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  • Useful and medicinal properties of ergot

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    Mushroom parasite, affecting the ovary of flowering cereals. On affected plants appear, instead of grains, horn-sclerotia ergot dark purple. Sclerotia - dense plexus of the mycelium - hyphophytes of the fungus, 1/3 cm long. On maturation they fall to the ground, winter in the soil, and in spring they germinate with the head formations on the legs( slings).On the slings develop fruiting bodies with spores. Spores on maturation are spread by the wind and infect new plants. The horns are very poisonous, getting into the grain and being ground together with it, they poison the flour. Eating flour, affected by ergot, causes poisoning - "evil cramps".There is an ergot in the rye and other cereal crops in late June-early July. Collect the horns from the rye in dry weather and dry it in the shade.

    Ergot has no specific areas of distribution. It develops in cereal crops, more often rye. Occurs on wild cereals.

    Medicinal raw materials are horns-sclerotia. Finished raw materials - well-dried, brittle, whole sclerotia - should not contain fragmented sclerotia. Stored raw materials in a dark place. Shelf life 1 year.

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    In scientific medicine, ergot has long been a recognized uterine agent. It is used in the form of powder, liquid and thick extract or new-born preparations as a uterine hemostatic in obstetric and gynecological practice. Alkaloids controversial cause a strong and prolonged contraction of the uterine musculature, while compressing the vessels of the uterus, help stop bleeding. Vigorous contraction of the uterus musculature, caused by ergot alkaloids, also accelerates the involution of the uterus after delivery. Hydrogenated ergot alkaloids do not have a selective effect on the uterus and, in combination with various drugs, are used as sedatives and antihypertensives for neuroses, increased irritability, insomnia, climacteric

    neuroses, vasospasm, hypertension and other diseases. The ergot preparations are poisonous and can cause poisoning! Chronic poisoning often occurs when eating flour from grain contaminated with ergot, and manifests itself in two forms: gangrenous and convulsive. Acute poisoning is possible with the use of large doses of ergot and is characterized by the following symptoms: headache, nausea, vomiting, weak, frequent pulse, pain in the heart, movement and speech disorders, agitation, convulsions, severe breathing failure, until it stops.

    Helps in acute ergot poisoning: gastric lavage with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, vomiting, laxatives, blood transfusion, the introduction of blood-substitute fluids and funds that support the activity of the heart and respiration. With cramps - warm baths, inhaling amylnitrate.

    Since ergot is toxic and can cause poisoning, the use of its drugs should be done only for the intended purpose and under the supervision of the doctor.

    It is used ergot in the form of powder, infusion( 1:30), liquid and thick extract. Keep with caution( List B).