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Mandrake. Legends, myths, symbolism, description, cultivation, methods of application

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Content

1. Photos, basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism
2. Basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism
3. Botanical description, reference data, useful information, illustrations
4. Recipes for use in traditional medicine and cosmetology
5. Tips for growing, harvesting and storing

Mandragora, Mandragora officinarum. Photos of the plant, basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism

Basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism

Sort by: Mandragora (Mandragora)

Family: Solanaceae (Solanaceae)

Origin: Southern Europe, Mediterranean, Western Asia

Area: Mandragora is common in regions with a temperate and subtropical climate, such as the Mediterranean, southern and central Europe, as well as in Western Asia.

Chemical composition: Mandragora contains alkaloids such as hyoscyamine, hyoscine, hyoscyrein, atropine, and scopolamine, which have hallucinogenic and narcotic properties. The plant also contains phytohormones, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.

Economic value: Mandragora is used in medicine, pharmaceuticals and folk medicine as an anesthetic, hypnotic, anticonvulsant and anti-inflammatory agent. However, the use of mandrake can be dangerous due to its toxicity and potential side effects. Also, the mandrake is known for its magical properties and was often used in ceremonies and rituals.

Legends, myths, symbolism: In ancient Roman mythology, the mandrake was associated with the goddess of love, Venus. It was said that the roots of the mandrake grew in places where the blood of Aphrodite and her beloved Adonis dripped. In ancient Greek mythology, the mandrake was associated with the goddess of magic and sorcery, Hekate. In the Middle Ages, the mandrake was popular among alchemists and sorcerers. Its roots have been used in various magical rituals and spells, as well as as a drug and poison. In the European folklore tradition, the mandrake has been associated with love rites and wedding rites. It was said that if a mandrake root was pulled out of the ground, it would emit a scream that could kill a person. To avoid this, some people used dogs to pluck the mandrake root. In symbolism, the mandrake is associated with magic, mystery and power. It can also represent danger and death. In modern esotericism, the mandrake is used as a talisman to protect and attract auspicious energy.

Mandragora, Mandragora officinarum. Description, illustrations of the plant

Mandrake. Legends, myths, history

At all times, people treated this plant as a "philosopher's stone" among the flora of the Earth. This is the most mysterious and mystical plant on the planet. Mandragora is a plant of high symbolic value.

Other names for this plant: Adam's head, male root, sleeping potion, umbilical, cone, wasteland, cuckoo boots, grass-pokrik. Its branched root, resembling a human figure, was revered as alraun - a magical root.

A halo of mystery has been enveloping the mandrake since the beginning of time. Mandrake apples (fruits) are mentioned in the Bible as a means to ensure conception, which was used by Leah and Rachel. In Arabia, there was a belief that the mandrake glowed at night, and therefore it was called the "devil's candle" or "witch's flower."

In ancient Greek mythology, the mandrake was used to get rid of a love spell. They carried it with them as a love amulet. In Egypt, mandrake is a sex-enhancing drug; in Israel - conducive to conception; in Rome - an exciting herbal drug.

In the old days, the so-called "Adam's head" was cut out of the root of the mandrake, which was worn as an amulet, bringing happiness, driving away diseases. With it, as well as with the plant itself, various legends about treasures, fortune-telling and so on were associated. In ancient times, the mandrake root was used before difficult operations as a sleeping pill.

The plant is poisonous, its extract, even in the smallest doses, causes drowsiness in animals and humans, and in large doses it has an exciting effect on the nervous system.

Author: Martyanova L.M.

Mandragora (bot. Mandragora officinarum). Myths, traditions, symbolism

A plant of high symbolic value. Its branched root (especially after some processing) resembles a human figure and was highly revered as alraun (magic root) until modern times.

In accordance with the traditional doctrine of signs (according to which external features indicate healing power), it bears the divine sign of the "whole person" and therefore was considered as a kind of universal healing agent.

In fact, the mandrake, as a representative of the nightshade, contains several toxic substances (hyoscyamine, atropine, scopolamine, etc.), which can cause hallucinations. Therefore, it played a large role in the "witch's ointments" and became a symbol of all kinds of secret arts.

According to legend, it grew under the gallows from the sperm of a hanged man and could only be removed from the ground with special precautions. It was said that at the same time it emitted a deadly, heartbreaking cry, which is why it was possible to tear it out of the ground only with the help of dogs, which had to die at the same time.

Probably, such plots were designed to increase the value of the Alraun root, and thanks to this, of course, faith in its magical effect grew.

As numerous legends testify, he was both highly valued and feared.

In antiquity, the mandrake was a symbol of the sorceress Circe, among the Jews - a well-known remedy for infertility; was generally regarded as an indication of forces with which a person should handle only with the greatest care.

Author: Biedermann G.

Mandrake. Botanical description, plant history, legends and folk traditions, cultivation and use

In the East, ginseng was considered the magical root of life, in the West - mandrake. Mandragora has whole oval leaves, single axillary large flowers of purple or pink color and the fruit is a round orange-red berry.

The fleshy, starch-rich roots of the mandrake have a peculiar branching, often giving two vertical processes that resemble human figures.

