Bitter nightshade is a bush with prostrate or climbing stem up to 1.5 meters long. The stem is branched. Violet blossoms of the plant are arranged in curlicues and can be seen from May till September. The fruit is red juicy berry shaped like egg. It contains a host of seeds.
Bitter nightshade can be found in damp places in brushwood, ditch slope, swamp forest, near lake, and by riverside. You should collect leaves and new sprouts of the herb. The leaves should be hand picked before the florescence of the plant or at the very beginning of it. In order to get new sprouts, you should cut up to 30 centimeters long tops during the florescence or after it in September. Owing to the fact that the herb is poisonous, you should be careful when dealing with it and during storage.
- Bitter nightshade leaves and new sprouts contain glycoalkaloid solanine, steroid saponins, tannins, carotene, organic acid and other biologically active substances.
- The herb possesses anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, secretolytic, anti-allergic, diuretic, astringent and expectorant properties. In addition, it can be used to cal yourself down, treat cough, improve the health of your skin and normalize your metabolism.
- The herb is used in folk medicine and homeopathy. A decoction and powder made of leaves and new sprouts can be used to treat asthma, inflammation of urinary bladder, bronchitis and whooping cough. In addition, these remedies are proven to relieve joint pain in case of rheumatism and gout. The herb has been used internally to deal with skin diseases (such as, eczema, psoriasis, nettle-rash, inflammation and itch) throughout history. The decoction should be made by infusing a teaspoon of the herb with half a liter of boiling water. Leave the tincture to brew for an hour and decant it. Take a tablespoon of the decoction 3 times a day before meal. Perform the procedure for 10 days. You can repeat the procedure after 7-10 days of interruption. You should take 0.1 gram of the powder made of leaves or tops 3 times a day. The course of treatment should last for a week.
- The herb can be used externally, as well. Pestle fresh leaves or fruits and use the paste for compress to treat dermatosis.
- When using bitter nightshade remedies, you should strictly observe the indicated dose and the length of course of treatment. Overdose on the herb might lead to poisoning. The symptoms of the poisoning caused by the plant involve irritation, vomiting and stiff tongue.
Source : Enzine