Excerpt from Natural Baby and Childcare by Lauren Feder, M.D.

Belladonna was known as the "herba bella donna," or beautiful lady, since the 1500s during the time of the Italian Renaissance in Venice, when it was used cosmetically to darken and widen the eyes (by dilating the pupil) and flush the cheeks. Prepared as a homeopathic remedy, Belladonna is nontoxic and safe. Keynotes for Belladonna are sudden onset of intense illness, heat, and redness. It's great for a high fever.

Belladonna is useful for:

Mind/Emotions:

• Intense delirium (i.e. during a high fever)
• Hypersensitivity to surroundings (light, noise, touch)
• Biting, hitting, and moaning
• Hallucinations-sees monsters, ferocious animals, scary faces

Body:

• Bright red face, dilated pupils, radiating heat
• Earaches with severe pain in right ear, causing a child to cry during sleep
• Red, throbbing sore throat
• High fevers, usually above 102° F; radiates heat
• Head hot, glassy eyes, limbs cold with fever
• Twitching in the sleep
• No thirst with high fever or intense thirst for cold water
• Craves lemonade
• Skin is dry and hot

Symptoms improve: bending backward, semi-erect position, leaning head against something, light covering
Symptoms worsen: pressure, jarring, light, noise, cold, right side, draft, lying down, afternoon