What Is Belladonna Most Commonly Used For?

October 9, 2025 •

4 min read

Belladonna, also known as deadly nightshade, is a highly poisonous plant whose potent alkaloids have been utilized for centuries in medicine. In modern pharmacology, purified derivatives from this plant are most commonly used to treat gastrointestinal spasms, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and to dilate pupils for eye examinations. The plant's compounds are far too toxic for uncontrolled use.

Quick Summary

Belladonna derivatives are primarily used in modern medicine to manage gastrointestinal cramping associated with conditions like IBS and to dilate pupils for eye exams. The plant's potent compounds, including atropine and scopolamine, are extracted and used in controlled, regulated applications by healthcare professionals. Unsupervised use is extremely dangerous due to its toxicity.

Key Points

Gastrointestinal Spasms: Belladonna derivatives are most commonly used in prescription medications to treat cramping and spasms of the stomach and intestines caused by conditions like IBS.
Ophthalmological Use: Atropine, a key belladonna alkaloid, is used in eye drops to dilate pupils during eye examinations to allow for a better view of the retina.
Motion Sickness: Scopolamine, another belladonna compound, is widely used in a transdermal patch for the prevention and treatment of motion sickness.
Anticholinergic Action: The medicinal benefits of belladonna come from its anticholinergic properties, which block nerve impulses and relax smooth muscles.
Extreme Toxicity: The unprocessed belladonna plant is highly poisonous and its consumption can be fatal; medical applications use carefully purified and controlled doses of its alkaloids.
Unregulated OTC Products: Over-the-counter and homeopathic products containing belladonna are not regulated by the FDA and can pose significant safety risks, particularly to children.
Antidote for Poisoning: Atropine is a critical antidote for specific types of poisoning, including from nerve agents and certain insecticides.

From Poisonous Plant to Prescribed Medicine

Atropa belladonna, the deadly nightshade, has a dark and fascinating history as both a cosmetic and a poison. The plant's name, meaning "beautiful lady" in Italian, comes from its historical use by women to dilate their pupils. Despite its lethal reputation, the potent compounds, or alkaloids, found in its leaves and roots—primarily atropine, scopolamine, and hyoscyamine—have valuable medicinal properties when used in controlled, precise doses. Modern medicine harnesses these powerful anticholinergic effects to block nerve impulses, influencing various bodily functions.

Gastrointestinal Applications: Relieving Spasms and Cramps

One of the most common medical uses for belladonna alkaloids is to treat conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract. By acting as antispasmodics, these compounds help to relax the smooth muscles of the stomach and intestines. This action is particularly beneficial for managing the symptoms of several chronic and acute digestive issues.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): For patients experiencing painful cramps and spasms related to IBS, a combination medication containing belladonna alkaloids (like hyoscyamine) and phenobarbital can be prescribed. It works by decreasing the motility of the digestive tract.
Spastic Colon and Diverticulitis: The muscle-relaxing effect helps alleviate the painful spasms associated with these inflammatory conditions.
Stomach Ulcers: Belladonna alkaloids also help reduce the secretion of stomach fluids, including acid, which can be useful as an adjunct treatment for stomach and duodenal ulcers.
Biliary Colic: The antispasmodic properties can relieve the pain caused by muscular spasms in the gallbladder and bile ducts.

Ophthalmological Use: Pupil Dilation for Eye Exams

Another well-established and widespread use of a belladonna derivative is in ophthalmology. Atropine is used in eye drops to dilate the pupils for comprehensive eye exams. By blocking muscarinic receptors in the eye, atropine causes the pupil to widen, allowing ophthalmologists to get a clear view of the retina and the back of the eye. While its historical use was cosmetic, today this application is a crucial diagnostic tool.

Other Specialized Medical Uses

Beyond gastrointestinal and ophthalmological applications, belladonna alkaloids are used in other specialized scenarios.

