be increased to 23 drops, but no more.

Applications in other areas

Belladonna is used in veterinary medicine as an analgesic. Belladonna extract is harmful to fleas.

The plant can be used to produce red and blue dye.

Contraindications

Since belladonna (belladonna) is very poisonous, it cannot be used without the prescription of a specialist. When treating with such drugs, strict adherence to dosage and medical supervision is necessary.

Belladonna vulgaris is not used to treat children, pregnant and lactating women. The use of belladonna-based drugs is prohibited for those who have glaucoma, prostate hypertrophy, obstructive diseases of the urinary tract and intestines, coronary heart disease, and tachycardia. Elderly people should be careful when taking this medicine.

Overdose

In case of an overdose of a belladonna-based drug, a person experiences dry mouth, his pupils dilate, his face turns red, a small rash appears on the body, urination is impaired, the heartbeat quickens, headaches, vomiting, and diarrhea occur.

The first symptoms of poisoning appear within 15-20 minutes. At first, excitement arises, the person feels cheerful, fusses, talks a lot, can laugh, dance. The victim's thoughts follow one another. Then hallucinations begin, the person hears voices and sounds. Visual perception is disrupted - colors are indistinguishable, dark objects look bright. Attacks of aggression and rabies are possible. After 8-12 hours, the victim gradually calms down, feels weak and falls asleep.

A large concentration of poison in the blood leads to complete loss of orientation. The victim's temperature rises, the pulse weakens, and convulsions may occur. Large doses of belladonna can lead to loss of consciousness, hallucinations, and possibly death.

First aid

If you suspect poisoning, you must immediately call an ambulance. Before the doctor arrives, you need to do a gastric lavage. The victim should drink several glasses of potassium permanganate solution or weak tea and induce vomiting. Then 20 tablets of activated carbon are ground into powder and poured cold water, mix and drink. If necessary, repeat the procedure after 2 hours.

If a person experiences shortness of breath, it is necessary to give resuscitation measures immediately if the heart and breathing stop. The patient is taken to the hospital even if he feels better.

Belladonna-based preparations should be used with great caution. If the condition worsens, belladonna treatment should be stopped immediately.

Pharmacotherapeutic group. Antispasmodic, M-anticholinergic agent

Description of the plant

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Rice. 10.4. Belladonna

Belladonna leaves-folia belladonnae
Belladonna grass-herba belladonnae
Belladonna roots-radices belladonnae
- atropa belladonna l.
Sem. Solanaceae- solanaceae
Other names:

sleepy stupor,
belladonna,
crazy berry
mad cherry,
beauty.

perennial herbaceous plant up to 2 m high, with a multi-headed rhizome, from which numerous large branched roots extend.
Stem erect, forked, thick, juicy, sometimes with purple tint, densely glandularly pubescent in the upper part.
Leaves dark green, ovoid, entire, pointed at the apex. Lower leaves alternate, short-petioled; upper arranged in pairs, almost opposite, the leaves of each pair are unequal, one of them (facing outward) is 3-4 times larger than the other.
Flowers single or 2, drooping, on short glandularly pubescent pedicels, located in the forks of the stem and at the base of the leaves. The flowers are regular, five-membered, with a double perianth. The corolla is bell-shaped, brown-violet or dirty purple, 20-30 mm long.
Fetus- a juicy shiny purple-black multi-seeded berry, similar to a cherry, with purple juice and a remaining calyx.
Seeds small, flat, cellular (Fig. 10.4).
The berries and the entire plant are poisonous!
Blooms in June - August, bears fruit in July.

Composition of belladonna

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Chemical composition of belladonna

All parts of the plant contain alkaloids derived from tropane

• hyoscyamine and
• scopolamine,

which are esters derived from two amino alcohols tropine and skopin with tropic acid.

Main alkaloid- active levorotatory hyoscyamine , when isolated from plants it becomes an optically inactive racemate atropine .

The roots contain alkaloid radobelin .

Total alkaloid content V

• roots - 0.4%,
• leaves - 0.14-1.2%,
• stems - 0.2-0.65%,
• flowers - 0.24-0.6%,
• ripe fruits - 0.7%.

