Atropa

Belladonna’s Effects
on the Respiratory
System
Terran Brown
Atropa Belladonna
The toxic perennial
herbaceous plant Atropa
Belladonna, also known as
belladonna or nightshade, is a
member of the nightshade
family Solanaceae. The
Solanaceae family also
includes tomatoes, potatoes,
and eggplant.
Location
Atropa Belladonna is native to
Mediterranean countries,
including Greece, western
European countries, the
Himalayas, and has been
introduced to North America.
Origin
Atropa Belladonna has a history of
use as a medicine, poison and
cosmetic, for example women
used to use it to dilate their pupils
for aesthetic purposes. It was
known by a number of folk names
before Carl Linnaeus baptized the
plant Atropa belladonna around
1707–1778, when he devised his
system of classification for plants.
Chemicals
Atropa Belladonna contains
numerous psychoactive
tropane alkaloids, including
hyoscyamine and scopolamine
as well as atropine, which affect
the pupils.
Effects on the
Respiratory System
Although widely considered
unsafe, belladonna can be taken
by mouth for sedation, asthmatic
spasm relief, hay fever
treatment, and colds.
Belladonna Poisoning
The FDA has been trying to crack
down on homeopathic infant
teething tablets and gels
containing inaccurate doses of
Atropa Belladonna. A number of
serious side effects have been
reported in infants taking these
products, including seizures,
breathing problems, fatigue,
constipation, difficulty urinating,
and agitation.
Respiratory System
The respiratory system is the
network of organs and tissues
that help you breathe. It is the
respiratory system's job to
move fresh air into your body
and to remove waste gases.
Consists of
The respiratory system includes
your airways, lungs and blood
vessels. The respiratory system
also includes the muscles that
power your lungs. Together,
these parts move oxygen
throughout the body and
remove waste gases like carbon
dioxide.
Real Life Case ⭑
At the initial physical examination, her general condition was poor,
the coma scale score was low and she was breathing irregularly.
The neurologic examination revealed that her pupils were
isochoric, mydriatic and pupillary light reflexes were bilaterally
normal. As the patient's general condition was poor; breathing
irregular (intercostal retractions, paradoxical thorax and abdominal
movements) and the Glasgow coma scale score was 7, she was
intubated. Physical examination revealed redness of the face and
neck, dryness of the oral mucosa, isochoric and dilated pupils and
normal breathing sounds on auscultation.
Further Explanation and Sites
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J8CPBZD1Ec
- https://www.rxlist.com/belladonna/supplements.htm
- https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/ethnobotany/Mind_and_S
pirit/belladonna.shtml
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4894214/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3361210/
Conclusion
Hopefully this helped with the understanding of the Atropa
Belladonna plant and its effects on the respiratory system.
Although it affects more than just the respiratory system, it has
a massive effect on the respiratory system alone, whether a
positive or negative outcome.