麻醉藥物的舊世界植物，早在14世紀，稱爲 mondrake，也稱爲 mandragge，源自中世紀拉丁語 mandragora，來自拉丁語 mandragoras，來自希臘語 mandragoras，可能來自非印歐語言。這個詞在古英語晚期和中古英語中以其拉丁形式存在； 民間詞源學將第二個元素與 dragoun 聯繫起來，並用本土的 drake 代替它，儘管可能沒有什麼意義。人們認爲這個分叉的根像人體，被拔出地面時會尖叫。這種植物被認爲是一種壯陽藥。
Meanwhile it should not be forgotten that there was one magical possession, an idol of domestic superstition in mediaeval German households, which is said to have passed at the father's death to the youngest son upon condition that he performed certain heathenish rites in relation to the father's funeral. The "mandrake," a plant with broad leaves and bright yellow flowers and with a root which grew in a semi-human form, was found beneath the public gallows and was dragged from the ground and carried home with many extraordinary ceremonies. When secured it became a familiar spirit, speaking in oracles if properly consulted and bringing good luck to the household in which it was enshrined. [Charles Elton, "Origins of English History," 1882]
同時，不應忘記，在中世紀德國家庭中，有一種魔法物品，一種家庭迷信的偶像，據說在父親去世時傳給最年輕的兒子，條件是他在父親的葬禮上進行某些異教儀式。這種植物名爲“曼陀羅”，有着寬大的葉子和鮮黃色的花朵，根部呈半人形，被發現在公共絞刑架下，被拖出地面並帶回家中進行許多非凡的儀式。當被捕獲時，它成爲一個熟悉的精靈，如果得到適當的諮詢，會說出神諭，併爲它所在的家庭帶來好運。[查爾斯·埃爾頓，《英國曆史的起源》，1882年]
