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Ergot: a poisonous mushroom with many uses

Ergot, also known as black grain, poison grain or wolf's tooth, is a marsupial fungus of the family Ascomycetes, belonging to the order Clavicipitales. It grows on rye and is used medicinally for its active ingredients. However, ergot is very poisonous and should not be used for self-medication.

Botanical description of ergot

The development cycle of ergot is very complex and was first discovered by Tyulyan in 1863. Ergot begins its development cycle with a horn, which falls to the soil in the fall, overwinters and develops small reddish spores in the form of legs with heads at the end the following spring. The latter contain numerous bottle-shaped depressions - perithecia, which contain spore receptacles (bags) with filamentous spores. The spores fall with the help of the wind onto the cereals, where they immediately germinate, penetrate into the cavity of the ovary, and powerful mycelium develops instead of grain. Thus, the ovary turns into a container for the fungus.

Active ingredients in ergot

Ergot contains alkaloids belonging to three groups: ergotamine group (water-insoluble) - ergotamine, ergotamine-ergosine, ergosinine ergotoxin group (water-insoluble) - ergocristine, ergocristine-ergocryptine, ergocryptinine, ergocornine, ergocornine ergobasin group (water-soluble) - ergobasin, ergobasinine. In addition, ergot contains fatty oil and a number of protein substances.

Healing effect and application

Ergot is a poisonous mushroom and is not used in medicine on its own due to the unstable content of active ingredients. However, standardized preparations and medicines from the active ingredients of ergot are prescribed for the treatment of various nervous disorders, states of agitation and fear, as well as migraines. In addition, ergot preparations stop bleeding and encourage the uterus to contract, which makes them useful for the treatment of certain gynecological diseases.

Ergot is also used in homeopathy, where it is used for migraines, concussions, diabetes, diarrhea, difficult childbirth, leg ulcers and high blood pressure. Conventional dilutions in homeopathy contain very small concentrations of the active ingredients of ergot and are considered safe.

One well-known ergot drug is ergotamine, which is used to treat migraines and headaches. This drug constricts blood vessels, reducing headaches and preventing their occurrence.

In addition, ergot is used in agriculture as a biological insecticide to protect plants from pests.

The dangers of eating ergot

Ergot is a poisonous mushroom and can cause serious poisoning if used incorrectly. Uncontrolled use of ergot products can lead to side effects such as dizziness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, seizures, allergic reactions and even death.

Therefore, before using ergot preparations, you must always consult your doctor and strictly follow the dosage and recommendations for use.

What is ergot?

Ergots are fungi belonging to the class Perithecia. This plant belongs to the genus Klopovia (Clavaria) of the Penicillium family. The name of this plant is very memorable. Some sources indicate that ergot is also called bedbugs. Translated from Greek, it means “upstart”. The first word refers to the nickname "spore" and the second is "jump out". This mushroom is very unusual in appearance. Its upper part resembles faded straw of a dirty pink color. Ergot can be seen in any growing conditions: in parks, forests, gardens. It grows on the vast majority of deciduous trees. These are beeches, maples, birches, lindens. Mushroom