Description

Mandrake illustration from a 15th-century manuscript Tacuinum Sanitatis. (Photo: Public Domain/WikiCommons)
Mandrake root aids Rachel in getting pregnant with Jacob in the Book of Genesis, and Circe and Aphrodite are said to have used it as an aphrodisiac in Greek mythology. Mandrake, a plant belonging to the nightshade family, contains narcotic and hallucinogenic chemicals, therefore its powers are not just fanciful. A “winecupful” of mandrake root, or mandrake root that has been boiled in wine, is what a first-century Greek physician named Dioscurides claims was used as an anesthetic in ancient Rome. He cautions, however, that if one takes too much, they risk dying. We do not, under any circumstances, recommend consuming mandrake.
The mythology surrounding the mandrake is based on the way its roots are shaped. The roots resemble a union of male and female. wrapped like lovers around one another. Mandrake is well known for its seductive properties. In occult rituals, it is utilized for sex, fertility, to unite lovers, to tie lovers, and to increase abundance and wealth.