a consequential fungus

The story of ergot, the parasitic fungus growing on grains such as wheat, barley and rye, reaches far back in time, as an upcoming book by Frank Petersen, Director of the Department of Natural Product Research at Novartis Pharma meticulously documents. The Mystery in the Rye. Ergot and LSD – A Cultural Historical Quest follows the history of the alkaloid Claviceps purpurea and documents how ergot was known in Mesopotamia, Persia, and as far a China and Japan, and not only in Egypt or Greece, where it was ritually used as a component of psychoactive brews.

Novartis has recently revived Sandoz, the mother company of the ergot alkaloids, as an independent firm for the production of generics.

In the Hellenic world, ergot was interwoven with the myth of Demeter and her daughter, the mysterious Persephone. As its German name, Mutterkorn, suggests, ergot was and is used in childbirth. Its healing qualities pertain to our blood, either contracting or expanding its flow. During the Middle Ages ergot lived through an inglorious period by causing poisoning in those who ate rye bread infested with the fungus, and its properties as a contractive agent at birth had to be reaffirmed. It has saved and continues to save countless lives. Ergot alkaloids have found their rank among the essential medicines. The ancients knew why they dedicated ergot to the goddess of fertility and childbirth.

In 1943,  Albert Hofmann not only discovered LSD as the 25th derivate of ergot, prepared by Sandoz under the name Delysid, until it became illegal in 1963. He also created the precursors to a number of further valuable drugs based on Claviceps purpurea.

Dr. Petersen describes how modern chemistry started with ergot, eventually turning its alkaloids into many useful medicines. Ergometrine or ergobasine, used in obstetrics around the world, is the most beneficial ergot alkaloid. LSD continues to have the greatest mental and social impact.

I wish you all an enlightening New Year!

Yours
Susanne G. Seiler

P.S. You’ll find us at the gaiamedia lounge, in the back yard of Hochstrasse 70 (behind Basel’s SBB station, tram stop Peter Merian), every Thursday afternoon from 14 – 18 h. Welcome!