Many plants in different cultures were given special, magical significance. In Russia, this was also widespread. In Russian folk beliefs, grasses, fruits, leaves and roots of shrubs and trees were often endowed with special healing properties or, conversely, the induction of damage. The origins of these superstitions go back to the depths of the past, when Russia was still pagan and people believed that a certain evil or good spirit lives in every sprout that has made its way out of the ground.
Overseas fruits
It is interesting that even the simplest plants were for many Slavs the embodiment of some kind of secret forces. Most often, the fruits borrowed from other peoples were associated with the adherents of all primordially Russian, "proven", with something impure and satanic. For example, the Old Believers considered ordinary potatoes for many centuries to be a devil fruit that grew out of the body of Herod's daughter, who copulated with a dog. Foreign dishes such as tea and coffee were also cursed.
Mandrake
In addition to potatoes, other "roots" were also endowed with great mystical significance. One of the most omnipotent and powerful was the mandrake root. This perennial medicinal plant from the Solanaceae family, many of which are poisonous, awakened the wildest mystical pictures in the imagination of our ancestors because of its unusual root shape.
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The root of the mandrake has branching thickenings that are somewhat reminiscent of a human figure. The fact that this figure was "buried" in the ground, apparently, led the Slavs to certain thoughts about the other world. In addition, mandrake has psychotropic properties and can cause hallucinations. This quality was often used in various magical rites.
In Russia, the mandrake was also called the Adam's head. Popular beliefs attributed tremendous power to her. It was believed that sorcerers collect mandrake on Ivan Kupala, and then use this root to heal from infertility, release from damage, heal wounds or attract gifts. Rusichi believed that it is worth sprinkling the plant with holy water, as it will endow it with the ability to recognize sorcerers.
Tsar Archilin
This magical plant is mentioned in many ancient herbalists. Other names of the archilin: Arkharik, Tsar-Sil, Archangel, Tsar-Simtarim. Some researchers believe that this is a fictional, fabulous plant (Vladimir Dal). Others - that archilin is an analogue of that very mandrake. This assumption appeared due to the description that is found in some herbalists of the 17-18 centuries. Archiline is described as a human-shaped root with arms and legs.
They were looking for this plant only on Midsummer Day, but not with empty hands, but armed with a silver or gold coin. According to popular belief, Tsar-Archilin grew from the chest of a corpse and therefore possessed colossal magical powers. It was necessary to soak archilin in milk, and then drink it, as protection from spoilage appeared. Infertile women acquired the ability to conceive.
Elder
Elderberry also possessed magical properties in folk fantasy. It was believed that it is worth carving a staff out of this tree and it will reliably protect on the way from a wild beast and an unkind person. Such a staff had to be prepared in a special way: on the one hand, a handle had to be attached to a stick cut from an elderberry, and on the other, a small notch had to be made and magic powder had to be poured into it.
Such a powder was prepared from the following ingredients: 3 swallow hearts, 2 wolf eyes, 3 lizard tongues and a dog's heart. All this had to be dried, ground into powder, and then poured into an elderberry. The hole had to be closed with an iron tip. Sorcerers in ancient times gave a 100% guarantee of the effectiveness of such a tool.
Elecampane
Elecampane tall - a medicinal plant, which in the old days was attributed to the magical properties of the most powerful love potion. The plant was collected before Ivanov's day, then dried and mixed with incense. This mixture had to be placed in an amulet and worn on the chest for 9 days. During this time, she absorbed human energy.
Then the elecampane with incense was removed and secretly sewn into the hem of the clothes of a loved one. It was believed that after such manipulations, the heart of the bewitched person would forever belong to the person who performed this ceremony. Also, elecampane was credited with the ability to heal from all diseases.
Ivan da Marya
This grass also had to be collected only on a special day of the year, on Ivan Kupala. Ivan da Marya could heal from many ailments, return love and peace to the family, or even protect the home from thieves if plant leaves were laid in the corners of the hut.
Other plants
Unusual properties have also been attributed to many other plants. For example, nettles and magic overpower-grass (the so-called water lily) helped to protect from witches, the bathing suit - from devils. Aspen had a force against sorcerers (a stake had to be hewed out of it, and then driven into the heart of the deceased sorcerer).
Chernobyl, or ordinary wormwood, was considered the strongest amulet against witches and other evil spirits. This plant with a bitter taste could also protect from lightning and eye diseases. Thistle, garlic and some other magical plants, described in detail in ancient Russian herbalists, protected from evil forces.