Belladonna is a poisonous grass of the nightshade family, growing in height up to two meters. She is popularly known as belladonna, which means “beautiful woman” in Italian. Previously, ladies used her juice to give her eyes a special shine, and rubbed her cheeks with berries for a “natural” blush. In Russia, the grass was called rabies, as its milk introduces into a strong excitement, sometimes causing a frenzied reaction.
This is an erect plant with pairwise arranged upper leaves resembling a pointed egg in shape. Bloom is blooming from mid-summer until autumn with large flowers in the shape of a bell of 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.
Belladonna extract. Application
As mentioned above, belladonna is very poisonous. Cases of poisoning have been noted with the use of its berries and honey. In its composition, 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 bellworm exstart fully reflects the chemical composition of this herb. It contains hyoscyamine, scopalamine, apoatrapine, methylpyrrolidine, belladonin and a number of other alkoloids. Nicotine, sterols, flavonoids were also found. Dry belladonna extract is part of various medicines prescribed for severe pain. These drugs come in the form of pills, suppositories, potions, and powders.
Belladonna extract is used as a painkiller, antispasmodic for spasms of the excretory tract, increased secretion of the lacrimal and salivary glands, for spasms of muscle tissue of the internal organs, for the treatment of gallstone disease, cholecystitis, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer. 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 preparations
The most common of the substances that make up this plant is atropine. This is a powerful alkaloid with a wide spectrum of antispasmodic action. Belladonna extract is part of so many drugs used for various diseases. Suppositories "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. Besalol, Bepasal and Bevisal medicines are drugs for treating diseases of the digestive tract. The drug "Bellalgin" is an analgesic. Means "Bellastesin" and "Belloid" are effective for neurosis, menopause, vegetovascular dystonia. The medicine "Corbella" is used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. And this is not a complete list of medicines, the basis of which was beladonna.
Prescribe drugs with belladonna extract also in the
treatment of angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, asthma, stomach ulcers, renal and
hepatic colic. In folk medicine, rheumatism, neuralgia and gout are treated with a decoction of the roots of belladonna.
Belladonna also has contraindications. Taking medicines containing belladonna extract is prohibited for pregnant and lactating women (reduces lactation), with glaucoma and heart disease.