BELLADONNA - ORIGIN, HABITAT, DESCRIPTION, PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS, TOXICITY, POISONING, PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION, DOCTRINE OF SIGNATURE, HOMOEOPATHIC PREPARATION

Belladonna - Botanical name, Family, Synonyms, Origin of name, Habitat, Description, Constituents, Toxicity, Poisoning, Physiological action, Historical background, Doctrine of signature, Homoeopathic preparation of Belladonna.

1. belladonna dR. ASWIN ANANDH. M PG SCHOLAR HOMOEOPATHIC PHARMACY

2. Bota n ical name: Atropa belladonna Linn Family: Solanaceae Synonyms: English : Deadly nightshade, devil's cherries, naughty man's cherries, black cherry, devil's herb, great morel, dwayberry, divale, dwale, banewort Hindi : Sag angur French : Belladone German : Tollkraut

3. The word ' Belladonna ' is from the Italian ' Bella ' whose meaning is ' beautiful ' and ' donna ' means ' lady '. This is probably a reference to the Italian women who used to dilate their pupils by placing a drop of belladonna in each eye, making them more beautiful in the eyes of Italian men.

4. One of the most toxic plants in the western hemisphere First botanical description was given by Linnaeus in Species Plantarum in 1753

5. Widely distributed over Central and Southern Europe, South- west Asia and Algeria; cultivated in England, France and North America. Grows well in shady, moist areas with a limestone- rich (calcareous) soil . Specimens growing in sun are apt to be dwarfed. When cultivated in the open it is more vulnerable to insects than when growing wild. Best soil: light, permeable and chalky soil . Uncommon in England, more rare in modern times. Sparingly found in twenty- eight British counties, mostly in waste places, quarries and near old ruins, rare in Scotland. Colonizes disturbed soils and is considered a weed in some parts of the world

6. Atropa belladonna is a branching herbaceous perennial, often growing as a subshrub, from a fleshy rootstock. Plants grow to 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) tall with 18 centimetres (7.1 in) long ovate leaves.

7. The bell-shaped flowers are tyrian purple with green tinges and faintly scented. The fruits are berries, which are green ripening to a shiny black, and approximately 1 cm (0.39in) in diameter. The berries are sweet and are consumed by animals that disperse the seeds in their droppings, even though the seeds contain

8. The main constituents of Atropa belladonna are the alkaloids hyoscyamine, scopolamine [also named hyoscine], atropine [d,l- hyoscyamine], and traces of nicotine. The seeds are richest in alkaloids, followed by the roots and the leaves, respectively. Small quantities of volatile bases – Pyridine, N- methyl pyrroline. Leaves contain a fluorescent substance β - methylaesculetin (scopoletin) and calcium oxalate CONSTITUENTS

9. Atropine increases firing of the sinoatrial node (SA) and conduction through the atrioventricular node (AV) of the heart, opposes the actions of the vagus nerve, blocks acetylcholine receptor sites, and decreases bronchial secretions. In general, atropine lowers the parasympathetic activity of all muscles and glands regulated by the parasympathetic nervous system. This occurs because atropine is a competitive antagonist of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (acetylcholine being the main neurotransmitter used by the parasympathetic nervous system). Therefore, it may cause swallowing difficulties and reduced secretions.

10. Hyoscyamine is an anticholinergic , specifically an antimuscarinic, working by blocking the action of acetylcholine at parasympathetic sites in smooth muscle, secretory glands and the CNS. It also increases cardiac output, dries secretions, and antagonizes serotonin. At comparable doses, hyoscyamine has 98 per cent of the anticholinergic power of atropine. The other major belladonna- derived drug scopolamine has 92 per cent of the antimuscarinic potency of atropine.

11. Scopolamine exerts its effects by acting as a competitive antagonist at muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, specifically M1 receptors ; it is thus classified as an anticholinergic, anti- muscarinic drug.

