Nightshade Bittersweet

Nightshade Bittersweet: Botanical description, healing properties and uses

Bittersweet nightshade, which is also known as Dulcamara, is a plant of the nightshade family (Solanaceae) and is often used in folk medicine. It grows in shrubs, hedges and riverbanks, mainly in damp and shaded areas. Bittersweet nightshade is a climbing subshrub, woody below, herbaceous above.

The nightshade stem has a hollow core and branches, bearing successive leaves. The leaves usually have 2 lobes at the base, heart-shaped or ovoid, pointed at the end. In June-August, nightshade blooms with purple flowers with yellow conical anthers on the stamens. Beautiful juicy red berries are ovoid in shape.

Although nightshade is not as poisonous as its relatives belladonna, henbane and datura, it does require careful handling. Berries, especially unripe ones, are poisonous and can pose a great danger to children. Therefore, you should not self-medicate with this medicinal plant!

Nightshade stems are used in the pharmaceutical name - Dulcamara stipes (formerly: Stipites Dulcamara). Active ingredients include glycosidic bitters, saponins, steroidalkaloids and tannins. Like all medicinal plants that cannot be considered non-poisonous and, moreover, ineffective, nightshade is used little. However, the German National Health Service recommends the use of nightshade-based ointments for psoriasis, neurodermatitis and chronic eczema.

In folk medicine, bittersweet nightshade has many adherents. However, its medicinal effect is limited to improving metabolism. Tea from it is drunk - not sufficiently substantiated - for catarrh of the upper respiratory tract, bronchitis, asthma, gout, rheumatism, dropsy, eczema and other skin diseases.

Taking more than necessary amounts of nightshade can lead to overstimulation and speech impairment. Difficulty swallowing, nausea, and dizziness may occur. Therefore, you should always exercise caution when using nightshade, and it is better to seek advice from a doctor or pharmacist.

In conclusion, bittersweet nightshade is a medicinal plant that has its own advantages and disadvantages. Although it is not as poisonous as some other plants in the Nightshade family, it still needs to be used with caution. Bittersweet nightshade has medicinal uses for the treatment of certain diseases, but its effect is not very effective.

If you plan to use bittersweet nightshade as a medicinal plant, you must follow the dosage and not exceed the recommended intake. It is important to remember that self-medication can lead to undesirable consequences. Therefore, before using nightshade, you should consult your doctor or pharmacist.