The belladonna is a perennial herbaceous plant up to two meters high, belongs to the Solanaceae family. They call it differently - belladonna, wolfberry, crazy cherry. This poisonous plant has been successfully used in conservative and traditional medicine, helping to get rid of many diseases.
Belladonna. Photo and description
The belladonna has a thick rhizome, resembling a cylinder in shape, and a long main root with shoots extending from it. A straight green or purple stem forks at the top. The dark green belladonna leaves are ovoid with 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, similar in size and shape to a cherry with a sweet and sour taste. Inside the berry is a dark purple juice. What the plant looks like can be seen in the photo.
Seeds of belladonna -about two millimeters in length, rounded with a pitted surface, black in color. The plant is included in the Red Book, is highly poisonous. Two or three berries are enough for a child, fifteen or twenty for an adult for severe poisoning. Belladonna juice is also dangerous. Do not touch the mucous membranes of the mouth and eyes, the skin of the face with contaminated hands.
Legend
The name Belladonna, translated from Italian into Russian, means "beautiful woman". In ancient times, the beauties of Italy used belladonna juice to instill their eyes. This contributed to the expansion of the pupils, the eyes became shiny. Berry juice was rubbed on the cheeks to give them a natural blush. Belladonna (belladonna) has another name - "rabid", since atropine, which is part of it, causes strong excitement and even rabies.
The generic name (Atropa) was given to the plant by the Greek goddess of death. Of the three goddesses of fate (parks), she was the eldest. According to legend, a park named Cloto had a spindle and a thread of fate in its hands, Lachesis drew the future of a person on a ball, and Atropos cut the thread of life using scissors. Atropa was depicted with cypress branches in her hair. The frightening name of belladonna speaks of 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 her execution, was discreetly given some belladonna. By swallowing the potion, the witch facilitated her transition to other worlds. Demoiselle belladonna was also used to reduce the pain of childbirth.
Distribution
Single specimens or small thickets can be found in forest clearings, roadsides, river banks. It grows wild in the Crimean and Carpathian mountains, in the Caucasus, in the Krasnodar Territory. Also grows in Europe, Central and Asia Minor, Afghanistan, Pakistan, USA, South America.
The common belladonna belongs to the endangered species of our flora. Intensive irrational harvesting of medicinal raw materials 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.
Flower time
Blossoms in the first year of vegetation 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 harvested from June to July. Roots are dug up in early autumn or early spring. This happens in the second year of the growing season.
Blank
The leaves of the plant must be collected by hand. First, those that are below are cut off, after two or three weeks - the leaves that grow on the branches. Collect them several times during the summer. After that, the plant must be mowed and cut off the top foliage.
Mowed grass is cut into pieces 4 centimeters long. Raw materials, laid 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 attemperature 40 degrees. Store raw materials for no more than two years.
When harvesting belladonna, care must be taken to protect hands and face. After work, they are washed well with water.
Chemical composition
The roots and ground part of the plant contain hyoscyamine. This alkaloid, after processing, is converted into atropine, thanks to which the plant is effectively used in the treatment of 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, belladonin, etc. Kuskigreen was found in the root.
Useful properties and scope
The alkaloids hyoscyamine (atropine) and scopolamine in the composition of the plant have a central and peripheral M-anticholinergic effect, resulting in a decrease in the tone of the muscles of the internal organs, a decrease in the secretion of glands, and excitation of the central nervous system.
Plant-based preparations contribute to the activation of mental and physical activity, increase endurance and performance. They relieve increased irritability, insomnia, are used in the treatment of neurodermatitis, vegetative dystonia, Meniere's syndrome.
Belladonna also affects 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 gastric tablets as an antispasmodic, anticholinergic, analgesic, antiseptic.
Beautyordinary is used in ophthalmology, in particular in the diagnosis of eye diseases, due to the ability to dilate the pupils. On the part of the respiratory system, when taking drugs based on this plant, the respiratory center is excited, breathing is stimulated, and the bronchi expand. Taking drugs, in which the main active ingredient is belladonna, improves cardiac conduction, increases heart rate.
Blackberry is a raw material for the manufacture of local preparations that are used to treat hemorrhoids and anal fissures. They help to quickly reduce pain, relieve inflammation and swelling of the suppositories, which include belladonna. The instruction says that to alleviate the condition, you must first put a cleansing enema, then insert the suppository into the anus. The procedure is repeated 1-3 times a day for a week.
Bella in gynecology is also used in the form of candles. 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 at a time before going to bed (or one or two before the birth itself). Self-medication in this case is unacceptable.
