Laura Smith
Viking Berserkers were fierce warriors said to have fought in a trance-like fury, biting their shields, howling like wild animals, and often unable to distinguish between friend and foe. While there is little evidence of their existence, some historians speculate that they ingested psychoactive plants to induce their savage behaviour. The two primary suspects are a nightshade known as henbane and the psychoactive mushroom Amanita muscaria, or fly agaric. While the idea of Berserkers consuming magic mushrooms has captured the public imagination, academics have largely dispelled this as a myth, arguing that the side effects of Amanita muscaria, including drowsiness, vomiting, and muscle spasms, would have made them ineffective warriors. Instead, it is more likely that Berserkers ingested henbane, which is known to cause delirious states, dissociation from reality, hallucinations, and pain dulling.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mushroom type | Amanita muscaria, also known as fly agaric or the Mario mushroom |
| Effects | Hallucinations, drowsiness, vomiting, muscle spasms, numbness in arms and legs, hyperthermia, sweating, reddening of the face, twitching and trembling, dilated pupils, increased muscle tone, delirium, seizures, shifts in colour vision, auditory illusions |
| Alternative substances | Henbane, alcohol, cannabis/hemp |
| Alternative theories | Self-induced hysteria, epilepsy, ergot poisoning, mental illness, animal spirit possession, lycanthropy (thinking one is an animal), PTSD, ritual dancing |
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What You'll Learn
Amanita muscaria
While some historians have hypothesized that Viking Berserkers consumed Amanita muscaria to induce their battle rage, this theory has been dispelled by academics. According to the Viking Museum in Stockholm, the side effects of Amanita muscaria, including drowsiness, vomiting, muscle spasms, and numbness in the arms and legs, would have made them ineffective warriors. Instead, it is more likely that Berserkers used other substances, such as henbane or alcohol.
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Henbane
The effects of henbane are consistent with the descriptions of Berserkers in Old Norse literature and scattered sagas and myths. Berserkers were said to fight in a trance-like state of blind rage, howling like wild animals, biting their shields, and often unable to distinguish between friend and foe. Henbane's effects could have contributed to this behaviour, including aggressive behaviour, the inability to recognize faces, and lowered blood pressure, which may explain why Berserkers did not seem to lose much blood when struck by blades.
However, it is important to note that there are aspects of Berserker behaviour that cannot be fully explained by henbane use, such as the chattering of teeth and the biting of shields. While Fatur's theory provides a compelling explanation for some of the Berserkers' characteristics, it does not account for all of their behaviours, and more research is needed to fully understand this intriguing topic.
In conclusion, while the use of henbane by Viking Berserkers is still a theory, it offers a plausible explanation for their frenzied and savage behaviour, dissociated state, and increased pain tolerance. The plant's availability in Scandinavia and its psychoactive effects align with the descriptions of Berserkers in historical accounts, providing a more likely alternative to the previously hypothesized use of hallucinogenic mushrooms.
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Magic mushrooms
Viking Berserkers were fierce warriors said to have fought in a trance-like fury of uncontrollable rage and bloodlust. They were often said to be so intoxicated by battle lust that they bit their shields, attacked boulders and trees, and even killed each other while waiting for battles to begin.
There is little evidence that Berserkers existed in the way they are portrayed in popular culture. However, the theory that they may have used psychoactive substances is not entirely without merit. The Vikings are associated with substance use in other ways; for example, during great feasts, mead was drunk to the point of unconsciousness.
Some historians speculate that the Berserkers' frenzied, trancelike states were induced by psychoactive plants native to the region. One of the more contested hypotheses is that the Berserkers ingested a hallucinogenic mushroom, Amanita muscaria, commonly known as fly agaric, just before the battle to induce their trance-like state. This mushroom is known to have hallucinogenic properties and was popular as an intoxicant among Siberian tribes. It typically induces a drunken state with auditory illusions and shifts in colour vision, along with other side effects such as vomiting, hyperthermia, sweating, and trembling.
However, academics have dispelled this theory, arguing that the side effects of Amanita muscaria, including drowsiness, vomiting, muscle spasms, and numbness in the arms and legs, would have made them ineffective warriors. Instead, it is argued that Berserkers were more likely to be under the influence of henbane, alcohol, or cannabis.
Karsten Fatur, an ethnobotanist, has argued that Berserkers may have used henbane, a flowering plant officially regarded as a poisonous nightshade and weed. Henbane is known to cause psychoactive effects, delirious states, dissociation from reality, hallucinations, and pain relief, which could have enabled Berserkers to continue fighting despite their injuries. Fatur also points out that henbane grows like a weed and was known to have flourished in Scandinavia during the Berserker era, making it more readily available than Amanita muscaria, which typically grows in forests.
