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[The mandrake root and the Viennese Dioscorides].

V A Peduto1

  • 1Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università degli Studi, Perugia, Italy.

Minerva Anestesiologica
|December 12, 2001
PubMed
Summary

Ancient Greek physician Dioscorides described mandrake

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Area of Science:

  • Historical pharmacology
  • Ethnobotany

Context:

  • First-century Greek physician Dioscorides documented medicinal herbs.
  • Mandrake (Mandragora) has a mystical reputation and harvesting superstitions.
  • Dioscorides' work, "Greek Herbal," details mandrake's properties.

Purpose:

  • To explore the historical use and description of mandrake by Dioscorides.
  • To highlight mandrake's early association with anesthesia.

Summary:

  • Dioscorides detailed mandrake in his materia medica, noting its use in wine for pain relief and sleep.
  • He described the term "anesthesia" as the absence of sensation, a concept he linked to mandrake's effects.
  • Legends surrounding mandrake harvesting, including the use of dogs, illustrate its mystical aura.

Impact:

  • Provides insight into ancient anesthetic practices and terminology.
  • Demonstrates the long history of medicinal plant use and associated folklore.
  • Contributes to the understanding of historical medical texts and their significance.

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