In addition to alkaloids, the leaves contain

• steroids,
• phenolic acids and their derivatives,
• flavonoids,
• quercetin derivatives,
• kaempferol,
• oxycoumarins,
• aliphatic alcohols.

Properties and uses of belladonna

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Pharmacological properties of belladonna

The pharmacological effects of total belladonna preparations are due primarily to the action of the alkaloids hyoscyamine (atropine) and scopolamine.

Belladonna alkaloids have

• central and
• peripheral action.

Atropine- the main representative of a group of substances of plant origin that have the ability to block M-cholinergic receptors of internal organs and the central nervous system.

Belladonna preparations and atropine

• stimulate the central nervous system,
• activate mental and physical activity,
• increase performance and endurance.

The effect of belladonna on the heart is characteristic. It turns off the influence of the vagus nerve on the heart, which leads to

• increased heart rate and
• improvement of conductivity.

Atropine

• stimulates breathing
• stimulates the respiratory center
• has a bronchodilator effect,
• reduces the secretion of the glandular apparatus of the entire respiratory system.
• Atropine inhibits the motor activity of the gastrointestinal tract and the secretion of almost all glands:
  • salivary,
  • gastrointestinal,
  • pancreas;
• has an antispasmodic effect.
• Atropine dilates the pupil, causes mydriasis and paralysis of accommodation;
• tends to increase intraocular pressure.

Application of belladonna

Belladonna leaves are included in anti-asthma collection and are used to prepare a tincture, which is part of a number of complex preparations.

From leaves and grass obtain dry and thick extracts, which are part of a large number of combined medicines.

Belladonna roots are raw materials for the production of alkaloids included in complex preparations.

Atropine and other belladonna preparations apply

• for peptic ulcers of the stomach and duodenum,
• pyloric spasms,
• chronic hyperacid gastritis,
• for chronic colitis with pain syndrome,
• for spastic constipation,
• cholecystitis,
• cholangitis and biliary dyskinesias accompanying cholelithiasis,
• renal colic as an antispasmodic, analgesic.

The central M-anticholinergic effect of atropine is used in psychiatry,

• where very large doses of atropine are used, causing comatose states (the so-called atropine-comatose therapy).
• It is used in resistant cases of schizophrenia,
• manic-depressive psychosis.

Atropine is used in anesthesiology

• for warning side effects muscle relaxants and narcotic drugs (nausea, vomiting, breathing problems),
• to reduce the secretory function of the salivary and bronchial glands.

In ophthalmic practice, atropine is used for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. An overdose of atropine may cause toxic effects due to stimulation of the central nervous system.

Spreading

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Spreading. It has a disjunctive range, consisting of several fragments located in Western Ukraine, Crimea and the Caucasus. It grows in mountainous areas inaccessible for harvesting at an altitude of 200 to 1700 m above sea level. Procurement of raw materials from wild thickets is currently not carried out. Belladonna was introduced into culture in the Krasnodar region (Russia) and in Crimea (Ukraine).

Habitat. On loose humus soils in mountain deciduous (mainly beech) forests, along ravines and river banks, in forest clearings.

Procurement and storage of raw materials

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Preparation. In belladonna, taking precautions, three types of raw materials are prepared. Leaves are collected from the beginning of the budding phase until mass fruiting, from 2 to 5 times per growing season depending on the age of the plantation, plucking by hand. Later, during the fruiting phase, the entire above-ground part of the plant is mowed at a height of 10 cm from the ground. Plantations are used for 3-5 years. After the final harvesting of the grass, before liquidation of the plantation, mechanized cleaning of underground organs is carried out. Cut off small roots, shake off the soil, and wash. Large roots are cut lengthwise.

Security measures. The plant is under protection; raw materials are not collected in nature.

Drying. Raw materials should be dried quickly, in air or heat dryers at a temperature not exceeding 40-45 ° C. When preparing and drying, precautions must be taken.

Standardization. GF XI, issue. 2, art. 13 (leaves); FS 42-1104-77 (grass); GF VIII (roots).

