Belladonna - Boericke & Tafel, Nature's Way

From Atropa belladonna, deadly nightshade. The homeopathic remedy is made from the whole fresh plant, which is highly poisonous, containing the alkaloids atropine, hyoscamine, and scopolamine.

The symptoms of deadly nightshade poisoning are giddiness, confusion, increasingly excited, incoherent or violent behaviour, a dry mouth and throat, flushed face, wide staring pupils, and difficulty speaking and swallowing.

A high fever develops, sometimes accompanied by convulsions. Drowsiness and coma ensue, and eventually death.

Constitutional indications
The kind of person who responds most markedly to Belladonna is sturdily built, apparently in rude health, and vigorous in mind and body.

Mental symptoms alleviated
Restlessness; wild, incoherent, excited behaviour; maniacal laughter; racing imagination; hallucinations; jumpiness and fear when approached; feeling dazed and stupid; horrible dreams; feeling sleepy but not able to sleep.

Physical symptoms alleviated
Unusual sensitivity to light, noise, touch, pressure, motion, jarring, pain; fits; throbbing headaches which feel as if all the blood in the body has gone to the head (made worse by sun, cold, shock, menstruation, movement, stooping, eye movements); hot, flushed face, with pale mouth and lips; earache, especially on right side (made worse by getting head wet or cold); dilated, staring pupils, and intolerance of light; bright red tongue, sometimes raw around edges but coated in middle; in infants, teething pains; spasms of dry, tickly coughing made worse by talking; sore throat, tender to the touch, and throat pains which cause head and neck to jerk; sudden contraction of throat on swallowing; thirst for lemon juice, not alleviated by drinking it; inflammation of the kidneys; jerking and twitching in sleep; burning, dry, flushed and throbbing skin, with cold hands and feet.

Many of the symptoms above are made worse by jarring, motion, light, noise, pressure, sun, having the hair cut and lying down. They also tend to be worse on the right side and at night from 11 p.m. onwards. They are often relieved by standing, sitting upright, staying in the warm and applying warmth to the affected parts.

Specific use
Scarlet fever.

Complimentary remedy
Calcarea carb.

Antidoting remedies/substances
Camphora, Coffea, Opium, Aconite; acetic add (in fruit, lemon juice, vinegar), tea, coffee. It is a highly toxic plant which grows wild across Europe. Its name means "beautiful woman" in Italian.

Ladies of Italy used to dilate their pupils with belladonna eye drops for a doe-eyed look. The symptoms from belladonna poisoning include a dry mouth and hot, flushed skin, nausea, convulsions, and delirium.

Homoeopaths prescribe Belladonna for illnesses that have similar symptoms. All parts of the belladonna plant are used in the Homoeopathic remedy. The plant is crushed and pressed with the juice mixed with alcohol to dilute it.

Cautions:
While homeopathic medicines are safe & remarkably free of side effects, your condition might be serious. Do not take this product for pain for more than 10 days unless directed by a doctor. If pain or other symptoms persist or get worse, or if new symptoms occur, consult a doctor, because these could be signs of a serious condition. As with any drug, if you are pregnant or nursing a baby, seek the advice of a health care professional before using.

For the temporary relief of nasal congestion, sore throat or headache associated with a cold or flu.
Characteristics: Face and throat are hot and red; head may be throbbing, or sensitive to noise and light.