3 Witch Folklore 'Potions' That Actually Have Medical Significance Today
As Halloween approaches, stories of witches and their potions resurface, often featuring eerie plants like belladonna, mandrake, and mugwort.
These botanicals, steeped in myth and folklore, have long been linked to spells and sorcery. Yet behind their spooky reputations lies a fascinating pharmacological history, and in some cases, ongoing medical relevance.
Belladonna: A Plant of Contradictions
Belladonna (Atropa belladonna), also known as deadly nightshade, has a long and contradictory history as both poison and medicine.
Its name, meaning "beautiful woman" in Italian, refers to its Renaissance-era cosmetic use, when women used juice from its berries to dilate their pupils and appear more alluring.
However, this beauty comes with danger. Ingesting even a few leaves or berries can be fatal, and touching it may irritate the skin. It has also been used for its hallucinogenic properties in many cultures.
Author's summary: Witch folklore potions have medical significance.
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