Belladonna
Abbreviation: Bell. · Homeopathic materia medica (patient information)
English patient information. Some clinical wording may still reflect the German source text. Not for self-prescription.
In acute illnesses, Belladonna has a particularly good effect on febrile conditions (in children who have a fever, Bell. must always be considered). These feverish states appear suddenly, as if out of the blue, and are characterized by great violence. The patient is extremely hot. The skin is usually dry and may also be covered in sweat on the covered parts (as in Acon.). The face is very red and the pupils are often dilated. The patient finds himself in a state that is similar to delirium, he does not see existing figures or the like, and there is often great restlessness. Some patients become angry and bark, bite, hit, pull hair, or spit.
Thirst can be present, but thirstlessness also occurs. Patients often complain of (pounding, throbbing) headaches. The patient feels worse at night and the fever then rises.
If a cough occurs, it is usually dry, barking and the patient shows the characteristics mentioned above. Some children begin to cry before the cough comes (Bry., Hep.). Sometimes the cough ends with sneezing.
Bell. fits well when the fever is accompanied by a sore throat (tonsillitis). The throat is bright red and the patient feels a dry burning sensation in the throat. The pain is worsened when liquids are swallowed.
It also works well for scarlet fever (a sore throat with a fine reddish rash) when the above-mentioned characteristics are present, and it can be given to prevent the disease when infection has not yet occurred.
Bell. Also suitable for acute ear infections if the general symptoms indicate it, but it can only cure if the inflammation is not yet very advanced. If pus has already formed, other medications are probably indicated (see Hep., Merc., Puls., Sil.).
Belladonna can relieve or cure any type of pain (headache, biliary colic, contractions, etc.) when the typical signs are present: throbbing pain, severe redness of the affected part or bright red head, dilated pupils.