12. Belladonna is one of the most toxic plants found in the Western hemisphere. All parts of the plant contain tropane alkaloids. The berries pose the greatest danger to children because they look attractive and have a somewhat sweet taste. The consumption of two to five berries by children and ten to twenty berries by adults can be lethal. The root of the plant is generally the most toxic part, though this can vary from one specimen to another. Ingestion of a single leaf of the plant can be fatal to an adult.

13. Dilated pupils Sensitivity to light Blurred vision Tachycardia Loss of balance Staggering Headache Rash Flushing Dry mouth and throat Slurred speech Urinary retention Constipation Confusion Hallucinations Delirium Convulsions.

14. This agent, when applied locally, diminishes the sensibility of the sensory nerves, and when absorbed it produces systemic effects. Taken internally, it lessens the secretions, and as a result there is dryness of the mucous surfaces. This is brought about by paralysis of the peripheral nerve endings. At first the pulse is retarded, but it is quickly accelerated and rendered firmer, while the arterial tensions is increased. The heart muscle is stimulated but if it is over- stimulated it then becomes weak.

15. Full doses stimulate the brain and many produce hallucinations and a delirium, which may be mild, joyful, talkative, or of a violent type; accompanying these there are frequently spectral illusions. The reflexes at first are slightly stimulated, while later they are diminished. There may be complete motor paralysis. The sensory nerves are depressed, especially from a local application of the drug.

16. The respirations are quickened and rendered deeper by medicinal doses; while poisonous doses, by over- stimulating, soon result in exhaustion and paralysis of the respiratory centers, and the breathing becomes shallow and asphyxia and death may result. The bodily heat is increased. It dilates the pupil and increases intra- ocular tension, occasions vertigo and turgescence of the face. Assimilation is impaired. It is rapidly absorbed and is eliminated by the kidneys and bowels.

17. Folklore - Belladonna was believed to help witches to fly. Its other name "belladonna" (beautiful woman) is thought to refer to its use by Italian women to dilate the pupils of their eyes. Relaxant - Belladonna is prescribed to relax distended organs, especially the stomach and intestines, relieving intestinal colic and pain. It helps peptic ulcers, and it relaxes spasms of the urinary tubules. Parkinson's disease - Belladonna can be used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson's disease's, reducing tremors and rigidity, and improving speech and mobility. Anesthetic - The smooth muscle relaxant properties of belladonna make it useful in conventional medicine as an anesthetic, particularly when digestive or bronchial secretions need to be kept to a minimum. The tropane alkaloids of A. belladonna were used as poisons and made poisonous arrow to kill

18. Scottish troops used it during a truce to subdue the invading Danes. Legend: Scottish troops put belladonna into enemies’ liquor supply Waited for enemies to fall asleep and then kill them Cosmetics: Spanish and Italian Women Extracts used as eye drops to dilate pupils, giving pupils a more intense, hypnotic, and attractive appeal HISTORY AND USES

19. Belladonna plant grows nicely in soil containing calcium carbonate. So Calcarea carb is complementary to belladonna. The flowers of this plant are bloated in appearance & this can be used for bloated condition of congestions. DOCTRINE OF SIGNATURE

20. Prover: Dr. Samuel Hahnemann Parts used: The whole plant when beginning to flower. Preparation: Class I (old method) New method (a) Mother Tincture Drug Strength 1/10 Belladonna in course powder 100 g Purified water 567 ml Strong Alcohol 470 ml To make one litre of the Mother Tincture. (b) Potencies: 2x to contain one part Mother Tincture, four parts Purified Water, five parts Strong Alcohol; 3x and higher with Dispensing Alcohol.

21. Belladonna is a great pain remedy. Patient is not thirsty, especially in fever . Belladonna patients aggravated by touch jar and motion, drought of air and heat of sun. Sensitiveness to touch of affected part is very well marked in this great remedy. Cannot bear to be touched anywhere. Great dryness runs through the whole of this remedy. Acute, sudden and violent onset is very characteristic of this drug.

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