Table of Contents
Ergot Alkaloids: History, Chemistry, and Therapeutic Uses
This book provides a comprehensive overview of chemical compounds and the pharmacological potential of visionary plants. It begins with the botany and cultivation of the ergot mushroom. Hofmann details the fungus’s history, including the ergot poisoning epidemic and its early medical applications, to its use as a “magical drug” with psilocybin.
The book chronicles the development of pharmaceutical-chemical research from 1816 to 1961, highlighting the total synthesis of ergotamine. It includes tables of chemical structures and discusses how lysergic acid, d-lysergic acid, and lysergic acid diethylamide play significant roles in experimental psychiatry, increasingly utilized in psychotherapy.
Hofmann also describes the ceremonial and healing uses of plants and fungi by indigenous peoples, including the “Peyotl” cactus, “Teonanactl,” the sacred mushroom of the Aztecs, and “Ololiuqui,” the seeds of morning glory plants.
About the author
Albert Hofmann
Albert Hofmann (1906 – 2008), a Swiss scientist, became the first person to synthesize, ingest, and discover the psychedelic effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). He authored over 100 scientific articles and several books, including “LSD: My Problem Child: Reflections on Sacred Drugs, Mysticism and Science.” In 2007, Telegraph magazine ranked him #1 on their “Top 100 Living Geniuses” list. The 2022 Netflix documentary series “How to Change Your Mind” featured his pioneering work with LSD.