Introduction: A Plant of Paradox
Atropa belladonna, commonly known as belladonna or deadly nightshade, is one of the most notorious plants in Western herbal and medical history. Revered for its powerful effects and feared for its deadly potential, belladonna occupies a unique place where medicine and poison meet.
This article explores belladonna medicinal uses, both ancient and modern, including the pharmacology behind its active compounds, the cultural history of its application, and answers to questions such as “What makes belladonna poisonous?” and “Is belladonna still used today?”
What Is Belladonna? Botanical Overview
Belladonna is a perennial herbaceous plant native to Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia.
It belongs to the Solanaceae family, or nightshades, which includes both edible plants like tomatoes and potatoes and toxic species like mandrake and henbane.
Belladonna is characterised by its purple bell-shaped flowers and shiny black berries.
The entire plant, especially the berries, roots and leaves, is toxic. The botanical name Atropa comes from Atropos, one of the three Fates in Greek mythology who cut the thread of life—an apt metaphor for the plant’s lethal potential.
What Makes Belladonna Poisonous?
The toxicity of belladonna is due to a group of tropane alkaloids—primarily atropine, scopolamine, and hyoscyamine. These compounds act as anticholinergic agents, meaning they block the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the nervous system.
Acetylcholine is crucial for muscle contractions, glandular secretion, and brain function. By blocking it, belladonna can cause a cascade of effects: dry mouth, blurred vision, rapid heartbeat, hallucinations, seizures, coma, and even death.
One of the most disturbing facts about deadly nightshade is how little it takes to kill.
Just 2–3 berries can be fatal for a child, and 10–20 berries can kill an adult.
However, sensitivity varies greatly—there is even a report of a man suffering from belladonna poisoning after consuming a rabbit that had eaten the plant!
So if you’ve ever wondered why is belladonna poisonous, the answer lies in its high concentration of neuroactive alkaloids that interfere with essential body functions.
Traditional and Historical Belladonna Medicinal Uses
Ancient Uses in Europe
The medicinal uses of Atropa belladonna date back thousands of years. Ancient Greeks and Romans were aware of its dual nature. Physicians such as Dioscorides described it in medical texts as both a remedy and a deadly toxin.
Use in the Middle Ages
During the Middle Ages, belladonna was incorporated into folk remedies and apothecaries’ shelves. It was used to treat:
- Muscle pain
- Menstrual disorders
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Insomnia
- Toothache
Despite its dangers, herbalists and wise women used it in controlled doses, often as a tincture. Belladonna also had a dark reputation in witchcraft. It was a key ingredient in so-called “flying ointments” — hallucinogenic herbal salves applied to the skin to induce out-of-body experiences or the illusion of flight.
Assassins and Poisoners
Its toxic properties made belladonna a tool of political intrigue. One notorious example occurred in 1030, when King Duncan I of Scotland is said to have used belladonna to poison an invading Danish army. According to legend, he offered them wine laced with the plant, killing them without a single blade being drawn.
Another fascinating application of belladonna was in taste-testing for nobility. Some poison testers reportedly developed tolerance by ingesting tiny, gradually increasing doses of belladonna daily. This allowed them not only to survive poisoned meals, but potentially poison others with impunity.
The Chemistry of Atropine: How It Works
The most well-known compound extracted from belladonna is atropine.
Anticholinergic Effects
Atropine works by blocking muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in the parasympathetic nervous system.
This reduces secretions, relaxes smooth muscle, and increases heart rate. Because of these actions, atropine is used in medicine for:
– Treating bradycardia (slow heart rate)
– Dilating pupils during eye exams (mydriasis)
– Reducing saliva and bronchial secretions during surgery
– As an antidote for organophosphate poisoning
Scopolamine and hyoscyamine have similar effects but with variations in duration and potency.
Is Belladonna Still Used Today?
Yes — but not in its raw herbal form. Modern pharmacology isolates specific alkaloids from the plant, purifies them, and delivers them in precise dosages.
Current Pharmaceutical Uses
– Atropine sulphate is listed on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines
– Scopolamine patches are used to treat motion sickness and postoperative nausea
– Hyoscyamine is included in medications for IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
These are all examples of how belladonna medicinal uses have evolved from risky folk practices to refined, regulated medical applications.
Herbal Use and Restrictions
In most Western countries, unregulated belladonna preparations are restricted or banned due to their toxicity.
Some homoeopathic remedies include extreme dilutions, but efficacy remains debated and some belladonna homoeopathic products have been linked to negative side effects.
Deadly Nightshade Medicinal Uses in Folk Cultures
Belladonna was not only used in Europe. In Slavic folk medicine, small amounts of the root were used in poultices for joint pain. In Romani healing traditions, the plant was used ritualistically to cast out “evil winds” or treat possession-like symptoms—now understood as neurological or psychiatric conditions.
In Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine, related nightshades were occasionally used, but belladonna itself was less common due to its extreme toxicity and European origin.
Related Plants and Synergy
Belladonna belongs to a class of plants with overlapping uses and risks. Related toxic herbs include:
- Mandrake (Mandragora officinarum)
- Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger)
- Datura (Datura stramonium)
These plants often appear together in historical texts and witchcraft potions due to their similar anticholinergic hallucinogenic properties. Their synergy can amplify both psychoactive effects and toxicity.
Toxicology: Symptoms and Treatment
Accidental ingestion or overdose of belladonna causes a distinct toxidrome:
- Dilated pupils
- Dry mouth and skin
- Rapid heartbeat
- Confusion and hallucinations
- Urinary retention
- Seizures and coma
The antidote for belladonna poisoning is physostigmine, a cholinesterase inhibitor that increases acetylcholine levels to compete with the blocking alkaloids.
Early intervention is critical, and treatment is typically administered in a hospital setting. Activated charcoal may also be given to absorb remaining alkaloids in the digestive tract.
Why Is Belladonna Still Studied Today?
Despite its dangers, the complex chemistry of belladonna continues to attract scientific interest. Researchers are exploring:
– New delivery methods for atropine
– Safer derivatives with targeted action
– Its role in neuropharmacology and anticholinergic syndromes
Understanding the plant’s toxic profile also contributes to forensic science and poisoning diagnostics.
Belladonna Medicinal Uses: Traditional and Modern
1. Pain Relief
Belladonna contains alkaloids like atropine, scopolamine, and hyoscyamine, which act on the nervous system. These compounds help relax muscles and reduce nerve signals, making belladonna effective for:
- Neuralgia (nerve pain)
- Rheumatic pain
- Menstrual cramps
- Back pain
- Toothache
Belladonna was often used in topical ointments and plasters to ease joint and muscle pain.
2. Digestive Issues
In small doses, belladonna has been used to calm the gut and reduce excessive muscle activity in the intestines. Historically, it was prescribed for:
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Colic
- Stomach cramps
- Motion sickness (via scopolamine)
Belladonna slows down gut spasms and reduces secretions, helping soothe cramping and nausea.
3. Respiratory Conditions
Because it dries up secretions and relaxes muscles, belladonna was used to:
- Ease asthma attacks
- Dry up nasal and chest congestion
- Treat bronchial spasms
It was often found in older herbal smoking blends for asthma (though we obviously don’t recommend smoking it!).
4. Eye Conditions
Belladonna’s pupil-dilating effect was once prized in ophthalmology. Even today, atropine—derived from belladonna—is used in eye drops during eye exams to:
- Dilate pupils
- Relax eye muscles
- Treat uveitis and iritis
These eye drops are carefully dosed and prepared in pharmaceutical labs, not DIY projects.
5. Sedation and Anxiety
Scopolamine, one of belladonna’s alkaloids, has sedative effects. It has been used to:
- Calm anxiety
- Treat motion sickness
- Help with insomnia
- Ease surgical nausea and vomiting
Though not commonly prescribed now due to safety concerns, it paved the way for synthetic drugs.
Is Belladonna Safe?
Short answer: Do not make your own belladonna herbal remedies!
Belladonna is one of the most toxic herbs known in the Western tradition. All parts of the plant are poisonous—especially the berries and roots. Just a few berries can be fatal to a child.
Signs of Belladonna Poisoning
- Dry mouth
- Flushed skin
- Dilated pupils
- Fast heartbeat
- Confusion
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Coma
NEVER attempt to prepare your own remedies with raw belladonna. Clinical use is only safe under medical supervision.
Sustainable and Ethical Use
Belladonna isn’t typically wild-foraged due to its toxicity and rarity. Most medicinal belladonna is cultivated under controlled conditions for pharmaceutical use. If you’re studying herbalism, it’s worth knowing about—but not harvesting or experimenting with yourself.
Belladonna Lookalikes: Be Warned
Belladonna is often confused with other members of the nightshade family, including:
- Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum)
- Bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)
- Woody nightshade
Some of these are less toxic, but misidentification can still be fatal. Unless you’re an expert, steer clear of harvesting wild nightshades.
References
https://www.healthline.com/health/belladonna-dark-past
https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/heritage/heritage-blog/deadly-nightshade-botanical-biography
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-821/black-nightshade
Belladonna medicinal uses: Final thoughts
As a wild herbalist and educator, I see belladonna as one of those herbs that commands deep respect.
It’s a powerful plant with a long, complex history—but not one for kitchen-shelf remedies.
Still, it’s a brilliant example of how herbalism and medicine intersect: the poisons of old become the precision tools of today.
Let me know in the comments if you’d like to share any facts about belladonna medicinal uses!