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Psychoactive plants
Viking Berserkers were fierce warriors known for their ferocity in battle, purportedly fighting in a trance-like state of blind rage. The truth about their existence and the source of their rage is complicated and not well documented. However, there are several theories about the possible use of psychoactive plants by Berserkers, including hallucinogenic mushrooms and other psychoactive substances.
One popular theory suggests that Berserkers ingested hallucinogenic mushrooms, specifically Amanita muscaria or fly agaric, to induce their battle rage. Amanita muscaria, also known as the Mario mushroom due to its red cap with white spots, is a psychoactive mushroom found in the Northern Hemisphere. While this theory has been widely circulated, some academics have dismissed it due to the mushroom's side effects, which include drowsiness, vomiting, muscle spasms, and numbness, contradicting the aggressive behaviour associated with Berserkers. Additionally, the mushroom is rarely consumed due to its toxicity and unpredictable psychological effects.
Another theory posits that Berserkers may have used henbane, a flowering plant officially regarded as a poisonous nightshade and weed. Henbane is known to cause psychoactive effects, delirious states, dissociation from reality, hallucinations, and pain dulling, which could explain the Berserkers' aggressive behaviour and apparent invulnerability to pain and injury. Ethnobotanist Karsten Fatur has argued in favour of this theory, noting that henbane was widely available in Scandinavia during the Berserker era and that its effects align with descriptions of Berserker behaviour. However, Fatur acknowledges that his work is speculative due to the lack of solid archaeological or textual evidence.
Other theories suggest that Berserkers may have induced their battle rage through ritual processes, self-hypnosis, or the consumption of other psychoactive substances such as alcohol or cannabis. Some sources mention the importance of ritual dancing and biting shields, which may have contributed to the psychological state of the Berserkers. Additionally, the Vikings are known for their substance use during feasts, often drinking mead to the point of unconsciousness.
While the true nature of the Berserkers and their battle rage may never be fully understood, the various theories highlight the complex interplay between cultural practices, psychoactive substances, and psychological states that shaped these legendary warriors.
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Alcohol
Viking berserkers were fierce warriors known for their uncontrollable rage and bloodlust in battle. They purportedly fought in a trance-like state of blind rage, howling like wild animals, biting their shields, and often unable to distinguish between friend and foe. While there are many hypotheses about what triggered their "berserk mode", one popular theory is that they consumed hallucinogenic mushrooms before battle. However, the idea that berserkers used mushrooms has been disputed by some historians and other substances, such as alcohol, have been proposed as alternative explanations for their behaviour.
The mushroom species that has been most commonly associated with the berserkers is Amanita muscaria, also known as fly agaric or the "Mario mushroom" due to its distinctive red cap with white spots. This mushroom is native to the Northern Hemisphere and is known for its psychoactive properties. It was also popular as an intoxicant among Siberian tribes and may have held religious significance for them. However, some historians have argued against the Amanita muscaria theory, citing the mushroom's rarity in Scandinavia and the unpredictable and undesirable side effects it can cause, including drowsiness, vomiting, muscle spasms, and numbness in the arms and legs.
In addition to alcohol, other psychoactive substances such as henbane and cannabis have been suggested as possible factors in the berserkers' behaviour. Henbane, a flowering plant officially regarded as a poisonous nightshade, has been used for medicinal and psychoactive purposes in various cultures. It can cause delirious states, dissociation from reality, hallucinations, and pain relief, which could have contributed to the berserkers' fearsome reputation and ability to continue fighting despite injuries. However, like the mushroom theory, the henbane hypothesis is still speculative and lacks solid archaeological or textual evidence.
While the true nature of the berserkers and the substances they consumed remains a subject of debate, it is clear that the Viking warriors had a complex relationship with psychoactive substances. The lack of solid evidence and the passage of time make it challenging to definitively prove or disprove any single theory. As with many legends, the truth behind the berserkers is likely nuanced and multifaceted, incorporating various cultural, psychological, and physiological factors that contributed to their infamous battle rage.
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Frequently asked questions
It is speculated that Berserkers ingested the Amanita muscaria mushroom, also known as fly agaric. However, there is little evidence to support this theory, and some historians argue that the effects of this mushroom would have made them poor warriors.
The mushroom is known to induce a drunken state with auditory illusions and shifts in colour vision. It can also cause vomiting, hyperthermia, sweating, reddening of the face, twitching, trembling, dilated pupils, increased muscle tone, delirium, and seizures.
Some historians argue that Berserkers ingested henbane, a flowering plant known to cause psychoactive effects, delirious states, dissociative episodes, hallucinations, and aggressive behaviour. Other theories suggest that Berserkers may have ingested other psychoactive substances, such as alcohol or cannabis, or that their behaviour was the result of self-induced hysteria, epilepsy, ergot poisoning, or mental illness.
