The nightmare of the nightshade is highly poisonous, but some people use it as a drug because of its hallucinogenic properties. The consumption of wolfberry fruit or leaves causes severe food poisoning, and often death. See what are the symptoms of wolfberry poisoning and how to provide first aid to the person who ate it.

Hryvnia wolfberry( Atropa belladonna ), commonly called simply wolfberry, is a rare cultivated and wild plant, it is found in Poland mainly in the south of the country. How to recognize it? The hymen is a shrub 50-150 cm high, producing purple-black, poisonous fruit that an untrained eye can mistake for a blueberry.

Atropine - active poisonous substance in blackberries

Wolfberry poisoning usually occurs after accidentally eating the fruit. Belladonna leaves are also highly toxic - these are eaten by people looking for psychotic experiences. Both the fruit and leaves of the wolfberry are almost entirely composed of atropine, an active substance with highly poisonous properties. Eating even a few fruits by a child can have disastrous consequences. The lethal dose for an adult is about 15-20 berries.

Atropine has relaxant properties, it is commonly used in cough syrups and eye drops prior to ophthalmic examination due to its pupil dilating properties. However, in the wolfberry, the concentration of atropine is so high that it causes a blockage of smooth muscles throughout the human body. Too high a dose of this substance paralyzes the nervous system endings and visual disturbances, and in many cases causes atropine coma.

Symptoms of wolfberry poisoning

The first symptoms of poisoning: pupil dilation and euphoric behavior appear 10 minutes to several hours after eating fruits or leaves of a wolfberry. Other symptoms include:

  • arousal
  • verbosity
  • dry mouth
  • pupil dilation
  • breathing faster
  • nausea and vomiting
  • facial redness
  • high fever
  • visual and hearing impairment

In cases of severe poisoning, the symptoms mentioned include: delirium, hallucinations, convulsions, paralysis of the systemrespiratory system, coma.

First aid for wolfberry poisoning

Wolfberry poisoning is very serious, so you should immediately call for medical help. While waiting for the doctor, you can induce vomiting in the patient, then give him strong black tea, which will weaken the effect of the poison. Alternatively with tea, you can drink the sick person with charcoal water. Cool compresses will help reduce the fever.

Attention!You must not induce vomiting in an unconscious person with high blood pressure or a seizure.

Worth knowing

Where did the name of the wolfberry (Atropa belladonna) come from?

The presence of this plant in culture dates back to antiquity. Atropos is the name of the Greek goddess of destiny, on whom the length of the thread of life depended. The second part of the name "belladonna" means "beautiful lady" in Latin, and comes from the canon of beauty of that time, which the Romans wanted to achieve by eating the berries of the wolf's berry. The action of the plant dilated the pupils, the eyes sparkled more, and the breathing quickened.

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