PART 1
70
(A)
Foundations
(B)
Fig. 4-3 Mandrake and ginseng: “man”-like roots! (A) Mandrake, the “Man-dragon.”
(B) Ginseng, the Chinese “Man.”
root is said to cry out when it is pulled up from the ground! Shen Nung advocated use of the mandrake root as a medicine because it can induce emesis (EM-eh-sis) or “vomiting” when eaten and it has powerful narcotic (Chapter 2) properties. Nevertheless, mandrake root should not be consumed in large quantities, because it also contains powerful toxins (“poisons”). The word, ginseng, is Chinese for “man.” Ginseng is a low-growing plant whose branched roots (like that of the mandrake) somewhat resemble the human form (Figure 4.3, B). Even today, the ginseng plant is a prized medicine in Chinese pharmacy. In general, ginseng is a powerful stimulant (STIM-youlunt) that “goads or prods” the faster and stronger occurrence of many different body functions. Specifically, it is often used as a heart tonic and an aphrodisiac (af-roh-DIZ-e-ak), a stimulator of sexual desire. [Thinking suggestion: Considering the shape of the mandrake and ginseng plant roots, why do you think they might have powerful placebo effects? Speculate, and discuss your ideas with another person.]
Modern chemotherapy comes of age When we think of chemotherapy in modern times, we usually don’t have visions of man-shaped mandrake and ginseng roots swimming in our heads, do