title: Special article: mandragora: anesthetic of the ancients.
abstract: Initial attempts at surgical anesthesia began many centuries ago, with the plants of antiquity. The mandragora, or mandrake, was used as a sedative and to induce pain relief for surgical procedures. It has been depicted in tablets and friezes since the 16th century before the common era (BCE) and used for its sedative effects by Hannibal (second century BCE) against his enemies. The Romans used the mandrake for surgery. The Arabs translated the scientific work of the Ancients and expanded on their knowledge. They developed the Spongia Somnifera, which contained the juice of the mandrake plant. After the fall of the Islamic cities of Europe to the Christians, scientific work was translated into Latin and the Spongia Somnifera was used in Europe until the discovery of the use of ether for surgical anesthesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Detroit Medical Center, Wayne State University, Harper University Hospital, 3990 John R, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. echidiac@med.wayne.edu
authors.forename: Elie J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Chidiac
authors.forename: Romeo N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Kaddoum
authors.forename: Samir F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Fuleihan
mesh_terms: D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000266:history*; D018912:Arabs; D013502:General Surgery / Q000266:history; D029001:Herbal Medicine / Q000266:history; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D026781:Mandragora; D008517:Phytotherapy; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives