The belladonna ordinary is a perennial herb up to two meters high, belongs to the nightshade family. They call it differently - belladonna, wolfberry, crazy cherry. This poisonous plant is successfully used in conservative and traditional medicine, it helps 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 branches at the top. Dark green leaves of belladonna have an ovoid shape, 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 brown-violet or dirty purple hue. The fruit is a slightly flattened black berry, in size and shape it resembles a cherry with a sweet-sour taste. Inside the berry is a juice of dark purple color. How the plant looks can be seen in the photo.
The belladonna seeds are about two millimeters in length, round in shape with a pitted surface, in black. The plant is included in the Red Book, is highly poisonous. Two to three berries are enough for a child, for an adult - fifteen to twenty for severe poisoning. Belladonna juice is also dangerous. Do not touch with contaminated hands the mucous membranes of the mouth and eyes, the skin of the face.
Legend
The name Belladonna in translation from Italian into Russian means "beautiful woman." In ancient times, the beauties of Italy, the juice of the belladonna buried their eyes. This contributed to the expansion of the pupils, the eyes became brilliant. The juice of the berries was rubbed on the cheeks to give them a natural blush. Belladonna (belladonna) has another name - “rabies,” since atropine, which is part of it, causes severe excitement and even rabies.
Generic name (Atropa) obtained by the plant thanks to the Greek goddess of death. Of the three goddesses of fate (parks), she was the oldest. According to legend, a park named Cloto had a spindle and a thread of fate in her 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 while burning at the stake. The convicted witch, who was led to execution, was imperceptibly handed over to a little belladonna. By swallowing the potion, the witch facilitated the transition to other worlds. Belladonna vulgaris was also used to reduce pain in childbirth.
Spread
Single specimens or small thickets can be found in forest glades, outskirts of roads, river banks. It grows in the wild in the Crimean and Carpathian mountains, in the Caucasus, in the Krasnodar Territory. Also grows in Europe, Central and Asia Minor, in Afghanistan, Pakistan, USA, South America.
The belladonna ordinary belongs to the endangered species of our flora. Intensive irrational procurement of medicinal raw materials has led to a reduction in the area of this plant. In some places, a plant called belladonna completely disappeared, a photo of which can be seen below.
Flowering time
It blooms in the first year of vegetation in August, in subsequent years, flowering begins in May and continues until the end of the growing season. Ripening occurs from July to September.
When to collect
Grass and leaves gather from June to July. In early autumn or early spring, roots are dug up. This occurs in the second year of vegetation.
Billet
The leaves of the plant must be collected by hand. First, they cut off those that are below, after two to three weeks - the leaves that grow on the branches. Collect them several times during the summer. After this, the plant needs to be mowed and cut off the upper foliage.
Mowed grass is cut into 4 centimeter lengths. The raw materials, laid out in a thin layer, are dried under a canopy. In the fall, special dryers are used. As for the harvesting of roots, they need to be shaken off the ground, washed, cut into parts 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 of protecting your hands and face. After work, they are washed well with water.
Chemical composition
The roots and ground of the plant contain hyoscyamine. After treatment, this alkaloid is converted to atropine, due 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 toxic alkaloids, such as scopolamine, hyoscyamine, apoatropin, hyoscine, belladonin, etc. Couscigrin was found in the root.
Useful properties and scope
The alkaloids hyoscyamine (atropine) and scopolamine in the plant have a central and peripheral M-anticholinergic effect, as a result of which the muscle tone of the internal organs decreases, the secretion of glands decreases, and the central nervous system is excited.
Plant-based drugs contribute to the activation of mental and physical activity, increase stamina and performance. They relieve increased irritability, insomnia, and are used in the treatment of neurodermatitis, autonomic dystonia, and Meniere's syndrome.
Belladonna also affects the digestive system - it suppresses the motor function of the gastrointestinal tract, relieves spasms, and reduces the secretion of the salivary and gastric glands, pancreas. Belladonna extract is part of stomach tablets as an antispasmodic, anticholinergic, analgesic, antiseptic.
Belladonna vulgaris 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, respiration is stimulated, and bronchi expand. Taking medications in which belladonna acts as the main active ingredient, improves cardiac conduction, increases the heart rate.
Black berry is the raw material for the manufacture of local preparations that are used to treat hemorrhoids and anus cracks. They help to quickly reduce pain, relieve inflammation and swelling of the candles, which include belladonna. The instruction says that to alleviate the condition, you must first put a cleansing enema, then enter the suppository into the anus. The procedure is repeated 1-3 times a day for a week.
