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Botanical Name :
Atropa belladonna
Sanskrit name :
Suchi
English Name :
Belladonna
Family : Solanaceae
Plant Parts Used :
Root, leaves, tops
Description of
Atropa belladonna:
Atropa belladonna is a branching
herbaceous perennial growing to
5 meter tall, with 18 cm long ovate leaves; it has the heaviest leaf in
its angiosperm group. The leaves have an oily, "poison
ivy"-like feel and a dull green color. The bell-shaped
flowers are purple and the
fruits are black, shiny
berries . The berries are sweet, but
the seeds contain toxic alkaloids. There is a pale yellow flowering form
called Atropa belladonna var. lutea with pale yellow fruit.
It is not a winter-hardy perennial; transplantation often leads to its
death.
Germination is often difficult due to
seed
dormancy and generally occurs after
several weeks under warm moist conditions. The seedlings need
sterile
soil to prevent
damping off. It is an uncommon garden
plant, and is considered a
weed in some areas. |
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Medicinal Uses:
Although it is poisonous, deadly nightshade has a long history of
medicinal use and has a wide range of applications, in particular
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it
is used to dilate the pupils in eye operations, to relieve
intestinal colic and to treat peptic ulcers
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Parkinson's disease, reducing tremors and rigidity whilst improving
speech and mobility.
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It has also been used as an antidote in cases of mushroom or
toadstool poisoning
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This is a very poisonous plant, it should be used with extreme
caution and only under the supervision of a qualified practitioner
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All
parts of the plant are analgesic, antidote, antispasmodic, diuretic,
hallucinogenic, mydriatic, narcotic and sedative
Herbal Extract packing:
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