Table of contents:
Most of you may not be very familiar with Belladonna. But if you've watched the 2007 film Perfect Strangers, the belladonna extract is used by the main character as a murder weapon. The berries produced by this plant are equally poisonous, and have appeared in the Hunger Games films.
Yes. Despite its beautiful appearance, this plant is a deadly poisonous plant. But make no mistake. In the real world, a number of studies have found many benefits of belladonna for body health.
Belladonna at a glance
Belladonna, who has another nameAtropa belladonna or nightshade , is a poisonous shrub native to Asia and Europe. This plant produces black berries which should not be eaten.
According to National Institutes of Health (NHS), nightshade is not safe for direct consumption. Eating the fruit or leaves of this plant can cause death. Direct skin contact with the leaves can cause an allergic reaction and a reddish skin rash. That is why in ancient times, the sap of this plant was often used as a poison applied to the tip of an arrow.
Along with the development of the modern medical world. This shrub began to be processed into cosmetic and medicinal products. For example, as an antiseptic solution for doctors before surgery and eye drops to widen your eyes.
How come? Didn't he say Belladona was deadly? Wait a minute. To be safe for mass use, this plant will first go through a complicated process to get certain chemical compounds to be used as medicine.
Revealing the health benefits of belladonna
The important chemical compounds are scopolamine and atropine. Scopolamine functions to reduce the secretion of several organs in the body. It also helps reduce nausea and vomiting due to acid reflux. In addition, scopolamine functions to control heart rate and relax muscles.
Atropine is similar to scopolamine. Atropine is both used to reduce secretion in the body's organs. However, it is not as effective as scopolamine when used to stretch muscles and control heart rate. Atropine is also used as an ingredient in eye drops to dilate the eyes. In some cases, atropine works as an insect repellent or insecticide.
The combination of these two chemicals when combined with other drugs can treat several health problems, especially digestive problems such as stomach and intestinal cramps, bladder problems, and bile ducts.
According to several studies that have been done, when used under a doctor's supervision, belladonna can treat a variety of health problems ranging from excessive urination at night to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Scopolamine acts directly on the central nervous system to create a calming effect in the stomach and intestines.
The combination of atropine and scopolamine in Belladona is also useful in controlling conditions such as colitis, diverticulitis, infant colic, renal and bile colic, peptic ulcers, redness of skin irritation, and symptoms of Parkinson's disease. This medicine can even be used to prevent motion sickness.
When taken as a prescription drug and under a doctor's supervision, Belladona is considered safe. Always consult your doctor before using medicines containing belladonna.
