What is Baaras?
Baaras is a mysterious plant believed to grow along the road to Damascus, though it has also been identified elsewhere in the Middle East. In modern times, it is believed to be some variation of mandrake, though this cannot be proven. So, it is surrounded by myths of power and rather bizarre superstitions. Much of the writing about this comes from Flavius Josephus, a Roman-Jewish historian.
As a tool of power, the Baaras is part of alchemy recipes and is a necessary ingredient for turning metals. It is said to be invisible during the day, and anyone searching for it must do so by torchlight.
It is also said to repel demons from those who are possessed. If you place the plant on the possessed person, the demons will flee from their body and home.
According to Josephus, those who wished to use the plant could not pull it by hand, as that would cause immediate death. Instead, one would have to pour menstrual blood or urine from a woman upon it, dig around the plant until they see the end of its root, and then haul it out of there by the roots.
The other method involved Then they would have to tie a dog to the strongest place on the plant and call the dog to them, pulling the plant from the ground. The dog would die, and that person must be willing to sacrifice it to obtain the plant.