Belladonna
Overview
Belladonna has many names! Here’s a breakdown of some common and interesting ones:
Common Names:
- Deadly Nightshade: This is the most widely recognized common name, highlighting the plant’s poisonous nature.
- Devil’s Berries: Another name emphasizing its toxicity.
- Belladonna Lily: Refers to the attractive flowers of the plant.
- Wooly Nightshade: Describes the plant’s fuzzy leaves and stems.
Less Common Names:
- Dwale: An old English term for a hallucinogenic or narcotic substance.
- Banewort: An old name meaning "death plant."
- Herb of Fury: Refers to the plant’s potential psychoactive effects.
- Fair Ladies’ Bane: This name alludes to the use of belladonna to dilate pupils for cosmetic purposes, a potentially dangerous practice.
Scientific Name:
- Atropa belladonna: This is the official scientific classification for the plant.
Choosing the Right Name:
- Formal Context: Use "Atropa belladonna" in scientific discussions.
- Informal Context: "Belladonna" or "Deadly Nightshade" are clear choices.
- Historical Context: "Dwale" or "Banewort" might be appropriate for historical writing.
Important Note:
- Regardless of the name used, remember that Belladonna is a highly poisonous plant. Never ingest it or use it without professional medical guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Describe the pain of Belladonna.
Onset: –
- Sudden.
- Short or long lasting. Pain usually in short attacks, but may also last for indefinite period.
Character of pain:
- Pains come suddenly, lasts indefinitely and ceases suddenly.
- Pain runs from above downwards.
- Pains lightning like incoming and going (Mag. phos.).
- Pains are terrible, comes suddenly, last a short time, disappear suddenly
- Pains: appear and disappear suddenly (Kall bich. Ign., Eup. perf., Mag. phos.).
Modalities: –
- Agg: from touch; from motion.
- Amel: from standing or sitting erect.
Concomitant:
- i) Pain causes redness of face and eyes.
- ii) Fullness of head and throbbings of carotids.
What is the keynote of Bell.?
Keynote of Bell. is congestion.
Name five right-sided medicines.
Right sided medicines
- Ammon. carb
- Apis mel
- Belladonna
- Bryonia
- Lycopodium.
- Others: Causticum, Podophyllum, Rhus tox
What is the diathesis of Bell?
Tubercular diathesis (Calc. carb., Phosphorus).
How symptoms of Bell develops?
It develops suddenly and violently. Thus, it is an acute drug (Aconite; – slow & Insidious, Bry., Gels.).
Mention five medicines for extreme sensitiveness to touch.
Medicines for sensitiveness to touch
- Apis mel
- Sulphur
- Lachesis
- Bell
- Calc. carb.
- (Note: Ref. Bovista chapter of Allen’s key notes).
Write three medicines for fine complexion.
- Belladonna.
- Phosphorus
- Pulsatilla.
State three medicines where patients are prone to brain trouble.
- Belladonna.
- Calc. carb.
- Helleborus.
Mention two medicines for hasty eating or drinking.
- Belladonna.
- Hepar sulph.
State the hydrophobia of Belladonna.
Hydrophobia of Belladonna
- Hydrophobia: fear of water, with excessive aversion to liquids (Stramo, Lyssin).
- Liquids are more painful than solids when swallowing (Bry, Ign, Lach).
Mention three medicines for rash during profuse menses.
Rash
- Belladonna
- Calc. carb
- Graphites.
- (Others: Bellis per, Eugenia jamb, Sang. Can, Psorinum)
- (Rash before the menses Conium, Dulcamara).
State the headache of Belladonna.
a) Introduction:
- Dr. J. H. Clarke reports that Bell. is a headache medicine of par excellence.
- Dr. Nash calls it, a ‘head-remedy’.
b) Suitability:
- Headache of those who readily become delirious in fever or with pain (Agar.).
- Plethoric constitutions.
c) Causations:
- Exposure to cold, draught of cold air.
- To heat of the sun.
- From haircut (Acon., Glon.).
- suppression of catarrhal flow.
- tobacco-smoking esp. in nervous man (Clarke).
d) Type:
- Congestive type of headache.
e) Mode of onset:
- It is sudden and violent (Acute onset).
f) Location:
- Right supra ciliary region; forehead.
g) Sensation:
- There is sensation of fullness, as if forehead would burst (Ammon. carb., Glon.). Fullness, heaviness and violent pressure on the head esp. in the forehead and sensation as if cranium is going to burst (Clarke).
- There is sensation of stabbing as by a knife, from one temple to the other.
- Great sensitiveness to touch-sensitive externally, even pressure of the hair gives pain (Acon. China., Merc.).
- Also sensation: as if the brain is loose in forehead and falling from side to side (Bry, Sulph. ac. Rhus tox, Spig.).
- Ch. of headache: Pain comes suddenly, lasts indefinitely and goes suddenly.
h) Concomitants
- Throbbing of brain & carotids.
- Excessive heat of the affected part.
- There is rush of blood to head and face.
- Redness of eyes and face.
- Profuse pungent smelling sweat in head and covered parts (Clarke).
i) Modalities:
- Aggravation from slight noise, from jar; from motion, from every foot step (Aloe., Bry.).
- From light, touch, external impressions, etc.
- From lying down.
- From least exertion, from coughing (Bry.).
- From bending head downwards.
- In afternoon, etc. Amel.) By tight bandage, pressure.
- By menstrual flow (during menses).
- By wrapping up the head.
