Does ergot fungus have hallucinogenic property's?

Question

I read that ergot fungus on grains used to make bread by the Romans and was the reason people imagined they seen all the fantastic things they talk about in the bible.

Answer 1

Effects on humans and animals (It is called Ergotism ).
Ergotism---


The ergot sclerotium contains high concentrations (up to 2% of dry mass) of ergotamine, a complex molecule consisting of a tripeptide-derived cyclol-lactam ring connected via amide linkage to a lysergic acid (ergoline) moiety, and other alkaloids of the ergoline group that are biosynthesized by the fungus.

Ergot alkaloids have a wide range of biological activities including effects on circulation and neurotransmission.

Ergotism is the name for sometimes severe pathological syndromes affecting humans or animals that have ingested ergot alkaloid-containing plant material, such as ergot-contaminated grains.

The common name for ergotism is "St. Anthony's fire" referring to the symptoms, such as severe burning sensations in the limbs.

These are caused by effects of ergot alkaloids on the vascular system due to vasoconstriction of blood vessels, sometimes leading to gangrene and loss of limbs due to severely restricted blood circulation.

Important statement is immediately below --


The neurotropic activities of the ergot alkaloids may also cause hallucinations and attendant irrational behaviour, convulsions, and even death.

Other symptoms include strong uterine contractions, nausea, seizures, and unconsciousness. Monks of the order of St. Anthony the Great specialized in treating ergotism victims with balms containing tranquilizing and blood circulation-stimulating plants; they were also skilled in amputations.

In addition to ergot alkaloids, Claviceps paspali also produces tremorgens (paspalitrem) causing "paspalum staggers" in cattle.

Ergot alkaloids are also produced by fungi of the genera Penicillium and Aspergillus, notably by some isolates of the human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus,and have been isolated from plants in the family Convolvulaceae, of which morning glory is best known.

Historically, controlled doses of ergot were used to induce abortions and to stop maternal bleeding after childbirth, but simple ergot extract is no longer used as a pharmaceutical.

Ergot contains only small quantities of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) occasionally used as a recreational drug due to its hallucinogenic properties, but LSD was first synthesized during research on the active ingredients of ergot. Moreover, lysergic acid, a molecule used in the synthesis of LSD, can be isolated from ergot.

In the January 4, 2007 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, a paper was published documenting a British study of over 11,000 Parkinson's Disease patients, which found that two commonly used Parkinson's drugs derived from ergot, Pergolide and Cabergoline, may increase the risk of leaky heart valves by up to 700%.

It has also been posited — though speculatively — that the Salem Witch Trials were initiated by young women who had consumed ergot-tainted rye.( click on the link at the end for details )

The Great Fear in France during the Revolution has also been linked by some historians to the influence of ergot.

Kykeon, the beverage consumed by participants in the ancient Greek mystery of Eleusinian Mysteries, might have been based on hallucinogens from ergot.

Currently, rye grain is infected repeatedly to produce ergot.

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/case_salem/index.html

" I think you got your answer in the above excerpt from wikipedia "

Answer 2

Absolutely, it contains LSD and frequently grows on bread grains. An anthropology professor of mine has told us that they, along with botanists, have been looking at times when there may have possibly been ergot growing out of control in the past and linking it to occurences of mass hysteria. Most people now believe that the Salem Witch trials were caused by ergot-tainted barley and other similar happenings of strange behavior and paranoia in the past.

Answer 3

yes ergot mold is used as the main ingredient in the process to create Acid. aka LSD Lysergic acid diethylamide.

Others have claimed that the "blessed oil" (small amount) and baptisms (large amounts) consisted of Hemp Oil, not water or regular oil. The oils contain marijihuana juice with high levels of THC that would seep into your poors and initiated feelings of being "born again, or seeing God"

Answer 4

I have heard that the Viking berserkers went berserk from eating spoiled rye or rye bread--the major grain of colder climates. But in the southern climates, wheat was plentiful.
Likely rye needs a cooler climate anyway. In the Bible, the word "corn" means wheat, the same as it meant in England and is still used there. What the Canadians and Murricans call corn, they call maize.