Storage. Raw materials are stored according to list B, separately from other raw materials. The leaves are hygroscopic and should be stored in a dry place. The shelf life of leaves and grass is 2 years.

External signs of raw materials

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Leaves. Whole raw materials. Whole or partially crushed leaves are elliptical, ovate or oblong-ovate in shape, pointed towards the apex, entire, tapering towards the base into a short petiole, thin, up to 20 cm long and up to 10 cm wide. The color of the leaves is green or brownish-green above, below - lighter. The smell is weak and peculiar. The taste is not defined (!). Crushed raw materials. Pieces of leaves of various shapes, passing through a sieve with holes with a diameter of 7 mm. Color green or brownish-green. The smell is weak and peculiar. The taste is not defined (!). Grass. Whole raw materials. A mixture of leafy stems and their pieces up to 25 cm long, up to 2 cm thick, crushed, less often whole leaves, petioles, buds, flowers and fruits. The smell is weak. Taste is not determined (!). Crushed raw materials. Pieces of various shapes ranging in size from 1 to 8 mm. Roots. Individual pieces of roots, cylindrical or split lengthwise, 10-20 cm long, 0.6-2 cm thick, longitudinally wrinkled on the outside, grayish-brown in color, rough or granular fracture, slightly yellowish; When broken, it generates dust (starch). On a cross section (or in a fracture) a narrow grayish strip of bark and wide whitish wood bounded by a darker cambium line are visible. There is no smell. Taste is not determined. Poisonous!

Microscopy of raw materials

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When examining the leaf from the surface, epidermal cells with sinuous side walls and folded cuticle are visible. The stomata are numerous, surrounded by 3-4 parastomatal cells, one of which is much smaller than the others (anisocytic type), and predominate on the underside of the leaf. The hairs are sparse, capitate and simple. There are two types of capitate hairs: with a long multicellular stalk and a unicellular head, with a unicellular stalk and a multicellular (4-6 cells) head.

Rice. 10.5. Microscopy of a belladonna leaf

Simple hairs are 2-3-(less often 6)-celled, with thin walls. In the spongy parenchyma, oval cells filled with fine crystalline calcium oxalate sand are visible. At low magnification they look like dark, almost black spots, at high magnification they appear grayish with discernible crystalline grain. Very rarely, drusen or prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate can be discerned in the center of a cell with crystalline sand (Fig. 10.5).

Rice. 10.5. Microscopy of a belladonna leaf:
A - epidermis of the upper side;
B - epidermis of the lower side;
B - epidermis above the vein:
1 - hair with a multicellular head;
2 - hair with a single-cell head;
3 - simple hair;
4 - cells with crystalline calcium oxalate sand.

Numerical indicators of raw materials

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Leaves

Whole raw materials. The amount of alkaloids, determined titrimetrically, in terms of hyoscyamine is not less than 0.3%; humidity no more than 13%; total ash no more than 15%; ash, insoluble in a 10% solution of hydrochloric acid, no more than 3%; yellowed, browned and blackened leaves no more than 4%; other parts of the plant (stems, flowers, fruits) no more than 4%; crushed particles passing through a sieve with holes with a diameter of 3 mm, no more than 4%; organic impurity no more than 0.5%; mineral impurity no more than 0.5%.

Crushed raw materials. The amount of alkaloids in terms of hyoscyamine is not less than 0.3%; humidity no more than 13%; total ash no more than 15%; ash, insoluble in a 10% solution of hydrochloric acid, no more than 3%; yellowed, browned and blackened pieces of leaves no more than 4%; other parts of the plant (pieces of stems, fruits, flowers) no more than 4%; particles that do not pass through a sieve with holes with a diameter of 7 mm, no more than 8%; particles passing through a sieve with holes measuring 0.5 mm, no more than 10%; organic impurity no more than 0.5%; mineral impurity no more than 0.5%.

Grass

Whole raw materials. The amount of alkaloids in terms of hyoscyamine is not less than 0.35%; humidity no more than 13%; leaves no less than 45%, including no more than 4% yellowed, browned or blackened on both sides; organic impurity no more than 1%; mineral impurity no more than 1%.

