Mandragora Helix The Mandragora Helix , also called the Mandragora constellation , ( COMIC : " The Mark of Mandragora " ) was a Helix Intelligence . A spiral of energy with a controlling intelligence , Mandragora existed as its own domain in " unchartered regions of the Time Vortex . " ( PROSE : " Doctor Who and the Masque of Mandragora " ) Origins . The Mandragora Helix originated in the Dark Times , the Tenth Doctor commenting that it should never have been freed from its dimension . ( PROSE : " Beautiful Chaos " ) Stranks , who confirmed he was part of the Helix , said it was old even when this universe was born , and that the sentient races of this universe had only encountered it in its dotage . ( COMIC : " The Mark of Mandragora " ) Physical appearance . The Mandragora Helix was a spiral of pure energy that radiated outward , able to draw things into it , even a TARDIS . The function of the spiraling energy was a complete mystery . Inside the Helix was a black void where sound echoed and a series of five concentric crystal rings were suspended , but there was a " ground " where beings could walk . Balls of helix energy , which looked like sparking , irregularly - shaped red blobs , could fly through the void . ( TV : " The Masque of Mandragora " ) Although it could be mistaken for a star in its corner of space , Mandragora was a superheated ball of psionic energy which acted as a containment protective field around its malign intelligence , ( PROSE : " Beautiful Chaos " ) although one account claimed there were several intelligences within the Mandragora Helix . ( PROSE : " Doctor Who and the Masque of Mandragora " ) Powers . The Mandragora Helix was an intelligent astral force capable of speech . It had a powerful psychic force that could easily infiltrate human minds , yet might be repelled by the mind concentrating on something . Portions of Mandragora energy might be separated from the Helix and still act independently . Mandragora energy was the " subthermal recombination of ionised plasma " that could float through the air and burn anything it touched . With humans , contact resulted in instant death and a blue crystalline growth on the skin . This energy could be spread out over things like stone ( recreating ruined structures ) or living beings . In humans , the energy took over their bodies , giving them a white appearance that bleached out their faces but also allowed them to fire bolts of energy from their fingertips . With this energy spread out over stones or humans , it became exhausted more quickly . It could only acquire more energy at certain times . When in this exhausted state , it could be grounded through metal wire . Mandragora was an astral force that based its powers on astrology , and while some people might not believe in it , this didn ' t stop Mandragora from using things like the Zodiac as power . ( PROSE : " Beautiful Chaos " ) Bound by the stars , the Mandragora constellation came into alignment with Earth every 500 years , requiring a bridge to reach the planet . If the mind was willing , the Helix was able to convert a human into a " Child of Mandragora , " a humanoid pale / purple creature with roots that could kill . ( COMIC : " The Mark of Mandragora " ) History . Pre - history . Mandragora had at least heard of the Time Lord s and also knew of humans . It was worried that Man , if unchecked , would not be contained in his own galaxy , ultimately entering Mandragora ' s domain and becoming a rival in the universe . ( TV : " The Masque of Mandragora " ) 15th century . Having slipped inside the Doctor ' s TARDIS from its domain , the Helix travelled to late 15th century San Martino in Italy . It manipulated the Brotherhood of Demnos into believing it was the god they worshiped . It eventually possessed the leader , Hieronymous , chosen because he was the Duke ' s astronomer . Mandragora promised him he would be the Earth ' s supreme ruler . It took over the cult ' s members and planned to destroy several scientists who had been gathered so that Earth would be prevented from having the Renaissance . As the helix energy was exhausted , the Fourth Doctor was able to completely destroy it . ( TV : " The Masque of Mandragora " ) 19th century . A force believed to be the Helix manifested in 1863 China , by using a complex stellar event , where an earlier Doctor confronted it without fully understanding it , as the Helix had encountered him in a later point in history , yet an earlier point in the Doctor ' s personal timeline . At this point , it attempted to exert influence over China using previously ' recorded ' copies of the minds of the first Emperor of China and his army , the information in the recordings edited to make the ' revived ' emperor easier to control in his new body , but the Doctor and Barbara were able to convince the Emperor personality of the truth , giving him the strength to resist the Helix and destroy himself to protect his country . ( PROSE : " The Eleventh Tiger " ) 20th century . As the Fourth Doctor had earlier predicted , the Mandragora Helix re - appeared in 1990s London , this time exploiting the use of an illegal drug called Mandrake ( another name for Mandragora ) . The Seventh Doctor and Ace , with the help of UNIT and Captain Muriel Frost in particular , put a stop to it . The Doctor and Ace had two other encounters with the Helix as well . ( COMIC : " The Mark of Mandragora " , " Darkness , Falling " , " Distractions " ) 21st century . Having sent out " sparks " to China and London to test the waters , Mandragora reappeared in London in May 2009 , using the MorganTec computer systems company to spread its energy over the Internet . It decided that it was wrong about humans . Instead of stopping them , it would help them travel to the stars , acting as a leech all the while . The Tenth Doctor and Donna Noble , with help from Wilfred Mott , were able to disrupt its link to Earth by damaging the computer it was using to maintain its link to Earth , subsequently tricking it into possessing Wilf ' s friend Netty Goodheart . Taking advantage of Netty ’ s Alzheimer ’ s , The Doctor was able to weaken the Helix by forcing it to expend so much of its energy repairing Hetty ’ s damaged synapses to allow it to think that it soon lost the ability to control her and was forced to retreat back into space , its mental energy already collapsing due to exposure to Netty ’ s damaged mind ( PROSE : " Beautiful Chaos " ) . Behind the scenes . " Secrets of the Stars " was originally going to use the Mandragora Helix . However , it was decided that " Mandragora had to change too much , and was too easily defeated , in order to fit this plot " and the Ancient Lights were created instead . Russell T Davies has said he likes to think both entities are " distant cousins " . ( DWMSE 23 )