A Witch's Garden: Ergot

Disclaimer

This is NOT a page about Wiccans or neo-pagans, and I do not advocate the belief that Wiccans are Satan-worshippers and/or baby-killers. I am well aware that they are not. This is a starting point for historical research into the great witch craze of 1100-1700 AD. And please, don't ask me for spells.

Ergot

Ergot is the winter stage of a parasitic fungus which grows on grains and grasses. The fungus is dark purple or black, and was sometimes accidentally baked into the cheap dark bread eaten by peasants. Ergot contains several alkaloids, depending on climate, location, and host. Most of these alkaloids are derivatives of lysergic acid (LSD). Where some of these alkaloids have toxic properties, others have psychedelic effects.

"Since the Middle Ages, midwives and witches have used ergot to induce uterine contractions" (Rätsch 74). Because of its hallucinatory effects, ergot may also have been used in flying potions.

Saint Anthony was the patron saint of persons afflicted with St. Anthony's fire (Ignis sacer), now known as ergotism. This disease results from ingesting grains infested with the toxic ergot fungus. Towards the end of the Middle Ages, a nuumber of epidemic-like outbreaks of ergotism ocurred thoughout Europe. Those afflicted were exposed to hellish torments. Their arms and legs became gangrenous, and they had terrible hallucinations.... Because St. Anthony was viewed as someone who had vanquished the devil, victims of ergotism were placed under his protection. The illustration shows one such victim on the lower left (Rätsch 75).

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A Witch's Garden is copyright 1997-1998 to Shantell Powell.