Ergotism and Its Effects on Society and Religion
Larry R. Sherman, Michael R. Zimmerman
Journal of Nutritional Immunology May 16, 1994 DOI: 10.1300/j053v02n03_08 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that ergotism, a food poisoning caused by ergotamine from Claviceps purpurea, may have been a common malady in Northern Europe, European Russia, and Colonial America and proposes that the visions of holy figures such as Joan of Arc and St. John the Evangelist may have resulted from ergotism. Notes that ergotamine is more toxic but less hallucinogenic than LSD. |
Abstract
Ergotism is caused by the toxic alkaloid, ergotamine [Chem. Reg. #113-15-3], which is produced by the Claviceps purpurea fungus, which grows on rye and to a lesser extent on other cereal grain. Substitution on the amide nitrogen of the Lysergamide produces a variety of toxins and drugs. LSD, N, N-diethyl-D-lysergamide, is the best known derivative. Ergotism is a form of food poisoning and may have been a common malady in Northern Europe, European Russia and Colonial America. Ergotism may cause sterility and death through dry gangrene and is usually accompanied by hallucinations and visions but has rarely been considered as the cause of many social and religious upheavals. Ergotamine is more toxic than LSD but less hallucinogenic. However, many of the documented visions of the holy people may have been due to ergotism, e.g., Joan of Arc and St. John, the Evangelist.