The Magic Mandrake root

When it comes to mandrake, for some reason, many people have thoughts about magic and witchcraft. Immediately remember stories of fantastic films and stories, which mentions how the witches at night looking for this miraculous root, and after boiling from it a potion. And indeed, the name of this plant is very mesmerizing, magical. There is something supernatural and magical about him. What is this plant? Is it really magical, once in history there are so many references to the root of the mandrake.

What is this plant

Mandrake - the plant is really unique. She has a huge root. Its length sometimes reaches a meter in depth. It is straight and thick, has two or more branches. Outwardly, the root of the mandrake resembles the root of the parsnip. The upper part of the plant consists of large-sized leaves of dark green color. First they grow up, seeking to the sun. But, given that their size is more than 10 cm in diameter, under their weight the leaves cover the ground as they grow. Mandrake flowers have a beautiful soft-purple color with a purple hue. As you grow from the flowers, a fruit resembles a small ripe yellow apple. For all its glory, the plant emits a fetid smell of hydrogen sulfide. But it is surprising that the ripe fruit of mandrake has a rich apple flavor.

Mandragora in medicine

The mandrake root, like the plant itself, does have healing properties. Mandragora is widely used in medicine. It helps to cope with diseases, and is also used as a sleeping pill. From mandrakes make sedatives, painkillers. It helps those who suffer from gastrointestinal diseases, have pain in the joints, muscles. Tinctures of mandrake are ascribed to those who have neuralgic pains.

The root of mandrake will help to overcome asthma and lung diseases. Tincture from the plant is drunk to facilitate breathing, to release the bronchi from mucus, which does not allow breathing freely. Also tincture of mandrake helps to remove liquid from the pulmonary sacs.

Widely used in folk medicine is the root. Mandrake is one of the main ingredients of tinctures and oils. For example, the root of mandrake is crushed (100 grams), and then poured with alcohol (400 ml). To tincture has become curative, it is necessary to withstand 15 days. After it is filtered. This tincture is used for pain of a different nature, and is also the strongest hypnotic . Take the tincture you need very carefully. 3-10 drops is the norm. If you exceed this rate, poisoning can not be avoided. Also, the obtained tincture is mixed with fat and the oil is prepared for external use.

Apply mandrake root for the preparation of ointments that help with swelling, swelling, skin diseases, eczema, peeling, abscesses.

Danger of misuse

Medications from mandrake do not only benefit, but can serve as a poison. It is enough to take the wrong dose of medicine from the plant. The poisoning of the mandrake is serious, can even lead to a coma. When the maximum dose of the drug is exceeded, a person immediately feels lethargic, nauseous, and asleep. All this is accompanied by a constant vomiting reflex with painful spasms. There may be hallucinations, delusions and turbidity for some time of reason. That's why taking medicine from the mandrake should be very carefully, under the supervision of doctors.

In general, having become acquainted with this plant, one can draw one conclusion: the mandrake is really magical. Its juice is healing, and tinctures and oils from it help the sick and needy. But at the same time, one extra drop is enough to make the plant become a poison from the medicine.