Folkloric witch potions were onto something. Every Halloween, herbs like belladonna, mandrake, and mugwort are framed as symbols of danger and temptation. In truth, however, they were the original pharmaceuticals, tested through trial, error, and a fair amount of hallucination. Beneath the superstition, the ingredients were doing something real.

Here are three “witch potions” with actual medical roots.

1. Belladonna (Deadly Nightshade)

The name translates to “beautiful woman,” a nod to its Renaissance use as a beauty enhancer. Women would drop belladonna juice into their eyes to dilate their pupils in an effort to make themselves appear more attractive. But it could also lead to cardiac arrest.

Belladonna’s toxicity comes from alkaloids like atropine and scopolamine, which block nerve

See Full Page