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

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.

But this beauty comes with danger. Belladonna is highly toxic . Ingesting even a few leaves or berries can be fatal, a

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