Belladonna is a poisonous herb of the nightshade family that grows up to two meters in height. She is popularly known as belladonna, which means "beautiful woman" in Italian. Previously, ladies used her juice to give their eyes a special shine, and rubbed their cheeks with berries for a “natural” blush. In Russia, the grass was called rabies, as its milk introduces strong excitement, sometimes causing a frenzied reaction.
This is an upright plant with upper leaves arranged in pairs, shaped like a pointed egg. The belladonna blooms from mid-summer until autumn with large, bell-shaped flowers of a dirty purple color. The fruit is a black berry. This grass grows on forest edges and mountain slopes in the Crimea, the Caucasus and the Carpathians.
Extract belladonna. Application
As mentioned above, belladonna is very poisonous. There have been cases of poisoning when eating its berries and honey. It contains a huge number of different alkaloids, and they are available both in the leaves and roots of the plant, and in its flowers and fruits. The belladonna extract fully reflects the characteristics of the chemical composition of this herb. In himcontains hyoscyamine, scopalamin, apoatrapine, methylpyrrolidine, belladonin and a number of other alkaloids. Nicotine, sterols, flavonoids were also found. Dry extract of belladonna is part of various medicines prescribed for severe pain. These preparations are available in the form of pills, suppositories, potions and powders.
The belladonna extract is used as an analgesic, antispasmodic for spasms of the excretory tract, increased secretion of the lacrimal and salivary glands, for spasms of the muscle tissue of internal organs, for the treatment of cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum. The daily dose allowed for oral administration is not more than 0.15 grams. In addition, belladonna extract is used as an antidote for mushroom poisoning.
Belladonna-based preparations
The most widespread of the substances that make up this plant is atropine. It is a powerful alkaloid with a wide spectrum of antispasmodic action. The extract of belladonna is part of a lot of medicines used for various diseases. Candles "Anuzol" and "Betiol" are used in the treatment of hemorrhoids. The medicine "Anastman" is used for bronchial asthma. The drug "Bekarbon" - with increased acidity of the stomach. Medicines "Besalol", "Bepasal" and "Bevisal" are drugs for the treatment of diseases of the digestive tract. The drug "Bellalgin" is an analgesic. Means "Bellastezin" and"Belloid" are effective in neurosis, menopause, vegetovascular dystonia. Corbell's drug is used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. And this is not a complete list of medicines, the basis of which was belladonna.
Prescribe preparations containing belladonna extract also in the treatment of angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, bronchial asthma, stomach ulcers, renal and hepatic colic. In folk medicine, a decoction of the roots of belladonna is used to treat rheumatism, neuralgia and gout.
Belladonna also has contraindications. Taking medicines containing belladonna extract is prohibited for pregnant and lactating women (reduces lactation), with glaucoma and heart disease.