The belladonna in gynecology is also used in the form of candles. They are used before childbirth to relax the uterus and reduce the risk of a prolonged birth. Starting from week 35, you can put one candle at night (or one or two before the 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, tonsillitis, headaches, neuritis, seizures, otitis media, conjunctivitis, gynecological diseases, nephritis, epilepsy, urinary tract diseases, acute respiratory viral infections, laryngitis, dysentery.
Belladonna in folk medicine
Traditional medicine treats impotence, paralysis, arthritis, radiculitis, bronchial asthma, pulmonary tuberculosis, rabies, gastrointestinal tract diseases, intestinal, hepatic and renal colic, epilepsy, neurosis, migraine, depression, rheumatism, some sexually transmitted diseases, urinary and gallstone with the help of belladonna. disease, skin, mental illness, obesity, constipation, whooping cough, scarlet fever and even, according to healers, breast cancer.
Powder
From the powder of belladonna leaves, anti-asthma preparations and preparations are prepared that are used to treat bronchial asthma and bronchitis. A teaspoon of powder is burned, smoke is inhaled.
Infusion of belladonna
The infusion of the plant is taken with spasmophilia, paralysis, depression, epilepsy, neuralgia, convulsions, tuberculosis, rabies. African trypanosomiasis is treated as root extract.
Alcohol tincture
To obtain tincture, it is necessary to insist the leaves of the plant on 40% alcohol. 10 parts of alcohol are taken on a part of the grass. Use 5-10 drops. The tool relieves diarrhea, colic, insomnia. Belladonna tincture is externally used for breast tumors, infiltrates. Tincture of fruits treat dysentery.
Decoction
In folk medicine, a decoction of the roots of such a plant as belladonna ordinary is also used. The use of the drug helps to relieve pain in diseases such as gout, rheumatism, neuralgia. To prepare it, you need to place five grams of grass in a glass dish, pour white table wine (100 ml), add 0.1 g of activated carbon. The mixture should be boiled for about 10 minutes, then insist for two hours, strain. Store the product in a cool dark place for no more than 15 days. Use 1 tsp., Gradually increasing the dosage to 2 tbsp. l
Rubbing from arthrosis
Joint pain caused by arthrosis and degenerative changes are treated with a decoction of the plant. To prepare the product, you need to take ground belladonna roots (1 tsp), pour 200 ml of boiling water. The medicine is boiled on low heat for half an hour, cooled, filtered. Painful 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 at the tip of a knife. The course of treatment is 7 days.
Remedy for insomnia
In this case, tincture of vodka is used. Leaves need to pour vodka (1:10), insist for 21 days in a dark place. Take 15 drops twice a day. If necessary, the dosage can be increased to 23 drops, but not more.
Other applications
Belladonna is used in veterinary medicine as a painkiller. Belladonna extract is fatal to fleas.
The plant can be used to produce red and blue paint.
Contraindications
Since belladonna (belladonna) is very poisonous, it can not be used without the appointment of a specialist. In the treatment of such drugs, strict adherence to dosage and medical supervision are necessary.
Belladonna ordinary 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, tachycardia. Older people should be wary of taking such a medicine.
Overdose
In case of an overdose of a drug based on belladonna, a person experiences a dry mouth, his pupils dilate, his face turns red, a small rash appears on his body, urination is disturbed, his heartbeat becomes more frequent, headache, vomiting, and diarrhea occur.
The first symptoms of poisoning appear after 15-20 minutes. Initially, excitement arises, a person feels cheerfulness, fusses, speaks a lot, can laugh, dance. The thoughts of the victim replace one another. Then hallucinations begin, a person hears voices and sounds. Visual perception is impaired - 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, his pulse weakens, and convulsions may occur. Large doses of belladonna can lead to loss of consciousness, hallucinations, death is possible.
First aid
If poisoning is suspected, an ambulance must be called immediately. Before the doctor arrives, you need to do a gastric lavage. The victim should drink several glasses of a solution of potassium permanganate or weak tea, cause vomiting. Then 20 tablets of activated carbon 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. When cardiac arrest and breathing, resuscitation measures are immediately taken. The patient is taken to the hospital even if he feels better.
Belladonna-based preparations should be used with great care. If the condition worsens, belladonna treatment must be stopped immediately.