Everything You Need to Know About Herbs: Belladonna *Deadly Nightshade*
Belladonna (Atropa belladonna)
*Poisonous *Medical *Feminine
Folk names: Banewort, Black Cherry, Deadly Nightshade, Death’s Herb
Devil’s Cherries, Divale, Dwale, Dwaleberry, Dwayberry, Fair Lady, Great Morel, Naughty Man’s
Cherries, Sorcerer’s Berry, Witch’s Berry
Deities: Hecate, Bellona, Circe
Abilities: Protection, Psychic Abilities, Self-Awareness, Astral Projection, Forgetting Past Love
Why Poisonous?: Its roots, leaves and fruits all contain alkaloids: atropine, hyoscyamine, and scopolamine. This causes dilated pupils, blurred vision, slurred speech, hallucinations, delirium, convulsion and some cases death.
*Do not consume belladonna in any form
Characteristics: It has a rigid stalk that grow into branches. It is a perennial plant and can grow up to 3 feet tall. Its purplish-brown flowers are shaped like bells with its berries being black and the size of cherries. It is a part of the nightshade family and likes partial shade in chalky soil.
History: This plant has always been associated with witches and was used as an ingredient in flying ointment, a medieval cream that allowed people to unlock their spiritual powers. Belladonna was used by the Scottish army against the Norwegian troops of King Svein Knutsoon to incapacitate them when they were trying to overthrow the current King. Sacred to the Fates, it is also associated with the Fate Atropos, the Fates who cuts the thread of life. Its leaves were used by Venetian women in order to redden their cheeks, and Renaissance women used it as a tincture in order to dilate their eyes to seem more attractive.
Easy to plant and grow? Not a high success rate. Growing Belladonna
The priest of Bellona, the Roman Goddess of War, would drink an infusion of Belladonna prior to worshipping Her and invoking her aid. The antidote for Belladonna poisoning is physostigmine, a reversible cholinergic medicine that is used to treat glaucoma and antimuscarinic toxicity.
Was used to encourage astral projections and produce visions (Is very much not safe)
Amplify seductive energy and give temporary illusion of beauty
Placing belladonna in a sealed jar can help your spirit move into the world beyond
Was used as an anesthetic for surgeries