Herbal Tuesday: Belladonna

Belladonna, also known as deadly nightshade, is not an herb that we normally use today. It is a very poisonous herb. All parts of the plant are highly poisonous and it has been known to kill small animals and children if ingested. I wanted to talk about Belladonna today, because it is a traditional plant used in witchcraft. Historically, it was used to dilate eyes, and many women used it to dilate their eyes at home, believing it made them look more beautiful. It was also used in sleeping remedies, because it does have a sedative effect. Magickally it was used in flying ointments.
There are other herbs that can be substituted in a modern flying ointment, so Belladonna is not used magickally. Do not burn, smoke, ingest, or even apply Belladonna to your body. It has a cumulative effect, similar to arsenic, so you might not be affected by using a small amount, but it WILL build up over time, and poison you. Just like arsenic, once it has entered your body, it never goes away. 
Belladonna is an absolutely beautiful plant, and if you decide to grow it for it's beauty alone, know that you will have to be on guard to keep animals and small children away from it. Belladonna produces beautiful flowers, and enticing looking berries, but none of these should be handled by children.