Food contamination created werewolf hysteria?!
There is a theory among modern-day historians that study werewolf legends and beliefs that food contamination created werewolf hysteria, and there are no real werewolves.
The theory involving the “food contamination” idea is sometimes used by historians to explain many of the sightings reported in medieval times. They claim that werewolves do not really exist, but rather are just mere halluciantions. Historians say that during medieval times people sometimes ate food that was contaminated with an “ergot infection”. Ergot is a fungus that grows on grains such as rye and wheat in wet, cold conditions. An ergot infection can have a variety of side effects including irrational behavior, loss of self control, fear, hallucinations, and paranoia.
Ergot poisoning was fairly common during the middle ages as it could be contracted fairly easily (by eating something as simple as contaminated bread). Because of this, combined with the side effects it caused, some historians claim that this is a legitimate explanation for the prevalence of werewolf sightings (supposed probably hallucinations) during that time period. Interestingly, ergot poisoning is also linked as a cause for the hysteria that caused the Salem witch trials.
Is this a real explanation for werewolves?
False claims through hallucinations could account for some sightings, but certainly they are not an explanation for the existence of werewolves. For one thing, it does not address how even today there are still werewolf sightings by people that are not poisoned. It does not explain how different cultures and areas of the world all describe werewolves very similarly. It does not explain how the werewolf belief started. And it does not explain ancient text, sightings, and legends.
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