Crushed raw materials. The amount of alkaloids in terms of hyoscyamine is not less than 0.35%; humidity no more than 13%; pieces of leaves no less than 45%, including yellowed, browned or blackened on both sides no more than 4%; particles passing through a sieve with holes measuring 0.5 mm, no more than 8%; particles larger than 8 mm, no more than 10%; organic impurity no more than 1%; mineral impurity no more than 1%.

Roots

The amount of alkaloids in terms of hyoscyamine is not less than 0.5%; humidity no more than 13%; total ash no more than 6%; roots darkened at the fracture, no more than 3%; crushed roots less than 1 cm long - no more than 3%; organic impurity no more than 0.5%; mineral impurity no more than 1%.

Medicines based on belladonna

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1. The leaves are part of an anti-asthma collection.
2. Atropine sulfate, powder (substance); injection solution 0.1%; tablets 0.0005 g; 1% eye ointment; eye films containing 1.6 g of atropine sulfate. M-anticholinergic agent.
3. Belladonna tincture (tincture (1:10) in 40% ethyl alcohol from leaves). M-anticholinergic, antispasmodic agent.
4. Belladonna tincture is included in combination medications (stomach drops, Zelenin drops, Valokormid, etc.).
5. Belladonna extracts are thick and dry (obtained from leaves and herbs). Used for the preparation of dosage forms and various combination drugs (tablets "Becarbon", "Besalol", "Bellalgin", "Bellasthesin", "Teofedrin", "Bepasal", "Urobesal", suppositories "Anuzol", "Betiol", pepper patch and etc.).
6. Alkaloids from belladonna roots are included in combination medications (Bellataminal, Solutan, Belloid, etc.).

The belladonna plant is a strong poison and at the same time an effective cure for many diseases.. There are many myths and legends surrounding it. There are other names for it: belladonna, sleepy stupor, mad cherry, witch's grass. The plant received its last name due to the belief that it was used by witches to prepare an ointment that allowed them to fly. Today belladonna is widely used in medical purposes. Traditional medicine preparations are prepared from it, and are also used in folk recipes. It is worth remembering that careless use of sleeping stupor leads to severe poisoning and, in many cases, death. Therefore, it is necessary to remember the characteristics of this plant and the rules for its use.

What is belladonna

Belladonna belladonna is a perennial herbaceous plant.. At favorable conditions it can grow up to two meters high. It belongs to the nightshade family.

The stem of belladonna is quite dense, branched and thick. Has green or purple color. Broadly lanceolate-shaped leaves are attached to it with petioles. Closer to the top of the plant they have a rich green color. The lower leaves are slightly lighter. The maximum leaf length is 20 cm.

Belladonna owes its power to its well-developed root system. The diameter of the rhizome can reach 8 cm. Long, large roots extend from it.

The striking feature of belladonna is its large single flowers.. The diameter of each of them can reach up to 3 cm. They grow exclusively from the axils of the upper leaves. They are shaped like a bell and have a five-pronged bowl. Painted dirty purple. The inside of the flower has a dirty yellow tint.

Young plants enter the flowering phase from the beginning of August. If belladonna is more than a year old, then its flowering can start in May and last until the end of the growing season.

After flowering it forms large fruit. It vaguely resembles a cherry. The berry has an attractive shine. Painted dark violet blue color. Inside it is a large number of seeds The pulp has a sweetish taste. At the same time, it is deadly poisonous.

Eating such berries is especially dangerous for children. It is enough to eat just one berry for irreparable health consequences to occur. For an adult, a dose of 10 grams is considered fatal.

Where can you find belladonna?

Sleepy stupor is especially widespread in mountainous regions. Found at altitudes up to 1000 meters. It can often be found in the Caucasus, Carpathians, and also in the Crimea. It grows not only in Russia, but also in the USA, Asia, South America and Pakistan.

Most often, belladonna can be found along the edges of roads and on the edges of forests. This can be a single plant or entire thickets. Prefers loose soil rich in humus. Because the beauty loves high humidity, then sometimes it can be found on the banks of rivers.

