Bread's Secret: How Fungus Leads to Hallucinations

Описание: Did you know that summer was a challenging time for medieval villagers? Their grain supplies often ran out before the new harvest, forcing them to use old rye for bread. But this wasn’t just a matter of taste. Using stored rye came with a hidden danger: ergot, a nasty fungal blight that thrives after a wet spring and cold winter.

Imagine eating up to three pounds of rye bread every day, like medieval peasants did. Waiting for the autumn harvest, they often used old rye, not knowing it could be contaminated with ergot. And ergot wasn’t just any fungus. It caused ergotism, a condition with terrifying symptoms: dry, gangrenous skin, convulsions, intense itching, mania, psychosis, vomiting, and diarrhea.

These symptoms were so bizarre that they appeared in medieval artwork and writings, inspiring artists to depict the mysterious and otherworldly. Ergot, the fungus with the potential to produce LSD, was a serious threat. Those who ingested it faced severe health issues, and in many cases, it could be deadly.

How do you think such a tiny fungus could leave such a big mark on history? Let us know in the comments below, and don't forget to subscribe for more fascinating historical insights!

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https://www.laphamsquarterly.org/roun...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ergotism