Need To Know Some About Medicine Bella Donna......

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I'm not sure if that is exactly how it is spelled...what is the medicine MADE OF and what EXACTLY does it do? Please reply soon. Thanks, Donna

-- Donna (evelynv@valuelinx.net), September 12, 2001

Answers

It's from the plant deadly nightshade and that's a poisonous plant. Here's a web site for it: Nightshade

-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (jlance@nospammail.com), September 12, 2001.

Dear Donna,

Belladonna is an opiate dirivative with several medical uses. As an opiate, it can be used to calm and/or mildly sedate and can be used in the treatment of stress related illness.

I was on belladonna for acute gastritis during my freshman year of college. Parenthetically, I also had a 'prescription' from my doctor for a glass of wine each day (sure raised eyebrows at the seminary I was attending!! *grin*). Belladonna has to be used conscientiously and doses must be followed exactly; overdoses can lead to death. The worst side effect was being knocked out for 2 days after the initial dose!! Slept through 2 days of classes and had to have the low normal dosage reduced by half. Some people also experience 'cotton mouth' and a tinny taste in thier mouth.

If You are going on belladonna, be assured it's safe when used correctly. Also stay in contact with Your physician if unexpected side effects develop.

Hope this helps!

Randle

-- Randle Gay (rangay@hotmail.com), September 12, 2001.


I am familiar with Belladonna as a homeopathic medicine, in which case it would be just the teeniest little microgram of the plant in a carrier of some sort, like sugar or alcohol. There would be no possibility of consuming too much of it in the homeopathic form. I'd be extremely cautious of using it as an herb, however, as it is definitely poisonous. I've never heard of Belladonna as a regular medicine.

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), September 12, 2001.

Belladonna was a common ingredient in even over the counter medicines until the last 10 years or so, Donnagel, and the prescription version, Donnatal, used for stomach upset and diarreha (sp?) had belladonna as a key ingredient. It calmed the smooth muscles of the abdomen and bowels, relieving the pain and cramping. It worked amazingly well, I used it a lot as a young adult with irritable bowel syndrome, before I learned alternative natural ways of healing. It was taken off the market due to the potential for abuse, it can be additive over time.

Belladonna comes from alkaloid derivatives of the belladonna plant, a member of the nightshade family of plants, and overdoses can kill you quite easily. It has definite barbituate effects on the brain, lungs, and heart, and slows them all down.

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), September 13, 2001.


Correction, it can be addictive over time, not additive, sorry!!!

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), September 13, 2001.


I was reading the post on Belladonna, I am really interested in herbs and plants. I have always thought that the Belladonna plant was so beautiful. I love all the weeds and plants and think that God put them all here for a purpose. I truly believe that there will come a time when knowing and working with herbs will be once again important. Belladonna grows on my little homestead, it is one of those weeds which finds itself here and I leave alone, I let it alone as long as it is where no little children will find it. My kids know that it is poisonous and if they come across it with their friends they tell them. Belladonna is a very mysterious and lovely plant. I love to look at it. Last summer when my chickens were out for their evening recess I noticed 4 or 5 chickens were gobbling up green Belladonna berries, did I rush in and stop them , no, I wanted to see if it had any effect on them, I knew that the plant was poisonous so I watched these chickens for 3 days and nothing ever happened to them, and nothing ever happened to us, that I know of! from eating their eggs. Weird huh. Sometimes I wonder if we have been taught things that aren't even true. Even so, I would like to know if one could make a tincture of Belladonna . I would like to know that I could partake of the benefits of this plant if ever needed. Sincerely TRen

-- trendle ellwood (trendlespin@msn.com), September 13, 2001.

The Encyclopedia of Medical Plants says yes to making tincture out of Belladonna's leaves or root with the usual warning to only use the tincture if prescribed by a herbalist or doctor.

-- Bren (WAYOUTFARM@skybest.com), September 13, 2001.

Thanks Bren , love TRen, Hey, we rhyme.

-- trendle ellwood (trendlespin@msn.com), September 14, 2001.

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