What is the magical use of mandrake?
In medieval times, mandrake was considered a key ingredient in a multitude of witches’ flying ointment recipes as well as a primary component of magical potions and brews. These were entheogenic preparations used in European witchcraft for their mind-altering and hallucinogenic effects. Luckily, the leaves of this plant look nothing like Panax spp. Mandragora, as both are prized for their humanlike appearance. Fortunately, the mandrake root is seldom sold in place of ginseng, and you can easily tell the two apart if you know what to look for.CE) De materia medica and Theophrastus’ (371-587 BCE) Enquiry into plants, it is suggested that mandrakes are “good for making love potions”. Dioscorides explains that this is because the female mandrake fruit has a “sweet-smelling” fragrance while the male mandrake fruit is “oppressively fragrant”.Mandrake plants aren’t widely used today, although herbal mandrake is still used in folk medicine and is studied by people who are interested in the occult or modern witchcraft. Mandrake is a mysterious plant with a long, thick taproot that resembles the human body.No, mandrake is not close to ginseng either in composition or genetics. Don’t be fooled by names like ‘ginseng ficus’ or ‘human root’, as these common names largely serve to confuse between the two plants.
What does a mandrake do to you?
The mandrake owes its properties to the presence of highly poisonous alkaloids like scopolamine, atropine, mandragorin and hyoscyamine which can cause hallucinations, delusions, seizures and even death. When taken by mouth: European mandrake is likely unsafe. It may contain chemicals that can cause many side effects, including confusion, drowsiness, dry mouth, heart problems, vision problems, overheating, problems with urination, and hallucinations. Large doses can be fatal.Mandrax is a highly addictive sedative drug that was originally prescribed as a sedative, sleep aid, and muscle relaxant.Mandrake’s Medicinal Benefits Mandrake root has a long history of use in traditional medicine, primarily for its analgesic and sedative properties. Despite its high toxicity, which necessitates caution in its administration, mandrake has been employed in various cultures to alleviate pain and induce sleep.Mandrake is a powerful narcotic, emetic, sedative, and hallucinogen; its poisons can easily lead to death.