Black nightshade – black nightshade

black nightshade

 

Some researchers believe that black nightshade is almost as dangerous as bittersweet nightshade. Others consider this plant not only safe, but also edible. In Siberia and the Volga region, for example, pies were traditionally baked with nightshade, raw berries were eaten, and leaves were used to prepare salads.

Black nightshade is an annual herbaceous plant 10-70 cm tall. Its stem is upright, branched, somewhat flattened at the top. The leaves are ovate, pointed, entire or notched-toothed. The flowers are white, on drooping peduncles, collected in umbrella-like tendrils, blooming from June to September. The fruit is a black (rarely green) berry. As an exception, there are individuals of nightshade with white, yellowish or reddish fruits. It grows in gardens, weedy places near homes, in riverside shrubs. A common plant in the southern part of the European territory of Russia, Western and Eastern Siberia – up to 56-57° north latitude. It also grows in Ukraine (over the entire territory), Central Asia, in the north of Kazakhstan, and in the Caucasus.

The aerial part of the plant, its fruits and flowers are used for medical purposes. Herbs and flowers are collected during flowering, used fresh or dried, spreading in a thin layer, outdoors in the shade or in a ventilated room. Ready raw materials are stored in tightly closed jars, separately from other medicinal plants. Fruits are collected at the stage of full ripeness – unripe fruits are toxic. They are used fresh. Black nightshade is included in the Pharmacopoeia of England, France, Turkey, Portugal and Venezuela. In Russia and Ukraine, it is used only in folk medicine.

The aerial part of the plant contains alkaloids, glycoalkaloids, vitamins, the amino acid asparagine, phytosterol, tannins (up to 10%), saponins, citric acid (up to 4.95% in the leaves), ascorbic acid (vitamin C) (24-184 mg %) and carotene (provitamin A). Ripe fruits contain tannins, anthocyanin pigments, vitamin C (up to 1630 mg%), organic acids and sugars. The chemical composition shows that the ripe fruits are not poisonous.

Nightshade herb infusion is prescribed as a sedative, antispasmodic, analgesic, diuretic, emollient and anti-inflammatory agent. Neuroses, headaches, cough, bronchial asthma, gastrointestinal colic, bladder spasms, hemorrhoids are treated with this product. The infusion is also prescribed internally for a tendency to seizures, gouty and rheumatic pains, and irregular menstruation.

Fresh fruits are recommended for use in hypertension and atherosclerosis, night pollution, hemorrhoids and rheumatism. They are used as a light laxative laxative; they are also effective for expelling some helminths. Infusion of nightshade flowers is recommended for rheumatism, bronchitis and as a diuretic.

Externally, nightshade products are used for rinsing with inflammation of the oral mucosa, pustular diseases of the gums, sore throats, and for therapeutic baths for hemorrhoids. Infusions of nightshade soothe itching in eczema and psoriasis.

Homeopaths use the plant for poisoning with uterine horns and convulsions.

Herbal infusion. 1 teaspoon of powdered raw material is poured with 150 ml of boiling water. Heat in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes, filter. Take 1 teaspoon twice a day.

Grass powder. Powdered grass is taken on the tip of a knife three times a day for a week. With skin diseases.

Fresh fruits. 5-6 g per reception for hypertension and atherosclerosis.

Fruit decoction. 2-3 tablespoons of fruits are boiled in 200 ml of boiling water for 10 minutes, infused for 2 hours, filtered. Take 1/4 cup 4 times a day. For hemorrhoids, rheumatism, and also as a mild laxative.

Infusion of flowers. 1 teaspoon of raw material is infused for 2 hours. in a glass of boiling water, filter. Take 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day. Expectorant, diuretic, antirheumatic agent.

Fruit juice (external). From a tablespoon of juice to half a glass of cold boiled water. For rinsing.

Herbal infusion (external). 8 tablespoons of raw materials per 2 liters of boiling water, infuse for 3-4 hours, filter. For sitting baths with hemorrhoids.

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