Belladonna 3X HPUS is a homeopathic remedy made from the belladonna, or deadly nightshade, plant and used to treat a variety of ailments, most of which involve pain. The 3X on a package label refers to the dilution of the original tincture, and HPUS indicates that the product meets standards set by the Homœopathic Pharmacopœia Convention of the United States. Although homeopathy is used by millions of people, it remains controversial, and more research is needed to establish its effectiveness.
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is a system of medicine developed in Germany more than two centuries ago and practiced in the United States since the early 19th century. It is based on the theory that a very small dose of a substance which in large amounts can make a person ill can be used to cure that illness. Since homeopathic remedies are highly diluted, they are generally considered safe, although liquid remedies may contain alcohol. Homeopathic remedies are not known to interact with conventional drugs, but people planning to use them should discuss these plans with their physicians, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Belladonna
Belladonna, whose botanical name is Atropa belladonna, is a member of the genus named after the Greek fate Atropos, who had power over life and death. Italian women used this plant, also known as deadly nightshade, in the 16th century to make their eyes sparkle. Thus it became known as bella donna, which in Italian means "beautiful woman," says the "Encyclopedia of Homeopathy." Belladonna was one of the first homeopathic remedies developed by Samuel Christian Hahnemann in 1799, based on his observation that the symptoms of scarlet fever closely resemble those of deadly nightshade poisoning.
3X
Homeopathic remedies are made by dissolving the plant extract in a mixture of approximately 90 percent alcohol and 10 percent distilled water. The mixture is left to stand for two to four weeks, shaken occasionally, and then strained. The resulting liquid is known as the mother tincture. The 3X indicates that the mother tincture has been diluted by a factor of 1:10 three times. Each time, one drop of the mother tincture is mixed with nine drops of an alcohol/water mixture and succussed, or shaken vigorously, according to "The Complete Guide to Homeopathy."
HPUS
The initials "HPUS" on the packaging of a homeopathic drug assure the buyer that the product meets the strength, quality and purity standards set by the Homœopathic Pharmacopœia Convention of the United States. The Convention is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization, founded in 1897, that works closely with the Food and Drug Administration and homeopathic organizations to establish standards for homeopathic drug products.
Uses
Today, belladonna is a homeopathic remedy used primarily to treat acute fever with pain, headaches and migraines, menstrual pain, sore throat and dry cough, says the "Encyclopedia of Homeopathy." Additionally, it sometimes is a remedy for bedwetting, breastfeeding problems, chicken pox, common cold, convulsions, earache, eye inflammation, insomnia, measles, mumps, difficult periods, sunstroke and teething, according to "The Complete Homeopathy Handbook."
References
- National Center for Complementary and Alternatve Medicine: Homeopathy
- "Encyclopedia of Homeopathy"; Andrew Lockie, MD, MRCGP, FFHom; 2006
- "The Complete Guide to Homeopathy: The Principles and Practice of Treatment"; Andrew Lockie and Nicola Geddes; 1995
- Homœopathic Pharmacopœia Convention of the United States: Overview
- "The Complete Homeopathy Handbook: A Guide to Everyday Health Care"; Miranda Castro, R.S.Hom.; 1990
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