Mandrake History - Learn About Mandrake Plant Lore

In Ancient Greece, mandrake was noted for being a narcotic. It was used medicinally for anxiety and depression, insomnia, and gout. It was also used as a love potion. It was in Greece that the resemblance of the roots to a human was first recorded.

What does a Mandrake symbolize?

The Greeks also used it as an aphrodisiac, steeping the root in wine or vinegar—mandrake is known as the “love-apple of the ancients,” and is associated with the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite. Similarly, the ancient Hebrews believed the mandrake could be used to induce conception.

What is the significance of mandrakes in the Bible?

For thousands of years, this plant was revered by many cultures, which ascribed to it mysterious and demonic qualities. Mandrake is mentioned in the Bible (Gen. 30:14-16) and its Biblical use is generally attributed to its supposed fertility power.

What is Mandrake plant used for?

People take European mandrake root for treating stomach ulcers, colic, constipation, asthma, hay fever, convulsions, arthritis-like pain (rheumatism), and whooping cough. It is also used to trigger vomiting, cause sleepiness (sedation), reduce pain, and increase interest in sexual activity.

Why did Rachel want Reuben's mandrakes?

Why does Rachel want Leah's mandrakes? In Hebrew the word is dudaim, whose etymology might suggest a connection with dodim, "sexual love." Therefore, it has been speculated, eating mandrakes was thought to aid desire or fertility, and Rachel, barren till then, wanted them so she could conceive.

Why is Mandrake dangerous?

The alkaloids make the plant, in particular the root and leaves, poisonous, via anticholinergic, hallucinogenic, and hypnotic effects. Anticholinergic properties can lead to asphyxiation. Accidental poisoning is not uncommon. Ingesting mandrake root is likely to have other adverse effects such as vomiting and diarrhea.

Can Mandrake Root kill you?

Small quantities of mandrake may produce hallucinations or out of body experiences. However, this member of the nightshade family is highly toxic and all parts of the plant can be deadly.

Which drug is made from Mandrake?

Etoposide is a semisynthetic derivative of podophyllotoxin, a substance found naturally in the mandrake plant. Also known as VP-16, this epipodophyllotoxin is used in SCLC and NSCLC, among many others. Most of the published trials utilize infusional etoposide, but an oral formulation is available as well.

Can you eat Mandrake?

Mandrakes can be poisonous if you eat them. Although a mandrake isn't edible, it is sometimes used in folk medicine. The root of the mandrake has very slight hallucinogenic qualities, and if it's consumed in large quantities it can cause death or coma.

Are Mandrakes rare?

Officinarum as "Mandrake." A third variant, Mandragora turcomanica, is a nearly extinct and very rare variety, found mostly in Turkey and a few areas of Iran.

Is Mandrake the same as ginseng?

As an interesting aside, the word “ginseng” reportedly translates a Chinese phrase meaning, roughly “man-root.” The idea is that the root system of Panax plants has a decidedly human-like form. ... In any case, the word “Mandrake” is just about as confusing a name as is Ginseng.

Is Mandrake a real plant?

Mandrake, (genus Mandragora), genus of six species of hallucinogenic plants in the nightshade family (Solanaceae) native to the Mediterranean region and the Himalayas.

What feature of a full grown mandrake is fatal?

The Mandrake is a magical plant with powerful restorative properties. The root system takes the form of a small baby which matures into the form of small humanoid adult. The screams of the roots are dangerous; those of a full-grown adult mandrake can kill.

Does Mandrake help fertility?

Mandrake roots have been used for fertility problems for thousands of years. A classic case is found in the Bible, in the story of Rachel and Leah. ... The Greeks ascribed to the mandrake root the power of exciting the passion of love, and when steeped in wine or vinegar believed it would promote conception.

What did Rachel have that Leah desperately wanted?

Rachel desperately wanted to have a child, but Leah desperately wanted to be loved. ... Leah gave her husband son after son, but she never felt loved. The names of Leah's sons all reflect what she wanted: Reuben, to be seen; Simeon, to be heard; Levi – to feel connected. Then, with her son Judah – she gives praise to God.

What does Mandrake taste like?

what does Mandrake Root taste like? In taste it is sweet, though slightly acid and is edible. The leaves and roots are poisonous.

What happens if you eat Mandrake?

All parts of mandrake plants contain the alkaloids hyoscamine and scopolamine. These produce hallucinogenic effects as well as narcotic, emetic and purgative results. Blurred vision, dry mouth, dizziness, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea are common initial symptoms.

Does Mandrake grow in the US?

---Habitat---The American Mandrake is a small herb with a long, perennial, creeping rhizome, a native of many parts of North America, common in the eastern United States and Canada, growing there profusely in wet meadows and in damp, open woods.

Is Mandrake a hallucinogen?

But its powers are not only mythical: a member of the nightshade plant family, mandrake contains hallucinogenic and narcotic alkaloids.

Is Mandrake a nightshade?

The mandrake is just one of 2,500 species belonging to the Solanaceae family, which also contains tomatoes, potatoes, chillies, aubergines, peppers, tobacco, deadly nightshade and henbane - they are commonly called the Nightshades. They all contain powerful alkaloids that affect the human body.

Is Deadly Nightshade real?

Found in scrub and woodland, the deadly nightshade lives up to its name. Though highly poisonous, it feeds woodland animals and even has medicinal properties. It produces highly poisonous berries. Despite its toxicity, medicines have been made from deadly nightshade.

What does Mayapple look like?

Each smooth, pale green, rounded, palmate leaf has 5-9 shallowly to deeply cut lobes. There are one or two leaves per stem, each up to a foot across. Only stems with more than one leaf will flower. Mayapple often forms large, dense colonies in the wild.