Belladonna, or belladonna: a description of the plant, properties, application

The usual belladonna is a perennial herbaceous plant up to two meters in height, belongs to the Paslinov family. Call it differently - belladonna, wolfberry, cherry crazy. This poisonous plant is successfully used in conservative and folk medicine, helps to get rid of many diseases.

Belladonna. Photo and description

The bellad has a thick rhizome, resembling a cylinder in shape, and a long main root with shoots escaping from it. A straight green or purple stalk branched out at the top. The dark green leaves of the belladonna have an ovoid shape, sharp edges. The lower leaves are larger than the upper leaves, which are arranged in pairs.

Belladonna has large single flowers (2-3 cm.) Brownish-purple 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 berries - the juice is dark purple. How the plant looks, you can see in the photo.

Seeds of belladonna are about two millimeters long, round in shape with a pitlike surface, black in color. The plant is included in the Red Book, is highly poisonous. A child is enough two or three berries, an adult - fifteen or twenty for heavy poisoning. The juice of belladonna is also dangerous. Do not touch contaminated hands with mucous membranes of the mouth and eyes, skin of the face.

Legend

The name Belladonna, translated from Italian into Russian, means "beautiful woman". In ancient times, beauties of Italy drank the eyes of the beautiful bellies. This contributed to the expansion of the pupils, the eyes became shiny. Juice of berries rubbed their cheeks to give them a natural blush. Belladonna (belladonna) has another name - "wheat", since atropine, which is included in its composition, causes a strong anger and even rabies.

The generic name (Atropa) is obtained by the plant due to the Greek goddess of death. Of the three goddesses of fate (parok) she was the oldest. According to legend, the park called Clotho was in the hands of a spindle and a thread of fate, Lachesis on the ball drew the future of man, and Atropos cut the thread of life using scissors. Atropa was depicted with cypress branches in her hair. The dreadful name of the belladonna speaks of its strong toxicity.

The black berry was used by witches to reduce pain during burning at the stake. The condemned witch, who was led to the execution, was imperceptibly transferred a little belladonna. After swallowing the potion, the witch made it easier for herself to go to other worlds. Ordinary was used to reduce pain in childbirth.

Spread

Single specimens or small thickets can be found on forest glades, outskirts of roads, river banks. It grows wild in the Crimean and Carpathian mountains, in the Caucasus, in the Krasnodar Territory. It also grows in the countries of Europe, Central Asia and Asia Minor, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the USA, South America.

Ordinary is related to endangered species of our flora. Intensive non-rational stock of medicinal raw materials led to a reduction in the range of this plant. In some places a plant called belladonna completely disappeared, the photo of which can be seen below.

Flowering time

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. Fruit ripening occurs from July to September.

When to collect

Grass and leaves are collected from June to July. In the beginning of autumn or early spring the roots are excavated. This occurs in the second year of vegetation.

Workpiece

The leaves of the plant must be collected by hand. At first they are torn off by those from below, in two to three weeks - leaves that grow on branches. They are collected several times during the summer. After this, the plant must be cut and cut off the upper foliage.

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

Preparing the belladonna, you need to take care of the protection of hands and face. After work, they are well washed with water.

Chemical composition

The roots and the ground part of the plant contain hyoscyamine. This alkaloid after processing 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, apatropin, hyoscine, belladonin, etc. Kuskigrin is found in the root.

Useful properties and scope

Alkaloids hyoscyamine (atropine) and scopolamine in the plant have central and peripheral M-holinoblokiruyuschee effect, resulting in decreased muscle tone of internal organs, decreased secretion of glands, there is excitation of the central nervous system.

Preparations based on plants promote the activation of mental and physical activity, increase endurance and efficiency. Get rid of increased irritability, insomnia, used in the treatment of neurodermatitis, vegetative dystonia, Ménière syndrome.

Belladonna also affects the digestive system - suppresses the motor function of the digestive tract, relieves spasms, reduces the secretion of the salivary and gastric glands, pancreas. Extract of belladonna is a part of gastric tablets as spasmolytic, anticholinergic, analgesic, antiseptic.

Ordinary is used in ophthalmology, in particular in the diagnosis of eye diseases, thanks to the ability to dilate the pupils. On the part of the respiratory system, when taking medications on the basis of this plant, the respiratory center is excited, the stimulation of breathing, the expansion of the bronchi. Taking drugs, in which the main active substance is belladonna, improves cardiac conduction, increases the heart rate.

