Belladonna as an Asthma Treatment

Asthma affects millions of people every year. It is estimated that more than 300 million people suffer from asthma worldwide. Having an asthma attack can be very frightening. As the airways tighten, the patient finds it difficult to catch a breath. Life with asthma is as unique as each person who has it. Cases can be mild or severe, with many who outgrow the majority of their symptoms by adulthood. Belladonna is a natural method of helping asthma sufferers with their symptoms that has been used for generations prior to the advent of modern-day medicine.

Belladonna Basics

• Belladonna is a poisonous plant originally found in Eurasia, but now grown massively throughout the United States. It has black berries with a bell-shaped flower of reddish color. It has been used medicinally for centuries by extracting an alkaloid tincture from the herb. It is known to help with a variety of conditions, such as motion sickness, peptic ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome. It has muscle-relaxing properties that women find helpful during menstrual cramping and has been shown to help alleviate tremors associated with Parkinson's disease.

Asthma Basics

• The lungs are responsible for bringing oxygen into the body. With asthma, airways tighten, making it difficult for a person to breathe. An asthma sufferer may experience shortness of breath with wheezing, coughing and a feeling of choking. For those who suffer with this chronic disease, the airways usually react adversely to allergens in the air. Reactions may include swelling of the bronchial tubes and alveoli in the lungs and may lead to mucus secretion in the body's attempt to cover the allergen and then expel it by coughing.

Belladonna for Asthma

• Belladonna was first used as a treatment for asthma in the 1800s. The anti-inflammatory properties of belladonna help to reduce the swelling found in the bronchial tubes and alveoli during an asthma attack or in chronic asthma sufferers in general. As an effective relaxation tincture, belladonna prevents secretions, limiting mucus production and reducing pressure from swelling. It is an effective expectorant, forcing mucus and allergens out without causing the coughing spasms often related to an asthma attack. Properly monitored, it is safe for children and adults alike.

Side Effects

• Those who take belladonna may experience dizziness, along with blurred vision and extreme drowsiness. Consequently, a patient who is taking belladonna should not drive or operate heavy machinery. Alcohol will intensify the side effects of belladonna. There have been no studies that can confirm or deny whether belladonna is harmful to a fetus; therefore, women who are pregnant or breast feeding should consult their doctors prior to taking belladonna.

Conditions Not Compatible With Belladonna

• Belladonna needs to be taken with caution regardless of health or medical condition. It is derived from a poisonous plant and can be very harmful when not used properly. It has potentially greater risks for those suffering from glaucoma or toxic megacolon. Additionally, people with a urinary tract blockage should not take belladonna, as well as those suffering from kidney disease, as the body will not be able to filter the toxins from the body adequately.