Ergot Alkaloids: History, Chemistry, and Therapeutic Uses in Albert Hofmann's English-Language Encyclopedia

Albert Hofmann's Ergot Alkaloids presents an English translation of his detailed encyclopedia of ergot alkaloids and related derivatives. The book combines botany, cultivation, historical accounts of ergot poisoning and early medical applications, and a timeline of pharmaceutical and chemical research from 1816 to 1961. It discusses the total synthesis of ergotamine, lysergic acid and d-lysergic acid, and the role of lysergic acid diethylamide in experimental psychiatry and psychotherapy. The volume also surveys ceremonial and healing uses associated with peyotl, sacred mushrooms identified as Teonanactl, and morning glory seeds known as Ololiuqui, while presenting more than 30 chemical structures and pharmaceutical analyses. The supplied description frames the work as a scientific and historical reference on hallucinogenic plants and psychotropic drug categories.