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Belladonna Atropa belladonna.
Common name: Deadly nightshade, devil's cherries, dwale, black cherry, devil's herb, great morel.
Occurrence:
native to central and southern Europe but commonly grows in England .
Parts used:
the roots and leaves. The root contains several alkaloid compounds including hyoscyamine, atropine and belladonnine. The same alkaloids are present in the leaves but the amount of each compound varies according to plant type and methods of storing and drying leaves.
Medicinal uses:
as a narcotic, diuretic, sedative, mydriatic, antispasmodic. The drug is used as an anodyne in febrile conditions, night sweats and coughs. It is valuable in treating eye diseases and is used as a pain-relieving lotion to treat neuralgia, gout, rheumatism and sciatica. Belladonna is an extremely poisonous plant and should always be used under medical supervision. Cases of accidental poisoning and death are well known. Despite this, it is a valuable drug used to treat a wide range of disease.
Administered as:
a liquid extract that is used to produce alcoholic extracts, plasters, liniment, suppositories, tincture and ointment.
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