Madragora officianalis – Mandrake
The mandrake has been especially well known through the popularity of the Harry Potter books.
It was said that if you pulled the plant from the ground it would scream. Hearing the scream would either send you mad or kill you. One way to overcome this fate was to use a dog to pull this valuable root from the ground.
Mandrake was used by physicians to relief pain and for amputations.
John Arderne, the medieval surgeon, said that Mandrake applied to the pulses, loins and temple, would soon render your patient asleep. You could then cut him with iron and he would not feel the pain.
If the patient did not awaken, a sponge soaked in strong vinegar should be held under the nose.
The mandrake has been especially well known through the popularity of the Harry Potter books.
It was said that if you pulled the plant from the ground it would scream. Hearing the scream would either send you mad or kill you. One way to overcome this fate was to use a dog to pull this valuable root from the ground.
Mandrake was used by physicians to relief pain and for amputations.
John Arderne, the medieval surgeon, said that Mandrake applied to the pulses, loins and temple, would soon render your patient asleep. You could then cut him with iron and he would not feel the pain.
If the patient did not awaken, a sponge soaked in strong vinegar should be held under the nose.