Ergot Alkaloids: History, Chemistry, and Therapeutic Uses

Ergot Alkaloids: History, Chemistry, and Therapeutic Uses is an English translation of Albert Hofmann's historic encyclopedia on ergot alkaloids and derivatives. The book traces ergot mushroom botany and cultivation through the historical unfolding of the fungus, including ergot poisoning and early medical uses. It then follows the pharmaceutical and chemical investigation timeline from 1816 to 1961, featuring total synthesis of ergotamine and emphasis on lysergic acid, d-lysergic acid, and LSD related compounds in experimental psychiatry and psychotherapy. The work also connects chemistry and pharmacology to ceremonial and healing traditions among Indigenous peoples, while presenting numerous chemical structures and pharmaceutical analysis to frame ergot as part of the broader history of hallucinogenic and psychotropic “visionary plant” research.