Bradycardia: Atropine can be used to treat bradycardia (a slow heart rate), particularly when caused by excessive vagal nerve stimulation.
Motion Sickness: Scopolamine, another belladonna alkaloid, is highly effective for preventing and treating motion sickness. It is often administered via a transdermal patch.
Antidote for Poisoning: Atropine serves as an antidote for organophosphate poisoning, which can result from exposure to certain insecticides and nerve agents.
Parkinson's Disease: Historically, belladonna alkaloids were used to treat the tremors and muscle rigidity associated with Parkinson's disease, though their use has largely been replaced by more modern medications.

The Danger of Unregulated Use

It is critical to distinguish between regulated, prescription belladonna derivatives and unregulated, over-the-counter (OTC) or homeopathic products. OTC supplements are not reviewed for safety or effectiveness by the FDA, and there have been serious safety concerns. For example, since 2010, the FDA has issued warnings about homeopathic infant teething tablets and gels containing belladonna, which led to reports of serious side effects and death. The unsupervised use of any product containing belladonna is extremely hazardous due to its toxicity.

Comparison of Belladonna's Primary Alkaloids

While derived from the same plant, the key belladonna alkaloids have distinct applications and potencies.


Feature	Atropine	Scopolamine	Hyoscyamine
Primary Use	Ophthalmic dilation, bradycardia, antidote for poisoning	Motion sickness prevention, pre-anesthetic sedative	Gastrointestinal spasms (IBS, ulcers)
Effectiveness	More effective at regulating heart rate and relaxing muscles	More effective at reducing secretions (stomach acid) and central nervous system effects	Very similar actions to atropine; acts as an antispasmodic in the gut
Primary Administration	Eye drops, intravenous injection	Transdermal patch, intravenous	Oral tablets, capsules, liquids
CNS Effects	Stimulant in high doses	More potent CNS effects, including sedation and amnesia	Fewer CNS effects compared to scopolamine

Conclusion

Belladonna's reputation as a deadly plant is well-earned, but it is this very potency that has allowed its purified chemical derivatives to become valuable tools in modern medicine. The compounds, particularly atropine, scopolamine, and hyoscyamine, are most commonly used for their anticholinergic effects, including relaxing gastrointestinal spasms and dilating pupils. Crucially, its use is safe and effective only when managed by medical professionals with pharmaceutical-grade preparations. Attempts to use the raw plant or unregulated supplements containing belladonna are extremely dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. The history of belladonna from poison to pharmaceutical highlights the careful balance between nature's potency and scientific precision.

For more information on belladonna alkaloids and their specific uses in medical practice, consult reputable resources such as MedlinePlus on Belladonna Alkaloid Combinations and Phenobarbital.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, belladonna is still used in modern medicine, but not as the raw plant. Its potent alkaloids, such as atropine and scopolamine, are extracted and used in carefully measured doses for specific medical purposes.

The unprocessed belladonna plant is highly toxic due to its alkaloids. Accidental ingestion, especially of the dark berries, can cause severe poisoning, leading to symptoms like blurred vision, hallucinations, and even death.

Belladonna alkaloids act as antispasmodics by blocking the action of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that stimulates muscle contractions. This relaxes the smooth muscles of the stomach and intestines, reducing cramps and spasms.

While some over-the-counter and homeopathic products may contain belladonna, they are often unregulated and should be approached with extreme caution. The FDA has issued warnings about such products, and medical-grade belladonna derivatives require a prescription.

Belladonna is the plant itself, also known as deadly nightshade. Atropine is one of the specific alkaloids, or active chemical compounds, extracted from the belladonna plant for use in prescription medication.

Scopolamine, another belladonna alkaloid, is primarily used to prevent and treat motion sickness. It can also be used as a sedative and to reduce secretions before surgery.

In Renaissance Italy, women used eye drops prepared from the belladonna plant to dilate their pupils. This was considered aesthetically pleasing and contributed to the plant's name, which means "beautiful lady".

Side effects of prescription belladonna derivatives can include dry mouth, blurred vision, dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty urinating. These are typical anticholinergic effects.