Belladonna (deadly nightshade)

This one is hot! Hot fevers, hot to the touch, hot face, hot temper, hot spots, hot throats, hot ears, hot teething gums, hot flushes... though hands and feet are probably cool. That’s hot and restless– restless sleep with grinding of teeth, restless fevers, restless with pain, restless desire to escape...
     Belladonna, the essential fever and heat exposure remedy, aids sudden eruptive fevers and inflammatory conditions marked by great redness, heat, throbbing, dilated pupils, a red tongue with white spots or coating, and a thirst for cold water or lemonade. As these are hot fevers, there may be confusion or dizziness. The dilated pupils give patients a wild look and make them very sensitive to light.
     Its cold or flu has a sudden fever, hot dry sore throat, a dry, hard, barking cough and red face. In most Belladonna cases, the symptoms often follow exposure to cold air when wet (swimming or rain, wet hair). It can bring fast comfort to teething babies with hot red gums and the sudden fevers that teething can trigger.
     Don’t underestimate its throbbing and/or burning pains. It can quickly relieve dizzying, throbbing headaches that will not let you bend over. Its earaches can be equally sudden, throbbing, with red streaks. Red swollen joints with sharp throbbing pain can find comfort here, as can dry burning eyes, menopausal hot flashes, burning diarrhea, burning urinary symptoms, hemorrhoids, painful heavy periods, red hot spots from teething, sores or tonsillitis. 
     As for the people who have to most to benefit from it: Belladonna is what we call “constitutional” for individuals who are lively and happy when well, but illness or stress can bring out a restless, wild, uncontrollable side that if not controlled can bite, kick, rage and scream. Like its fevers, these tantrums can subside as quickly as they began. There may be a restless desire to escape somehow– even if just into the imagination. Though not excluding factors, a fear of dogs and fascination with fire fit into Belladonna's whole picture.
   Sun exposure may contribute or aggravate symptoms needing Bella, as can light, noise, jarring or sudden movement.  A must in every family’s medicine cabinet and outdoor first aid box.