Belladonna is a plant that contains alkaloids used in the treatment of gastrointestinal spasms and in asthma. Let's see when to take the belladonna and where it is possible to buy it.
Belladonna, what it is and what it is used for
Belladonna ( Atropa belladonna ) is a perennial plant belonging to the Solanaceae family, which grows wild in mountainous areas on the edge of woods and uncultivated areas.
The belladonna plant can reach almost two meters in height, it has an erect and branched stem, large oval leaves, violet campanulate flowers and black berries .
The name of the belladonna refers to the use that was made of the juice of the berries which, instilled in the eyes, dilates the pupils enhancing the beauty .
The belladonna drug is made up of leaves, but often the roots are also used; the leaves collected in early summer are dried and used to extract the components .
The whole plant contains toxic alkaloids, including isosciamina, scopolamine, atropine . These substances, extracted from belladonna, are used in the pharmaceutical industry.
Use of belladonna
The alkaloids present in belladonna inhibit parasympathetic functions because they block muscarinic receptors. Therefore atropine and scopolamine cause mydriasis (dilation of the pupils) and cycloplegia, reduce gastrointestinal and bladder motility, have spasmolytic effect , cause bronchodilation and reduce salivary secretions ; at low doses, atropine reduces the heart rate, while at higher doses it increases it. Scopolamine also has a sedative effect.
The compounds extracted from belladonna are used in diseases of the digestive system, in the treatment of respiratory disorders, to suppress the overproduction of gastric acid, in preanesthesia and in the prevention of car sickness and seasickness .
Synthesis analogues of belladonna alkaloids are used in the treatment of peptic ulcer, asthma and Parkinson's disease .
At high doses some alkalodes present in belladonna can cause hallucinations.
Where to buy the belladonna
Belladonna is not a herb that can be sold in herbal medicine, so where to buy the belladonna ? Since it is not included among the plants allowed in food supplements, the compounds present in belladonna are used for the production of drugs: in the pharmacy, for example, one can find medicines used in the treatment of abdominal spasms that contain belladonna extracts.
Given the strong toxicity that characterizes the whole plant, for the belladonna is not expected the family use: the belladonna in fact is particularly dangerous for humans and even the only contact can give manifestations due to its toxicity, since the alkaloids present in the plant they are easily absorbed through the skin.
It is therefore advisable not to collect and use wild belladonna plants .
