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Ergot Alkaloids

Their History, Chemistry, and Therapeutic Uses
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Ergot Alkaloids by Albert Hofmann delves into the fascinating world of ergot, a type of fungus known for its powerful alkaloids. The book explores the chemical structure, historical uses, and pharmacological effects of these compounds. It's a comprehensive exploration of their impact on medicine, offering insights into both their beneficial applications and toxicological aspects.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you are fascinated by the intersection of chemistry and biology. It offers insights into the pharmacological effects and historical significance of substances derived from ergot fungi, crafted by the acclaimed chemist Albert Hofmann. If you have an interest in the natural sciences or the history of psychedelic substances, this work is likely to captivate your curiosity.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The masterpiece we have all been waiting for in this classic text from the 60s, Ergot Alkaloids comes to life in the English translation of Albert Hofmann's historic encyclopedia of Ergot Alkaloids and their derivatives.

This title is a detailed account of chemical compounds and pharmacological investigation into the potential of magical plants. Starting with the botany and cultivation of the ergot mushroom, Hofmann takes us through the historical elaboration of the fungus. This includes the poisoning epidemic of ergot and its early medical uses, all the way to the use of psilocybin as a "magical drug".

With a detailed timeline, we explore the growth of pharmaceutical-chemical investigation from 1816 to 1961 with a total synthesis of ergotamine. This includes tables of chemical structures and the roles of lysergic acid, d-lysergic acid, and diethylamide in experimental psychiatry, gaining increasing importance in psychotherapy as a medical aid. Hofmann provides an observational account of these plants and their ceremonial and healing purposes still used by indigenous peoples, such as the "Peyotl" cactus, "Teonanactl" the sacred mushroom of the Aztecs, and "Ololiuqui" the seeds of bindweed plants.

With representations of over 30 chemical structures and pharmaceutical analysis, Hofmann introduces the next generation of scientific knowledge into the world of hallucinogenic plants and special subgroups of psychotropic drugs. He categorises these as phantastica, hallucinogens, psychotomimetic, psychedelica, psychodysleptics, and more.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9798987497708

Publisher: Transform Press,U.S.

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 10 October 2023

Country: United States

Imprint: Transform Press,U.S.

Illustration: Illustrations

Contributors:

  • Translated by Jitka Nykodemov

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 228.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 256

About the Author

Albert Hofmann was a Swiss chemist best known for being the first person to synthesize, ingest and learn of the psychedelic effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). He attended the University of Zurich graduating in 1929 and later went on to work for Sandoz Laboratories in Basel where he was assigned to develop the methods for synthesizing compounds found in medicinal plants. Once finding the visionary properties of LSD he became an advocate for its use in therapeutic treatment for schizophrenia and other psychiatric patients. He authored more than 100 scientific articles and a number of books, including LSD: My Problem Child: Reflections on Sacred Drugs, Mysticism and Science. In 2007, Hofmann was named #1 out of 100 in Telegraph magazine's 'Top 100 Living Geniuses', and in 2022, his pioneering work with LSD was featured in the Netflix documentary series "How to Change Your Mind."

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