Belladonna (lat. Atropa belladonna) is a widespread poisonous plant of the Solanaceae family. The name " The plant received such a name not for its beauty, it is rather inconspicuous, but for its ability to give shine to the eyes and blush to the cheeks, which was actively used by beauties in the old days. Other names for belladonna are mad berry, mad cherry, rabies, wolfberry (this is a collective name, wolf berries are called fruits of several more plants).

Belladonna is widely used in both folk and official medicine, according to Pannochka, an online publication for girls and women from 14 to 35 years old.. net How is Belladonna poisoning? The main active ingredient of belladonna is atropine - an alkaloid, a blocker of choline receptors (M-anticholinergic), which has a depressing effect on the parasympathetic nervous system.

You can get poisoned both by the plant itself (all its parts), and by drugs, which include it.

Poisoning occurs for the following reasons:.

The use of belladonna for the preparation of artisanal medicines (infusions, juice, decoctions, ointments, etc.). ) - poisoning can occur both during the preparation of drugs according to folk recipes, and as a result of their use;

Eating berries - this type of poisoning is typical for children who often confuse belladonna with wild cherries;

Overdose of medications that contain belladonna.

Symptoms of belladonna poisoning The first signs of poisoning appear 10-20 minutes after belladonna or its preparations enter the body. Depending on the dose received (the characteristics of the organism also matter), they can be more or less pronounced.. In case of mild poisoning, psychophysical agitation and most of the symptoms from the parasympathetic nervous system pass after 8-10 hours, after which the person feels exhausted and falls asleep. Severe poisoning with belladonna can be manifested by vascular collapse and the development of respiratory failure, up to coma and death..

Belladonna poisoning has the same characteristic features as atropine poisoning:.

dry mucous membranes;

xerophthalmia (dry eyes);

dilated pupils (mydriasis);

blurred vision, impaired near vision, photophobia;

thirst;

hoarseness;

dysphagia (swallowing disorder);

feeling of a lump in the throat;

dry skin;

redness of the face;

increased blood pressure (hypertension);

tides;

tachycardia, arrhythmia;

urinary retention;

fever.

In addition to the symptoms caused by the suppression of the parasympathetic nervous system, with belladonna poisoning, there are also signs of damage to the central nervous system, the so-called toxic psychosis:.

irritability, sometimes aggression;

motor and emotional arousal;

coordination disorder;

disorientation;

confused mind;

manic syndrome;

hallucinations;

delirium.

First aid for belladonna poisoning In case of belladonna poisoning or suspicion of it, you must call an ambulance, then take the following measures:.

induce vomiting. To do this, drink a salt solution (1 hour. salt per 1 liter of water), a weak solution of potassium permanganate (dissolve a few crystals in 1 liter of water to obtain a light pink solution), weak tea or 4-6 glasses of water at room temperature, then press on the root of the tongue;

take a suspension of activated carbon (crush 10-15 tablets and stir in a glass of water);

with strong arousal, take Corvalol or Valocordin;

for fever, a cold towel on the head, rubbing off with a cool damp towel, or wrap with a damp sheet.

When medical attention is required? Medical intervention is required in all cases of belladonna poisoning, since only a doctor can assess the severity of the condition, the need for emergency medical care and its volume.

Treatment is carried out in a hospital setting, where the patient is washed with a probe, an antidote is administered, and mental agitation is eliminated. To combat respiratory failure, the oxygen mixture is allowed to inhale through a mask to those patients who breathe on their own, and if the respiratory function is impaired, the victim is connected to a ventilator.

Complete rest and bed rest are prescribed for at least 7 days.

Possible consequences Mild to moderate belladonna poisoning usually goes away without any serious consequences for the body if assistance is provided in a timely and adequate manner.. Recovery takes 1 to 2 weeks.

Severe poisoning can lead to paralysis of the respiratory muscles and cardiovascular failure. In this case, the risk of death is high..

Belladonna is one of the most poisonous plants. Despite the long traditions of using it in folk medicine, it is impossible to use it in any form without a medical prescription..

When taking belladonna preparations prescribed by your doctor, you should be careful about the dosage. It is forbidden to independently increase the dose and change the frequency of administration..

Children in places where belladonna grows must be informed that the plant is poisonous.

They need to know about the inadmissibility of eating any wild berries without the knowledge of adults, and about the possible consequences of violating this rule. Adults, not always having the opportunity to test a particular plant for edibility, should be guided by the principle of mushroom pickers: "

It should be remembered: if you suspect poisoning, and even more so in case of poisoning with belladonna of any degree (even if it looks like a mild one), a person's life may depend on how quickly he seeks medical help.

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