For medical use, it is irrational to look for places where belladonna grows and collect them. It's easier to cultivate it intentionally. In our country, the Krasnodar region specializes in this. Since this plant is rarely found in the wild, it was decided to include it in the Red Book of Russia.

What's included

The poisonous plant belladonna has a complex chemical composition. Alkaloids pose the greatest danger and value at the same time.. According to research by scientists, their maximum concentration is observed in the roots of the plant. The least amount of these substances is in fruits. The plant contains the following types of alkaloids:

1. Atropine. Once in the human body, this substance reduces the performance of the salivary and sweat glands, increases the frequency of contraction of the heart muscle, reduces muscle tone, reduces the acidity of gastric juice, and leads to increased breathing. In medicine, it is used to treat the gastrointestinal tract, urinary and cardiovascular systems.
2. Hyoscyamine. Under the influence of oxygen it is oxidized and converted into atropine.
3. Scopolamine. This alkaloid has an antispasmodic and ganglion-blocking effect and is capable of dilating peripheral blood vessels. It is used to treat Parkinson's disease.
4. Kuskgigrin.

In addition, the following were found in belladonna leaves: phenolcarbonic, oxalic, leucatropic acids, flavonoids, aliphatic hydrocarbons and some other substances.

The danger of belladonna

Atropine, which is part of the plant, becomes a strong poison if the permitted dosage is exceeded.. Belladonna poisoning can have irreparable consequences. Among the main symptoms of the problem are the following:

1. Unpleasant sensations in the mouth, including burning and dryness.
2. Voice distortion or complete loss.
3. Change in skin color, appearance of rashes on it.
4. Pupil dilation. They stop responding to bright light. Partial loss of vision occurs.
5. Dyspeptic disorders.
6. Violation of the rhythm of the heart, decreased blood pressure.
7. Headache.
8. Increased body temperature.
9. Swelling.
10. Uncoordination of movements.
11. Cramps.

If such symptoms are detected, you must immediately call ambulance. Before the doctors arrive, perform gastric lavage. To do this, use a weak solution of potassium permanganate or table salt. After this, you should take several tablets of activated carbon or other sorbent.

First aid must be provided as early as possible. In severe cases, death occurs within 3 hours after belladonna poison enters the body.

Belladonna, a berry that looks delicious, often attracts children. Therefore, when going to the forest, explain to your child that you cannot eat any berries or plants.

What is belladonna used for?

Despite the fact that belladonna is poisonous, it is widely used for medicinal purposes. Tinctures, extracts and other preparations are prepared from the leaves of the plant.. They are used to treat peptic ulcers, tuberculosis, epilepsy and other serious diseases. A product based on belladonna has good anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.

Belladonna preparations have also found use in ophthalmology. It is used to dilate the patient's pupil. This helps to conduct a full examination and make an accurate diagnosis.

Belladonna preparations are used to treat the following diseases:

1. Bronchial asthma, severe cough.
2. Muscle and joint pain.
3. Deviations in the functioning of the liver and biliary tract.
4. Deposition of kidney stones.
5. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
6. Disturbance in the functioning of the urinary system.
7. Neuralgia.
8. Gastritis in chronic form.

Using the plant juice externally can help get rid of age spots on the skin. In addition, the use of belladonna-based products improves performance, activates brain function, and stimulates physical activity.

Belladonna is often used to treat intoxication. It is used for poisoning by mushrooms and chemicals.

Sleepy stupor has also found application in homeopathy. On its basis, special dragees are made, which are designed to relieve the patient from toothache.

In what form do I use belladonna?