Black Berry is the raw material for the manufacture of local preparations, which are used to treat hemorrhoids and anus cracks. They help to quickly reduce pain, relieve inflammation and swelling of the candle, which includes belladonna. The instruction says that to ease the condition, it is first necessary to put a cleansing enema, then insert 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 delivery to relax the uterus and reduce the risk of prolonged labor. Starting at week 35, you can put one candle before bedtime (or one or two before the birth). Self-medication in this case is unacceptable.

Of the fruits, seeds, root extract and aboveground part, homeopathic preparations are prepared. They are used in the treatment of spasms of blood vessels and muscles, mastitis, erysipelas, scarlet fever, tonsillitis, headaches, neuritis, seizures, otitis, conjunctivitis, gynecological diseases, nephritis, epilepsy, urinary tract diseases, SARS, laryngitis, dysentery.

Krasavka in folk medicine

Traditional medicine with the help of belladonna treats impotence, paralysis, arthritis, sciatica, bronchial asthma, pulmonary tuberculosis, rabies, gastrointestinal diseases, intestinal, hepatic and renal colic, epilepsy, neurosis, migraine, depression, rheumatism, some venereal diseases, urine and cholelithiasis Illness, skin, mental illness, obesity, constipation, whooping cough, scarlet fever, and even if you believe healers, breast cancer.

Powder

Anti-asthmatic preparations and preparations are used for the treatment of bronchial asthma and bronchitis. A teaspoonful of powder is burned, smoke is inhaled.

Infusion of the belladonna

Infusion of plants are taken with spasmophilia, paralysis, depression, epilepsy, neuralgia, convulsions, tuberculosis, rabies. The extract of the roots is treated with trypanosomiasis African.

Tincture on alcohol

To obtain the tincture, it is necessary to insist the plant leaves on 40% alcohol. On a part of the grass, take 10 parts of alcohol. Use 5-10 drops. The remedy relieves diarrhea, colic, insomnia. Tincture of belladonna is used externally for tumors of the mammary glands, infiltrates. Tincture of fruits treats dysentery.

Broth

In folk medicine, a decoction of the roots of such a plant is used, as the common bell. The use of the drug helps to relieve pain in such diseases as gout, rheumatism, neuralgia. To make it, you need to put five grams of herbs 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, drain. Store the product you need 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

Joint pain, caused by arthrosis and degenerative changes, is treated with the decoction of the plant. To prepare a remedy, you need to take the molten roots of belladonna (1 tsp), pour 200 ml of boiling water. The medicine is cooked on a small fire for half an hour, cooled, filtered. The joints are rubbed twice a day for two weeks.

Powder of belladonna from bronchial asthma

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

Remedy for insomnia

In this case, tincture on vodka is used. Leaves should be poured with vodka (1:10), insisted for 21 days in a dark place. Use 15 drops twice a day. If necessary, the dosage can be increased to 23 drops, but not more.

Application in other areas

Krasavka is used in veterinary medicine as an analgesic. Extract of belladonna is fatal to fleas.

The plant can be used to produce a red and blue paint.

Contraindications

Since the belladonna is very poisonous, it can not be used without the appointment of a specialist. When treating such drugs, strict adherence to dosage and medical supervision is necessary.

Ordinary is not used to treat children, pregnant and lactating women. It is forbidden to use preparations based on belladonna for those who have glaucoma, prostatic hypertrophy, obstructive diseases of the urinary tract and intestines, ischemic heart disease, tachycardia. Elderly people should be cautious about taking this medication.

Overdose

In case of an overdose on a belladonna, a person experiences dry mouth, his pupils dilate, his face turns red, a small rash appears on the body, urination is abnormal, heart palpitations occur, headache, vomiting, diarrhea.

The first symptoms of poisoning appear after 15-20 minutes. In the beginning there is excitement, a person feels vivacity, fusses, talks a lot, can laugh, dance. The thoughts of the victim replace one another. Then hallucinations begin, the person hears voices and sounds. Violated visual perception - colors are indistinguishable, dark objects look bright. Attacks of aggression, rabies are possible. After 8-12 hours the victim gradually subsides, 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, a possible fatal outcome.

First aid

If you suspect a poisoning, you should 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, induce vomiting. Then 20 tablets of activated carbon are ground into a powder, poured into cold water, mixed and drunk. If necessary, repeat the procedure after 2 hours.

If a person has a strong palpitation, shortness of breath, you need to give heart drops. With cardiac arrest and respiration, immediate resuscitative measures are taken. The patient is taken to the hospital even if he feels better.

Preparations based on belladonna should be used with great care. If the condition worsens, treatment with bellies should be stopped immediately.