Belladonna

Atropa belladonna

Origin
Native to Europe, western Asia, north Africa, and North America, but now cultivated worldwide. Thrives in chalky soil, woods, and wasteland.

Background
Used traditionally for swelling and inflammations, colic, and ulcers. It formed part of a sleeping potion in Chaucer's time and, six centuries later, provides an anesthetic still used in conventional medicine.

Preparation
As it comes into flower, the whole fresh plant, including the root, is dug up. It is chopped and pounded to a pulp, then the juice is expressed. This juice is steeped in alcohol before being filtered, diluted, and succussed.

Common Names
Deadly nightshade, belladonna, dwale, devil's cherries, sorcerer's cherry, witches' berry.

DEADLY NIGHTSHADE Despite this plant's poisonous nature, it has been used as an antispasmodic, relaxant, and sedative in herbalism, and for acute inflammation, pain, and fever in homeopathy.

Key Symptoms

hot, flushed, red face, high fever, delirium, desire for sour things, sensitivity to light, noise, and movement

This deadly genus is named after the Greek Fate Atropos, who held the power of life and death over mortals. In the 16th century, Italian ladies used deadly nightshade to make their eyes sparkle, hence bella donna, which is Italian for "beautiful woman." Belladonna was one of the first homeopathic remedies, developed in 1799 by Hahnemann for scarlet fever, after he observed that symptoms of deadly nightshade poisoning closely matched those of scarlet fever.

Remedy Profile

Belladonna is a major remedy for acute illnesses of sudden, violent onset. It is usually given to people who are generally fit and energetic, but restless and agitated when ill. They are prone to sudden, explosive anger, marked by the desire to strike out or even to bite.

Typical symptoms linked with Belladonna include high fever, dilated pupils, flushed, dry skin, and throbbing pain, particularly in the head, due to rapid blood circulation. There is often hypersensitivity to light, noise, and touch, and also to rapid temperature changes.

Belladonna is typically given for acute pain, inflammation, or infection, chiefly of the upper respiratory tract. It may also be used to treat menstrual pain, sunstroke, febrile convulsions, cystitis, nephritis (inflamed kidneys), teething pain, and mastitis during breast-feeding.

Acute fever & pain

Symptoms: Sudden onset of high fever and hypersensitivity in all the senses. The face may be hot, flushed, and dry, with bright eyes and dilated pupils. Although the lips and mouth remain pale, the tongue is often bright red. Any inflammation is red, radiates heat, and throbs painfully. Fever is commonly followed by perspiration, and may develop into delirium. There is little thirst, or just a craving for sour drinks.

Other symptoms include throbbing pain in the eyes, which are swollen, red, and sensitive to light; a tearing, pounding pain deep in the ear; and a pulsating headache.

Symptoms better: For warm rooms; for sitting or standing erect; for rest.

Symptoms worse: For noise; for touch; for movement; for lying down; for drafts.

Sore throat & dry cough

Symptoms: Constricted, dry, burning throat, a tender neck, and red, swollen tonsils, notably on the right side. There may be a painful, racking cough and fever.

Symptoms better: For warm rooms; for rest.

Symptoms worse: For cold drafts; around 3 p.m.; for swallowing foods or drinks.

Headache & migraine

Symptoms: Violent, throbbing pain. During a migraine, pain starts in the back of the head, radiates to the right brow area, and settles behind the eye.

Symptoms better: For pressure on the head; for lying in the dark; for cold compresses.

Symptoms worse: For light; for noise; for movement; for wet hair; for menstruating.

Menstrual pain

Symptoms: Menstrual flow is extremely heavy and painful. The blood is hot and may be bright red or clotted.

Symptoms better: For standing or sitting erect.

Symptoms worse: For the slightest movement.

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