7 Rarely Known Benefits of Belladonna

When the word “poison” is spoken, it often invokes thoughts of fear and mayhem. However, poisons have been used for healing for over a thousand years, following the principle “like-cures-like”. Belladonna, also known as Deadly Nightshade, is one of these poisons. Every part of the Belladonna plant is extremely toxic. With my degree being in Pharmacology, I am curious about poisons, often researching them. My topic is important because as nasty as that sounds, this deadly poison is also a potent healer, a fact not known by many people. The topic is also important to me personally because I have family members who take Belladonna. It is a huge help to them and their health.

1. Eases Headaches and Migraines

Some headaches and migraines are caused by blood accumulating in the brain. This can lead to debilitating side effects such as light sensitivity, nosebleeds, and even seizures. Belladonna is one of the best remedies for blood accumulation. Its effects also kick in very quickly, so it offers relief faster than most other medications. This will help prevent symptoms from worsening. A simple remedy made from the leaves and roots of the Belladonna plant can relax the spasms in the area of the brain being affected by the headaches, thus releasing the accumulated blood, easing the symptoms, such as light sensitivity and nosebleeds.

2. Cures Flu Symptoms

Belladonna is also a common treatment for flu symptoms, though it is typically only used to treat severe cases. It can help resolve problems such as excessive congestion, headaches, and itchy and watery eyes. While it is dangerous for a person to self-prescribe Belladonna as they will likely take too much, it is often prescribed by doctors as a treatment for severe flu symptoms. It is taken in the form of a tablet and blocks the production of excess mucus. It also helps prevent headaches for the reasons mentioned above.

3. Manages Hypertension

Hypertension, more commonly known as high blood pressure, can be caused by a variety of issues, such as genetics, rage, or aging. It can lead to kidney damage then failure, a stroke, or even a heart attack. Hypertension is caused by the heart pumping too hard, forcing too much blood through arteries, without relaxation between beats. Belladonna helps with hypertension because it relaxes the heart, allowing it to slow down and pump the appropriate amount of blood needed. However, it has been shown that taking too much Belladonna will have the opposite effect and make hypertension worse, so it must be taken wisely.

4. Remedies Motion Sickness

Motion sickness occurs when the brain can’t make sense of any information sent from the eyes and ears. In other words, motion sickness is the senses becoming confused. This may cause headaches, dizziness, and nausea. Just as it can relax muscles, Belladonna can also help relax the nervous system. It helps the brain relax and make sense of the information being sent. Curing the dizziness that comes from motion sickness often cures nausea. In this instance, Belladonna can be used in two forms: a patch or a tablet. The patch offers a slower, more extended relief from motion sickness, whereas the tablet offers a quicker, but shorter-lasting relief.

5. Controls Encephalitis

Encephalitis is a deadly virus that kills over 10,000 people every year, and even the survivors are often left impaired physically and mentally. A vaccine for Encephalitis was not found until scientists looked into Belladonna and found it to be highly effective in managing the symptoms and impairments of this virus. Encephalitis causes inflammation of the brain as well as many flu-like symptoms. While most flu medications failed to work, Belladonna helped calm the nervous systems of the patients and survivors, thus controlling the virus. While not a perfect cure, it is the best one discovered thus far and is safe, simple, and inexpensive to make.

6. Treats Eye Afflictions

Belladonna is often found in eye drops. Doctors frequently use Belladonna to dilate a patient’s eyes. It works by relaxing the muscle in charge of pupil size, allowing the eye to fully dilate. It also helps cure conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye. Conjunctivitis causes the eye to become inflamed and the whites of the eye to turn a reddish-pink color. This can be caused by allergies or bacteria. Belladonna can help limit the excess amount of fluid in the eye that the body makes in response to either bacteria or pollen.

7. Regulates Zika Virus

The Zika virus is an epidemic disease transmitted through a mosquito bite. It causes fever, headache, conjunctivitis, and muscle pain, among other symptoms. As mentioned above, Belladonna can help with many of these symptoms. It can regulate the accumulated blood that causes headache and fever, limit the excess fluid caused by conjunctivitis, and relax muscles, thus reducing muscle pain. Because of this, Belladonna is one of the best-known treatments for Zika virus symptoms. As mentioned before in the example of Encephalitis, Belladonna is not a cure, but it offers the best relief for the symptoms of the Zika virus discovered so far.

Conclusion

Belladonna, even though it is a dangerous poison, in the right hands and dosages, can help the medical field save lives. It can help doctors treat many of their patient’s symptoms, whether they be caused by headaches or dangerous viruses. Poisons do not always have to mean death and mayhem, such as many people believe, they also have many benefits. Pharmacology is full of poisons being used to benefit mankind; Belladonna is no exception. As helpful as Belladonna has been shown to be, because of its dangerous nature, a person should never attempt to use it without a doctor’s oversight.

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