Woman Suffers Burning Leg Pain And Discovers She Has An Ancient Disease Once Known As ‘Holy Fire’

The 24-year-old first noticed an intense burning sensation in both her legs, stretching from the middle of her thighs down to her toes.

Concerned about the unusual pain, she decided to visit an outpatient clinic two days after the symptoms started.

The woman’s feet became discolored and cold to touchGetty stock

Upon closer inspection, they found that her legs were cold to the touch, despite her complaints of an unbearable burning feeling.

Additionally, they were unable to detect a pulse in the popliteal and dorsalis pedis arteries.

A CT scan revealed that her arteries had narrowed significantly. She was given a blood-thinning medication, which quickly relieved much of her pain and restored warmth to her legs as blood circulation improved.

Unfortunately, despite these efforts, gangrene developed in one of her toes, making amputation necessary.

The woman was diagnosed with ergotism, a condition caused by consuming ergot, a naturally occurring fungus that infects certain grains, particularly rye.

Ergot poisoning can trigger severe symptoms, including convulsions, hallucinations, and gangrene.

In medieval times, the bizarre and terrifying effects of the disease led people to believe it was linked to demonic possession or supernatural forces.

A ripe ear of grain containing the dark, and poisonous, ergot growing on itGetty stock

“The first mention to a gangrenous ergotism plague in Europe appeared in the year 857, in Germany. Several other records of epidemics then emerged in France, Germany and Scandinavia,” it explains.

“Overall, as many as 83 ergotism epidemics have been reported in various parts of Europe from 945 AD onwards, and this list is certainly incomplete.”

St Anthony Abbot is credited with assisting in a number of miraculous healings, primarily from ergotism, which became known as ‘St. Anthony’s Fire’Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images

It wasn’t until 1676 that researchers identified infected rye, specifically contaminated with Claviceps purpurea, as the source of the disease.

However, it took another century before preventive measures were implemented.

The study further noted: “French physician Tessier observed a huge epidemic in the year 1778 in Sologne (France), during which more than 8000 people died, and was hence persuaded to recommend drainage of fields, compulsory cleaning of grain and replacement of infected grain with potatoes.”