These roots penetrate to a depth of up to two meters, the middle strongly thickened underground part of which serves as a kind of starch storage. For the bizarre shape of the underground parts, resembling naked human figures, the mandrake was the subject of various superstitions. It was believed that it grows only on the graves under the gallows of innocent people and therefore has magical powers: it gives eternal youth, saves from the wiles of the evil one, and is used to make love drinks.

Pythagoras called the mandrake a humanoid plant, Columella, a Roman writer and agronomist, called a half-human grass. And in some peoples, male and female plants are distinguished by the type of root, and they even give them the appropriate names.

In old herbals, mandrake roots are depicted as male and female forms with a bunch of leaves growing from the head; sometimes next to a moribund chained dog. According to beliefs, whoever hears the groan of a mandrake when digging up its root, he must certainly die. To avoid death, a tied dog was planted nearby, which was supposed to take death upon itself.

In the ancient Greek epic, this plant was associated with Circe: it was believed that with the help of a witchcraft drug prepared from mandrake, Circe aroused attraction in people to each other, and with this drug kept Odysseus on the island of Eya for a year. And young men in ancient Greece wore pieces of matsdragoras as a love amulet.

In Arabia, there was a belief that the mandrake glowed at night, and therefore it was called either the candle of the devil, or the flower of the witch; it was believed that sorcerers with the help of a mandrake could deprive a person of reason and beauty.

And at the same time, the mandrake can make a person invulnerable, help him find treasures and treasures, and predict the future.

The mandrake is also mentioned in the Egyptian papyrus Ebers, which is three and a half thousand years old. Theophrastus also wrote about her.

According to legend, mandrake wine was especially popular with the ancients. The Roman physician Galen said that this drink was annually imported into the capital of the empire in large quantities. His compatriot writer Frontinius wrote about the cunning of the Carthaginians, who in the XNUMXth century BC, before the attack of African tribes on their camp, suddenly left the camp, and in the camp in camping carts - kegs of mandrake wine. The Africans got drunk and immediately fell into a deep sleep. The Carthaginians returned and without much difficulty destroyed their enemies.

The genus Mandrake has six species. In the "language of flowers", the plant was considered rare and unusual, and therefore had to surprise people.

"And whoever wants to see the devil or a heretic, and take that root with water, sanctify it, and put it on the throne and do not hide it for forty days, and those days will pass - carry it with you - you will see water and air demons ... And when someone is wounded or flogged - put it on the wound, it will heal in three days! The legend is about the mandrake, known under the names: Adam's head, male root, cry, sleepy potion.

Among the people, Adam's head was also called black sow thistle, navel, chic, shelobolnik, hollow, and even cuckoo tears. Sulamith in the story of Alexander Kuprin in a conversation with Solomon says: "Sometimes I dig mandrake roots that look like little men ... they are bought by Chaldean merchants. They say they make a sleepy drink out of them... Tell me, is it true that mandrake berries help in love?

“No, Shulamith,” replied Solomon, “only love helps in love.”

Author: Krasikov S.

Turkmen mandragora, Mandragora turcomanica O. Mizg. Classification, synonyms, botanical description, nutritional value, cultivation

Perennial herbaceous plant.

Propagated by seeds and vegetatively (root pieces).

The fruits are round berries, up to 6 cm in diameter, with juicy pulp, pleasant sour-sweet taste, with the smell of melon.

The content of vitamin C is not inferior to lemon.

The fruits ripen very early (May - June) and are eaten fresh. Old plants produce up to 100 fruits per year.

It is used in folk medicine.

Author: Ipatiev A.N.

Mandragora, Mandragora officinarum. Recipes for use in traditional medicine and cosmetology

Attention! The use of the mandrake is dangerous and undesirable, since all its parts contain poisonous alkaloids that can cause serious poisoning and even death.

Mandragora, Mandragora officinarum. Tips for growing, harvesting and storing

Mandragora (Mandragora officinarum) is a perennial herb known for its magical and medicinal properties.

Tips for growing, harvesting and storing mandrakes:

Cultivation:

• Mandragora is a thermophilic plant that prefers a sunny location and fertile soil. The plant can grow both in the garden and in pots in an open area or on a balcony.
• Before planting a mandrake, it is recommended to prepare the soil by adding compost or humus. Plants should be planted at a distance of 30-50 cm from each other.
• The planting depth of the rhizome should be equal to two-thirds of the root length.
• The plant needs enough moisture and fertilizer. It is recommended to regularly water the mandrake, especially during the period of dryness, and feed it with mineral fertilizers.
• If necessary, the plant can be pruned to maintain its shape and promote the development of the root system.

Workpiece:

• When harvesting mandrake roots, special precautions must be taken, using protective gloves and a mask. It is recommended to collect the roots in the autumn, when the plant goes into a dormant state.
• Mandrake roots are harvested in autumn, after the plant has faded and stopped growing.
• The collected mandrake roots must be cleaned, cut and dried.

Storage:

• Dried mandrake roots can be stored in a glass jar or container in a cool, dry place for several years.

Mandragora contains many biologically active substances, such as alkaloids and glycosides, which give it magical and healing properties. Follow these tips to grow, harvest and store mandrake and use it as a medicinal raw material. However, do not forget that the mandrake is a poisonous plant, so you need to use it for medicinal purposes very carefully and only under the supervision of a doctor.

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