![]() Medicinally, these substances are used commonly in Ayurveda as a cathartic and for eye conditions. The main healing substance in mayapple is called Podophyllum, which contains powerful healing constituents such as lignan podophyllotoxin and podophyllin. Podophyllum: What Is It and How Is It Used? For these cultures, as with other cultures, it was considered a “magical” plant, although not always for the good (due in large part to its highly toxic properties).Īs we shall see, Native peoples in North America have also used mayapple in a variety of ways throughout the centuries. In Europe, mayapple, or mandrake, use goes back to the ancient Greeks and Romans. Most formulas prepared this way utilize the roots since, as we shall see, this is where the highest concentration of potentially healing substances is concentrated. “Indian Podophyllum,” as it is sometimes called, has a long history of use in water-based, tincture form. In the Indian region of Kashmir, it is called Banwangun and has been used as a medicinal there since ancient times. The Asian mayapple variety is known as bantrapushi or Giriparpat in Ayurveda. With all the above warnings firmly in place, it is also a fact that cultures all over the world have used mayapple for centuries for both medicinal and religious purposes. Keep reading, however, and you will see why mayapple holds a special place in both natural and conventional medicine when processed properly and taken in the right amounts. It may seem odd that we’re focusing an entire article on a plant that is so poisonous. If eaten in excess, mandrake leaves, roots, flowers, seeds, and unripened fruit can be deadly, according to most gardening experts. If any of this nightshade plant is consumed in tiny amounts (except for ripened fruits), it may result in hallucination. Even in this form, however, if you consume too much, it may do more harm than good. Once the mayapple fruit ripens and turns yellow, however, it is edible, but only in small amounts. This includes the roots, leaves, flowers, seeds, and fruit (for most of the year). It should be noted at this point that most of the mayapple plant is considered poisonous. It is the flower that will begin to appear during this month, while the “apple” does not reach maturity until fall. The fruit of the mayapple actually does not become harvestable in May (or anytime in the spring for that matter). Speaking of the fruit, the common name for this interesting plant can be misleading. Mayapples have lush, deep green, attractive leaves, bright white, red or yellow flowers, and colorful fruit. ![]() In the United States, you may also see mayapple plants being used in ornamental displays and in landscaping, especially on the East Coast. The Asian (or “Indian”) variety of mayapple called Podophyllum hexandrum grows naturally in the low-lying areas of the Himalayan mountains in countries such as China (S.W.), India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, and Bhutan. Thick forests are where you will typically find it growing wild in North America and Canada. The mayapple plant tends to prefer damp, forested areas, and it needs at least partial shade and lots of moisture in order to thrive. ![]() You may have heard people refer to it as mandrake, American mandrake, wild mandrake, ground lemon, Duck’s foot, Gwai-kou, Hog apple, Indian podophyllum, Racoonberry, and vegetable mercury. Mayapple grows all around the world, which is why it is known by many names.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |