Belladonna.

Belladonna

A perennial herbaceous plant of the Solanaceae family, up to 2 m high. The rhizome is multi-headed, with fleshy branched roots. The stem is erect, branched in the upper part, pubescent, with dense glands and hairs.

The leaves are ovate, pointed, entire, covered with tiny glands. The upper leaves are arranged in pairs, the lower leaves are alternate. Blooms from July until the end of the growing season.

The flowers are drooping, large, located in the axils of the upper leaves, singly or in pairs. The fruit is a shiny, juicy, black-purple, round berry with numerous seeds.

Belladonna is common in the Crimea, the Carpathians and the Caucasus.

It grows in single specimens or forms small thickets on forested mountain slopes, in clearings, forest edges and cutting areas. Prefers moist, loose, humus soils. It is successfully cultivated in large areas.

The plant is heat-loving, very poisonous.

Leaves and sometimes roots are used as medicinal raw materials. Leaves are harvested from the lower branches at the beginning of flowering of the plant.

Dry immediately under a canopy or in a dryer at a temperature of 40 ° C, laying out in a thin layer, since slow drying destroys biologically active substances. The roots are dug up in autumn or early spring, shaken off the ground, washed, cut, dried at a temperature of 50°C and dried at 40°C. All raw materials are stored in boxes or fabric containers for 2 years.

The leaves and grass contain atropine, hyoscyamine, scopolamine, atropamine, belladonine and other biologically active compounds.

Belladonna preparations have the ability to relax the tone of smooth muscle organs (intestines, bladder, bronchi, uterus, etc.), reduce the formation of gastric juice, sweat and saliva. They are used for inflammatory diseases of the gastric mucosa, accompanied by increased formation of hydrochloric acid, peptic ulcers of the stomach and duodenum, diseases of the biliary tract and gall bladder, cholelithiasis and urolithiasis, intestinal colic and other diseases that are accompanied by spasm of smooth muscles.

The positive effect of belladonna has been noted in bronchial asthma. It is used to dilate pupils, speed up heart function, and for mushroom poisoning.

The use of belladonna preparations requires great caution and should be carried out under the supervision of a physician.

Dry mouth is the first sign of their overdose, resulting in dilated pupils, difficulty urinating, palpitations, constipation, motor agitation, increased body temperature, delirium and hallucinations. Belladonna poisoning is common in children. First aid consists of urgent gastric lavage with water and taking a laxative, activated carbon, pilocarpine, proserine or other cholinomimetic and anticholinesterase drugs.

The main alkaloid of belladonna, atropine, and other substances it contains are widely used in medical practice.

Atropine sulfate is produced in the form of powder, ampoules, syringe tubes, tablets and ointments. Prescribed for injection, oral and external use.

Becarbon is taken for intestinal spasms and increased acidity of gastric juice, 1-2 tablets 2-3 times a day.

Bell