Mandrake is an herb that was traditionally thought to have magical properties. Mandrakes grow wild in southern Europe and Asia. The stem of a mandrake cannot be seen, and the leaves seem to grow from the roots. Most mandrakes have one large, thick root that tapers to a point. The white, bluish, or purple flowers of a mandrake grow on slender stalks among the leaves.
People have had superstitious beliefs about the mandrake since early times. The plant contains scopolamine and hyoscyamine, two chemical compounds that may be used as medicines or poisons. Ancient peoples of the Near East and Europe used the root of the plant as a narcotic and anesthetic. Some people thought mandrakes were magical plants and used them in so-called love potions. Mandrakes are mentioned in the Bible and in the Ebers Papyrus, an Egyptian medical text which dates from about 1550 B.C. or earlier. The Egyptians probably used the plant to prepare sedatives and pain-relieving drugs. Today, some people may still use the plant’s root in drinks believed to have magical effects.
