Human-shaped roots
East Asia’s ginseng and the Mediterranean’s mandrake were seen as magical and sacred because their roots look human.
Side by side
| Ginseng | Mandrake | |
|---|---|---|
| Latin name | Panax ginseng | Mandragora officinarum, M. autumnalis |
| Family | Araliaceae | Solanaceae |
| Region | Asia and Siberia | Anatolia and the Mediterranean |
| Part used | Root | Root |
| Use | Healing, Ritual and shamanic | Poisonous, Ritual and shamanic |
| Scientific evidence | Limited | Traditional |
| Safety | Caution | High risk |
| Legal status in Türkiye | No specific restriction | No specific restriction |
Ginseng
Used in China and Korea for 2,000 years for strength, long life and old age; human-shaped roots are most prized.
Hunters searching for wild ginseng in the Ussuri region prayed where they found a root and marked it with red thread.
Science: Contains ginsenosides. Some studies found small effects on blood sugar and immunity; the NCCIH says the evidence is limited.
Safety: Can cause insomnia. May interact with blood thinners and diabetes medicines.
Mandrake
Its human-shaped root made it a plant of magic and love. People believed it screamed when pulled up and had to be tied to a dog to be uprooted.
In ancient Greece it was added to wine as an anaesthetic before surgery. The “dudaim” of the Hebrew Bible is thought to be mandrake.
Science: The root contains scopolamine and hyoscyamine, whose sedative effect explains its ancient use in anaesthesia.
Safety: The whole plant is poisonous. The fruit and root can cause hallucinations, heart rhythm problems and respiratory arrest. Roots sold in markets as “aphrodisiacs” are dangerous.
Last reviewed: · Türkçe
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