The belladonna flower is used medicinally in all sorts of forms. It is prepared from:

1. Tinctures.
2. Decoctions. Used strictly in accordance with the dosage calculated by the attending physician.
3. Solutions for lotions. They are used to treat skin diseases and joint problems.
4. Atropine sulfate. This is atropine secreted from the plant. It is produced in the form of powders.
5. Dry and thick belladonna extract.
6. Collection. Tall parts of a plant that are rolled into a cigarette shape. This drug is used to treat bronchial asthma.
7. Pills. The following drugs are distinguished:
   • "Bellataminal." It is recommended to relieve increased irritability, insomnia, and vegetative-vascular dystonia.
   • "Becarbon" is used to treat stomach diseases. It reduces the acidity of gastric juice and relieves spasms.
   • "Bellalgin." Used as a pain reliever during spasms in the gastrointestinal tract.
   • "Bepasal." Used in the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
8. Suppositories. The most widely used drugs are Anuzol and Betiol. They are used to treat hemorrhoids and fissures in the anus.

It is strictly prohibited to use the above medications without a doctor’s prescription.. The dosage is calculated individually, based on the disease and condition of the patient. Before starting treatment, carefully study the description of the drug and how to use it. Remember that self-medication is extremely dangerous for your life.

Contraindications and side effects

Since belladonna flower is a poisonous plant, preparations based on it must be taken with caution. The main contraindications include:

1. Pregnancy and breastfeeding period.
2. Presence of glaucoma.
3. Childhood.
4. Serious pathologies of the cardiovascular system.
5. Hypertension.
6. Intestinal atony, ulcerative colitis, intestinal obstruction and some other gastrointestinal diseases.
7. Acute form of atherosclerosis.
8. Bleeding.
9. Individual intolerance.

People suffering from kidney disease, diaphragmatic hernia and hyperthyroidism should use such drugs only when absolutely necessary. Such treatment must be carried out under the mandatory supervision of a specialist.

Sometimes the use of drugs with belladonna can lead to side effects. Headache, speech impairment, increased drowsiness, loss of appetite, dry mouth, dizziness, and sleep disturbance are often observed. Particular caution should be taken when using the drug in hot weather.. This can trigger heatstroke.

An overdose of such drugs is dangerous. Its symptoms include:

1. Attacks of nausea and vomiting.
2. Ischemia.
3. Reduced sweating.
4. Tachycardia.
5. Impotence.
6. Hives.

If such symptoms are detected, the drug should be stopped. Gastric lavage will be required. After this, be sure to consult your doctor. The doctor will be able to correctly adjust the dosage or stop taking the drug altogether.

Growing belladonna

Since belladonna is rarely found in Russian forests. It can be grown on your own summer cottage . This process differs little from the cultivation of other plants. It is enough to follow the basic recommendations:

1. Belladonna should be planted on fertile soil. It is best to choose low-lying areas for this that maintain a sufficient level of humidity. Belladonna grows well on light soils with good breathability. Winter crops are the best predecessors for it. You can’t grow it after potatoes or tomatoes.
2. Before sowing, the soil must be plowed to a greater depth, since the plant has a powerful root system. It is advisable to apply fertilizer. Manure will do. For one hectare of land you will need about 30 tons.
3. Seeds must be planted in soil that is heated to a temperature of at least 20 degrees. One hectare will require about 8 kilograms of seeds. The placement depth is no more than 1.5 cm. If the soil is very light, this distance increases to 3 cm.
4. The seedlings are small and develop rather slowly. They must be protected from drought, frost and pests. In the first year of life, the plant produces very few flowers and fruits.
5. Care consists of regular watering, weeding and loosening the soil.

Growing this plant is not difficult. If you follow all the recommendations, you can grow a plant rich in alkaloids. All that remains is to properly prepare the raw materials, and it will be possible to prepare medicines.

How to prepare belladonna

The roots and leaves of the plant are used to make medicines. For the product to be effective, the belladonna flower must be properly collected and dried.

Raw materials can be harvested up to five times per season. The first collection is carried out at the very beginning of flowering. It is at this time that the maximum amount of valuable substances accumulates in the leaves.

Leaves can only be collected by hand. Even with industrial harvesting, the use of any mechanized means is not possible. First, all large leaves are torn off. Small ones can be picked only after they have fully developed. In order to facilitate the collection process, some enterprises cut off the entire plant. The leaves are separated only after drying.

