Belladonna is a poisonous plant but has been used a medicine since ancient times. Belladonna means 'beautiful woman' in Italian, and in the Renaissance period, women would use belladonna to enlarge their pupils, as they thought they were more alluring that way. It also goes by the name deadly nightshade, and its berries are known as murderer's berries or sorcerer's berries. They are thought to be the poison that caused Juliet to appear dead in Shakespeare's story 'Romeo and Juliet'.

It is used as an ingredient in the eye drops that are often used when eye doctors dilate your eyes. The chemicals in belladonna, atropine and scopolamine, have important medicinal properties. Atropine is more effective at relaxing muscles spasms and regulating the heart rate. It can be used as an antidote for insecticide. Scopolamine is more effective at reducing stomach acid and can relieve motion sickness. Belladonna is helpful with irritable bowel syndrome, stomach ulcers, excessive nighttime urination, and pink eye. You should consult your herbologist for the correct dosage. Each dosage must be taken with a full glass of water.

Belladonna is a perennial plant, native to Europe and Asia. It grows three to five feet tall with a leafy, smooth, branched purplish stem. The flowers are bell-shaped and are purple or dull red in colour. It can be planted by seeds or bulbs. It requires well drained, well limed soil that is kept constantly moist. It needs either full sunlight or partial shade. It is best to collect the leaves and tops during the second year and the roots in the fourth year.


The leaves and tops can be dried then crushed and put in dark glass containers. The roots can be chopped and powdered with a mortar and pestle and placed into a dark glass container. Belladonna is stored at room temperature away from moisture and heat. It will last for up to a year.


One potion that utilizes the ingredient Belladonna is the Calming Draught. Other plants required for this draught are Hellebores (which we will talk about later), and Lavender, which is easy to grow and store but we'll talk about that one at a later date.