From fruits, seeds, extract of roots and aerial parts, homeopathic preparations are prepared. They are used in the treatment of spasms of blood vessels and muscles, mastitis, erysipelas, scarlet fever, tonsillitis, headaches, neuritis, convulsions, otitis media, conjunctivitis, gynecological diseases, nephritis, epilepsy, urinary tract diseases, SARS, laryngitis, dysentery.
Bella in folk medicine
Traditional medicine using belladonna treats impotence, paralysis, arthritis, sciatica, bronchial asthma, pulmonary tuberculosis, rabies, gastrointestinal diseases, intestinal, hepatic and renal colic, epilepsy, neurosis, migraine, depression, rheumatism, some sexually transmitted diseases, urinary and gallstone disease, skin, mental illness, obesity, constipation, whooping cough, scarlet fever and even, according to healers, breast cancer.
Powder
Anti-asthma preparations and preparations are prepared from the powder of belladonna leaves, which are used to treat bronchial asthma and bronchitis. A teaspoon of powder is burned, the smoke is inhaled.
Infusion of belladonna
Infusion of the plant is taken for spasmophilia, paralysis, depression, epilepsy, neuralgia, convulsions, tuberculosis, rabies. Root extract is used to treat African trypanosomiasis.
Alcohol tincture
To obtain a tincture, it is necessary to infuse the leaves of the plant with 40% alcohol. Take 10 parts of alcohol per part of the herb. Use 5-10 drops. The remedy relieves diarrhea, colic, insomnia. Tincture of belladonna is externally used for tumors of the mammary glands, infiltrates. A tincture of the fruit is used to treat dysentery.
Decoction
In folk medicine, a decoction of the roots of a plant such as belladonna is also used. The use of the drug helps to relieve pain in diseases such as gout, rheumatism, neuralgia. It takes five grams to prepare it.place the herbs in a glass dish, pour white table wine (100 ml), add 0.1 g of activated charcoal. The mixture should be boiled for about 10 minutes, then insist for two hours, strain. Store the resulting product in a dark, cool place for no more than 15 days. Use 1 tsp, gradually increasing the dosage to 2 tbsp. l.
Rubbing against arthrosis
Pain in the joints, caused by arthrosis and degenerative changes, are treated with a decoction of the plant. To prepare the remedy, you need to take ground belladonna roots (1 tsp), pour 200 ml of boiling water. The medicine is boiled over low heat for half an hour, cooled, filtered. Sore joints are rubbed twice a day for two weeks.
Belladonna powder for 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 cure
In this case, vodka tincture is used. Leaves should be poured with vodka (1:10), infused for 21 days in a dark place. Use 15 drops twice a day. If necessary, the dosage may be increased to 23 drops, but no more.
Use in other areas
Bella is used in veterinary medicine as a painkiller. Belladonna extract is detrimental to fleas.
The plant can be used to make red and blue dye.
Contraindications
Since the belladonna (belladonna) is very poisonous, it cannot be used without the appointment of a specialist. When treating suchdrugs require strict adherence to dosage and medical supervision.
The common belladonna is not used to treat children, pregnant and lactating women. It is forbidden to use drugs based on belladonna for those who have glaucoma, prostatic hypertrophy, obstructive diseases of the urinary tract and intestines, coronary heart disease, tachycardia. Elderly people should be careful when taking this drug.
Overdose
In case of an overdose of belladonna, a person experiences dry mouth, dilated pupils, red face, a small rash on the body, urination is disturbed, heart rate increases, headache, vomiting, diarrhea occur.
The first symptoms of poisoning appear after 15-20 minutes. At first, excitement arises, a person feels cheerful, fusses, talks a lot, can laugh, dance. Thoughts of the victim replace one another. Then hallucinations begin, the person hears voices and sounds. Visual perception is disturbed - colors are indistinguishable, dark objects look bright. Attacks of aggression, rabies are possible. After 8-12 hours, the victim gradually calms down, feels weak and falls asleep.
A high concentration of poison in the blood leads to a complete loss of orientation. The victim's temperature rises, the pulse weakens, convulsions may occur. Large doses of belladonna can lead to loss of consciousness, hallucinations, and possibly death.
First Aid
WhenIf poisoning is suspected, an ambulance should be called immediately. Before the doctor arrives, you need to do a gastric lavage. The victim should drink several glasses of potassium permanganate solution or weak tea, induce vomiting. Then 20 activated charcoal tablets are ground into powder, poured with cold water, mixed and drunk. If necessary, the procedure is repeated after 2 hours.
If a person has a strong heartbeat, shortness of breath, you need to give heart drops. In case of cardiac and respiratory arrest, immediate resuscitation measures are carried out. The patient is taken to the hospital even if he feels better.
Belladonna preparations must be used with great care. If the condition worsens, belladonna treatment should be stopped immediately.
