Mandragora officinarum / Mandrake / Solanaceae (Nightshade family)

Information

This product is not sold or intended for the purpose of human consumption or cosmetic use. Any information provided about this product on this website, including any links to external websites, are solely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and must not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the product. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." The use and application of this product, based on the historical and scientific context provided in the product descriptions and articles, is solely at the customer's risk. This product is a botanical specimen of ethnographic value and interest only and is delivered with no express or implied fitness for any purpose. The product descriptions are compiled from sources we deemed to be reliable up to the date it was written but may contain omissions or errors in fact, or become outdated. It outlines the documented history of uses but should no way be construed to make any medical claims about the ability or efficacy of any of these plants to treat, prevent or mitigate any disease or condition. Although a plant may have a long history of being used for a particular purpose, scientific evidence proving its efficacy for that purpose may be lacking.

Other Names

Mandragora officinarum, Mandrake, Mandragora, Witches Drink, Thieves Root, Mad Apple, Love Apple, Satan's Apple, Luffah, Beid El-jinn.

Description

Probably no plant has had a more fantastic history than the Mandrake. As a magical plant, its extraordinary place in European folklore can nowhere be equaled. Known for its toxic and real and presumed medicinal properties, Mandrake commanded the fear and respect of Europeans throughout the Middle Ages and earlier. Its folk uses and attributes were inextricably bound up with the "Doctrine of Signatures", because of its anthropomorphic root. Mandrake has played the most important role in magic and witchcraft. Among the old Anglo-Saxon herbals Mandrake is endowed with mysterious powers against demoniacal possession.

Legal Remarks

This product is illegal or somehow problematic to send to the following countries. Click on the country link for further information.

• Finland
• Norway
• Netherlands