A person may begin to have burning sensations, which are caused by the reduced size of blood vessels. Sometimes they would experience hallucinations and bizarre behavior. Cold, wet weather helps this fungus to grow. The worst epidemics occur when there is a rainy spring following a severe winter, then a warm, wet summer, After milling grain that has been contaminated, the alkaloids remain in the flour. The ergot alkaloids can withstand baking and boiling.
Researchers say there are two forms of ergot poisoning - gangrenous and convulsive.
Gangrenous eventually stops blood flow. Limbs swell, the victim gets hot and cold flashes. The formication starts with itching and tingling skin. This eventually leads to dry gangrene, which attacks the nails, toes fingers, and limbs, They become black and eventually mummified and the parts fall off the body without a loss of blood. Both cause hallucinations, confusions, and temporary or permanent psychosis.