Your medicine cabinet probably doesn't contain "tiger's eye" or "dog's tongue," but some of the classic ingredients of "witches' potions" do have a role in modern medicine, according to experts.
Mysterious plants like belladonna, mandrake, and mugwort are steeped in myth and folklore, and have been used in witchcraft and black magic, from ancient texts to the Harry Potter books.
Ahead of Halloween, Dipa Kamdar, senior lecturer in Pharmacy at Kingston University, explained how these "pot classics" can help treat common ailments.
“Behind their fearsome reputation lies a remarkable pharmacological history and, in some cases, an ongoing medical relevance,” she wrote in The Conversation.
“The true magic of belladonna, mandrake, and mugwort lies not in superstition, but in science.”
Pretty Woman
Also known as deadly nightshade, belladonna has a long history as both a poison and a medicine. It is extremely toxic – even a few fruits can be fatal.
Its strength comes from the compounds atropine and scopolamine, which block acetylcholine, a key chemical that transmits messages between nerve cells, affecting functions such as heart rate, breathing and digestion.
In modern medicine, atropine is used to dilate the pupils during eye examinations, to treat bradycardia (slow heart rate), and as an antidote for certain poisonings. Scopolamine is used for motion sickness and postoperative nausea.
Mandrake
The mandrake is a poisonous plant with human-shaped roots and bell-shaped flowers. In folklore, it was said that pulling it out of the ground caused a deathly scream – a myth that was also made famous in the Harry Potter books.
Historically, mandrake was used as an anesthetic, sedative, and fertility aid, and contains tropane alkaloids such as atropine and scopolamine with psychoactive properties. A 2022 study documented 88 traditional medicinal uses for mandrake, from pain relief and sedation to skin and digestive problems.
mugwort
Mugwort is an aromatic herb native to Europe and Asia, associated with magic and healing. It was traditionally used to enhance dreams and ward off evil spirits.
In 2015, the Nobel Prize was awarded for the discovery of artemisinin, an anti-malarial compound extracted from the annual mugwort. Mugwort is also used in traditional Chinese medicine, particularly in moxibustion, a therapy that heats the herb near acupuncture points to stimulate healing.
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“The mythology surrounding these plants may seem fanciful, but the truth is just as fascinating,” Kamdar concluded. “It’s not magic, but chemistry – complex compounds that have influenced both ancient healing and modern medicine.” /GazetaExpress/
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