Atropa belladonna

Plant Medicine, Daimonica, Tropane alkaloid plant

Atropa belladonna

Deadly nightshade

Atropa belladonna is the deadly nightshade of European herbal tradition — a Solanaceae perennial with shiny black berries deceptively similar to currants. Named for Atropos, the Fate who cuts the thread, and bella donna ("beautiful woman") because Renaissance Italian women instilled the juice into their eyes to dilate the pupils. Long history in witchcraft (flying ointments), poisoning, and modern ophthalmology (atropine).

Experience

👥 No personal reports yet

⚕ No clinical reports yet

Log in to add your own experience.

Problems

No problems yet. Be the first to suggest one.

+ Add a problem

Titration strategies

No titration strategies yet. Be the first to suggest one.

+ Add a titration strategy

Effects

No effects listed yet. Be the first to suggest one.

+ Add an effect

Relevant anecdote

No anecdotes yet. Share a relevant one.

+ Add an anecdote

Relevant Literature

No literature entries yet.

Log in to submit relevant literature.

See also

Datura, Brugmansia, Mandragora, Hyoscyamus niger

References

Summary

Classes

Plant Medicine, Daimonica, Tropane alkaloid plant

Common uses

Historical cosmetic (pupil dilation)▲0▼, Source of atropine▲0▼

Pharmacy

Preparations

Leaves, berries, root. Historically: belladonna cigarettes ("Asthmador") OTC in US until the 1970s

Pharmacology

Routes

Oral, topical

Legal status

Plant unrestricted; pharmaceutical atropine Rx-only

Purported mechanism

Tropane alkaloids: hyoscyamine (dominant; the racemic form is atropine), scopolamine. Competitive muscarinic antagonism.