Mandrake - Mandragora officinarum, also called Witches Drink, Thieves Root, Mad Apple, Love Apple and Satan’s Apple - has a very long history of use as a sacred herb. The root of Mandrake (Mandragora officinarum) is thought to take on almost a human form. Mandrake is sometimes referred to as umbrella plant, because it looks like a closed umbrella when it first appears each spring.

Mandrake has been used in association with magic in European folklore. Mandragora occicinarum (Mandrake) was a common admixture in witches’ brews. It was often carried for protection and luck. Mandrake grows rapidly in groups and produces a fruit, but it is rather unsavory.

Mandrake contains extremely large amounts of tropane alkaloids and should be regarded as poisonous. However, It has been used as an analgesic and anesthetic, sleep aid, aphrodisiac, and to treat many ailments.