3. Ergot: The Fungus at the Center
At the heart of LSD’s story is ergot, a parasitic fungus that infects rye and other grains. Historically, ergot has played a dual role—both as a source of medicinal remedies and as a cause of mysterious outbreaks in medieval Europe. Its potent alkaloids were known to trigger strange visions and even mass hysteria, weaving ergot into folklore and medicine alike. These ancient associations hinted at the fungus’s powerful chemistry, but its precise contribution to psychedelia remained unclear for generations.