The article explores the significant cultural and scientific history of the ergot fungus, particularly its role in the development of LSD by Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann at Sandoz in the 1940s. It highlights earlier uses of ergot as a medicinal substance in ancient China and Greece, its toxic effects leading to ergotism, and the innovative contributions of biochemist Arthur Stoll in isolating the active compound. The narrative chronicles the evolution of pharmaceutical research in Basel, culminating in the dual nature of ergot as both a poison and a medicine.