After the leaves are collected, they are dried. To do this on one square meter lays out a kilogram of leaves on the surface. Drying is carried out in a well-ventilated area. The leaves should not be exposed to direct sunlight. Using accelerated technology, drying is carried out in specialized dryers, where the temperature is maintained at +40 degrees. The concentration of alkaloids in the leaf veins is much higher than in the pulp. Therefore, to prepare medicines, it is necessary to use the entire leaf without any residue.

The roots of the plant can be harvested only in the third year. They are dug up and cleared of soil. The root collar and all branches whose diameter is less than a centimeter must be cut off. The remaining rhizomes are cut into pieces no larger than 10 cm. The roots are dried in a well-ventilated area.

After the raw material has dried, it is cleaned of all foreign impurities. After this, it can be used for its intended purpose. Storage must be organized separately from other preparations.

Traditional medicine recipes

You can prepare belladonna-based products yourself. Simple recipes will be useful for this:

1. Decoction. Ten grams of dried belladonna rhizome are steamed in a glass of boiling water. The prepared mixture is boiled for 10 minutes. After it has cooled a little, it is filtered. This product is used to prepare compresses for joints..
2. Tincture. Belladonna leaves in an amount of 10 grams are poured into a glass of alcohol. This mixture is hidden in a dark place for a week. It is filtered before use. This drug is taken orally to treat cholecystitis or kidney stones.
3. Decoction for Parkinson's disease. Mix 30 grams of crushed dry rhizomes and 100 grams of crushed activated carbon. The resulting composition is poured with 750 ml of white wine of any dry variety. Boil on fire for 10 minutes. The resulting product is filtered.
4. Powder. The dried leaves of the plant are ground into a fine powder. A teaspoon of this product must be set on fire and the resulting smoke inhaled. This helps well in the treatment of bronchial asthma. To treat gastritis, it is taken orally. Wherein you can’t use more of it than can fit on the tip of a knife.
5. Tincture for insomnia. One part of belladonna leaves is poured with ten parts of vodka. This composition must be kept for three weeks in a dark place. Taking 15 drops of it twice a day can get rid of sleep problems.

When preparing such products, you must carefully monitor the dosages. Any mistakes can have serious consequences for your health. Such medications should only be used after consultation with your doctor. He also determines the dosage based on the patient’s age, his state of health and the characteristics of the course of the disease.

Belladonna is a poisonous perennial. But when correct use it can be a real salvation from many diseases. Before starting such treatment, consult with a specialist, carefully study all the features of this plant and weigh all the advantages and disadvantages.

Description of the belladonna plant.

Perennial herbaceous plant of the Solanaceae family. The stems are powerful, branched, up to 0.5-2 m high with dense dark green foliage. The leaves are ovate or elliptical, large—up to 22 cm long and 11 cm wide and small—7.5 cm long and 3.5 cm wide. The flowers are solitary, drooping, rather large, located in the axils of the leaves. The corolla is brown-violet, bell-shaped, up to 20-33 mm long and 12-20 mm wide. The fruit is a multi-seeded, shiny, black, juicy berry with purple juice, resembling a cherry in appearance and size. Belladonna blooms in the second half of summer.

Where does the belladonna plant grow?

Belladonna is distributed mainly in the mountain deciduous forests of the Crimea, the Caucasus and Upper Transnistria. Belladonna is widespread in the Carpathians and their spurs, in Western Ukraine to Lvov, in places in Moldova and in the mountain-forest regions of Crimea. In the Caucasus, belladonna is found in the middle part of the mountains in Transcaucasia and the North Caucasus, in the Krasnodar Territory, and less often in more eastern regions. Currently there are large industrial plantations belladonna, mainly in the Krasnodar region and Voronezh region.

Collection of the medicinal plant belladonna.

