Bittersweet Nightshade Health Benefits, Properties, and Uses

Bittersweet nightshade is a shrubby, perennial plant that produces berries. Its scientific name is Solanum dulcamara and it belongs to the Solanaceae (nightshades) family of plants. It’s also called woody nightshade, felonwood, scarlet berry and violet bloom. Bittersweet nightshade grows in North America as well as throughout parts of Asia and Europe.^1,2

Bittersweet nightshade has a solid, woody base with long, thin climbing branches. It can grow many feet long. It produces small berries that go from green to orange to bright red as they ripen.²

Only the twigs, root and bark of the bittersweet nightshade plant are used to make internal medicinal remedies. The leaves and the berries of the bittersweet nightshade plant can be poisonous to humans when ingested.¹

Bittersweet Nightshade Health Uses and Health Benefits

Bittersweet nightshade benefits for health come from two main active ingredients. The first is the alkaloid, Solanine, which affects the nervous system by acting as a sedative. However, solanine can cause delirium and convulsions when taken in unsafe doses. The second active ingredient in bittersweet nightshade is Dulcamarine, which acts on rheumatic conditions.^1,3

Traditional bittersweet nightshade uses have been for treating skin conditions and preventing skin infections. ^2,4

Other bittersweet nightshade benefits include:

• Killing cancer cells and preventing cancer spread
• Treating muscle and joint pains
• Improving heart health
• Treating respiratory conditions
• Maintaining liver health
• Assisting in weight loss
• Stopping diarrhea

Bittersweet nightshade uses include treating the following conditions:

• Acne - Bittersweet nightshade can be used as an astringent to treat skin conditions, including acne.
• Asthma - Bittersweet nightshade can help improve breathing in people suffering from asthma.
• Bronchitis - Bittersweet nightshade benefits include helping to reduce inflammation and improve breathing in people with bronchitis.
• Common Cold - Bittersweet nightshade can help to stop viral infection and ease breathing with the common cold.
• Rheumatism - Bittersweet nightshade helps to decrease muscle stiffness, pain and inflammation caused by rheumatic conditions.
• Chest Congestion - Bittersweet nightshade helps to clear chest congestion and improve breathing.

Bittersweet Nightshade Side Effects and Precautions

Always consult a professional herbalist before taking bittersweet nightshade. Improper doses can cause bittersweet nightshade side effects like vertigo, convulsions, paralysis, low temperature and lowered heart rate.³

References

1. http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/n/nighwo06.html 
2. http://www.medicinenet.com/bittersweet_nightshade/supplements-vitamins.htm 
3. https://herbpathy.com/Uses-and-Benefits-of-Bittersweet-Cid2980
4. https://www.drugs.com/npp/bittersweet-nightshade.html