Belladona:البلادونا

Belladonna  :                                  

Belladonna is not an herb you'll want to stock your pantry with. While it has benefits, it's an herb that can be very dangerous and can sometimes be fatal. It has some medicinal properties and an interesting history, but it can be extremely dangerous. The nickname "deadly nightshade" is a good indication of its effectiveness. However, there is a tincture from this plant that is used for medicinal purposes. Belladonna is a perennial herb native to Europe and Asia Minor but is now widely cultivated in the United States, Europe, and India. When in full bloom, the plant is harvested and then dried for use. The most important contributor of belladonna is atropine, an important agent that helps dilate the pupils of the eyes. This has been shown to be very beneficial. Even small doses of atropine can cause an increased heart rate. Some cough syrups are known to contain atropine and are used for bronchitis and whooping cough. Furthermore, it is used to soothe the stomach lining before anesthesia and for peptic ulcers. Belladonna goes by many different names but has been used for over 500 years. While growing wild, which belladonna typically does, even a small dose can be fatal. In the earliest times when belladonna was first used, it was for cosmetic purposes. Women felt that if they used it to dilate their pupils, they would appear more attractive and seductive. This is why the name belladonna means "beautiful lady" in Italian. However, it is still used in many ophthalmologists' offices across the country to this day. Belladonna also has other significant benefits for its current uses, as it has the ability to dry up bodily fluids such as breast milk, saliva, sweat, and mucus. The alkaloids found in belladonna are used for many conditions, such as gastrointestinal disorders such as colitis, diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome, colic, diarrhea, and peptic ulcers. It is also effective in treating asthma, excessive sweating, nocturia, incontinence, headaches, migraines, muscle pain, cramps, motion sickness, Parkinson's disease, and biliary colic. Belladonna is often used as a homeopathic remedy for conditions such as colds, earaches, fever, menstrual cramps, sunstroke, toothaches, headaches, sore throats, and boils. How and how much a patient takes is determined by several different factors, such as their symptoms, mood, and general mood. When used in homeopathic medicine, belladonna is highly diluted due to its level of toxicity. One should not use belladonna as a self-help measure and should only take it under the care of a qualified physician. The doses given for belladonna are always at very low doses. When belladonna is prescribed, it is either added to granulated sugar or mixed with other types of medications and is only available by prescription. So, while belladonna is obviously a very dangerous herb, it is very beneficial when used correctly.