The plant is harvested for medicinal purposes 3-4 times during the summer.
Dried leaves and roots of belladonna are used as medicinal raw materials. The leaves are green or brownish-green, lighter underneath, brittle, with a faint narcotic odor. The wild belladonna leaf is collected by hand. At the beginning of flowering they are cut off lower leaves before the stem branches, at the end of flowering - from grown branches and, finally, at the beginning of seed formation, the plant is mowed at a height of 10 cm from the ground. As the shoots grow, the leaves are collected one or two more times, depending on the weather. The mown grass is cut into pieces up to 4 cm long, then dried.
The culture is stopped after 5-6 years. After the last mowing in the fall, the roots are dug up, washed, cut into pieces 10-20 cm long, often split lengthwise, and dried.
Leaves and grass should be dried quickly, in dryers at 40 ° C; roots can also be dried in air. In the veins of the leaves, alkaloids accumulate in greater quantities than in the pulp, therefore, when powdering the leaves, the veins cannot be discarded, although they are much more difficult to crush; the entire leaf must be turned into powder without any residue.

Belladonna plant properties.

The generic name Atropa is given by the name of the goddess Atropa, who, according to ancient Roman myth, can cut the thread of human life at any moment. The specific name belladonna also indicates the properties of this plant, but completely different. It comes from the Italian words bella - “beautiful” and donna - “woman”. In the old days, women put the juice of this plant in their eyes, causing the pupil to dilate and the eyes to acquire a special shine, and they rubbed the red juice on their cheeks.
Belladonna preparations are used as a persistent antispasmodic for diseases associated with spastic conditions, in particular gastric and duodenal ulcers, pyloric spasms, chronic hyperacid gastritis, pancreatitis, chronic colitis with pain syndrome, bronchial asthma, cholecystitis associated with cholelithiasis, renal colic . Belladonna preparations are also used as an antidote for poisoning with morphine and mushrooms. Belladonna root, in the form of a wine decoction or in tablets called Corbella, is used for shaking palsy (Parkinson's disease). Tinctures, thick and dry extracts are made from leaves and herbs, which are included in numerous recipes for external and internal use. Belladonna extract is included, for example, in Besalol tablets. Powder from belladonna leaf is contained in the drug “Astmatol” for smoking against asthma.
As a bronchodilator, atropine is used in aerosol form. The action in this case develops within 3-5 minutes.
Belladonna tincture is used as an antispastic agent, most often for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Prescribed orally in a dose of 5-10 drops per dose 2-3 times a day. Higher doses for adults: single 0.5 ml (23 drops).
Belladonna extract: maximum dose for adults, single dose 0.1 g, daily dose 0.3 g.

In the recent past, belladonna was used as a drink, along with henbane and later datura, it was one of the components of the famous “sorcerers’ ointment,” the toxic elements of which penetrate the body through the pores of the skin.

Belladonna use in folk medicine.

The herb and roots of the plant are widely used in both folk and scientific medicine for many diseases as an antispasmodic and analgesic. Belladonna preparations bring relief from gastric ulcers and spastic conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, gastritis with high acidity. They are prescribed for bronchial asthma, for kidney stones and gall bladder stones, for vegetative dystonia and vasoneurosis, and for the treatment of parkinsonism.

Use of the belladonna plant for Parkinson's disease.

Bulgarian healer Ivan Raev offers the following recipe for treating the disease: mix 30 g of crushed dry belladonna roots with a coffee cup of activated charcoal, pour in 3 glasses of dry white wine and cook over low heat for 10 minutes, then strain. Take 1 teaspoon 3 times a day before meals for 3 days in a row. 3 hours after the decoction, eat ground nutmeg on the tip of a knife and chew calamus root.

Use of the belladonna plant for bronchial asthma.

Take belladonna powder on the tip of a knife 2-3 times a day.

Belladonna plant contraindications.

Belladonna is contraindicated in case of organic changes in the cardiovascular system, but at the same time it helps to cope with bradycardia - slow cardiac activity. It is clear that it cannot be used for tachycardia and arrhythmia. Belladonna is used to treat some eye diseases, but it is strictly contraindicated for glaucoma.
Belladonna is a highly poisonous plant. All parts of belladonna are extremely toxic: ten to twenty of its black, shiny berries, the size of a small cherry, are enough to cause death. Death can occur even from a few eaten berries: motor agitation, delirium, and convulsions appear. But here’s a paradox: in case of poisoning with morphine and poisonous mushrooms, belladonna is used as an antidote.

Belladonna preparations are contraindicated during pregnancy.