Fact: William Shakespeare used toad venom to inspire his writing

In the English Elizabethan era – the mid 1500s to the beginning of the 1600s – new drugs and substances were entering the country constantly. This was due to Britain’s historically questionable imperial power at the time. The likes of cannabis, tobacco, caffeine and more serious substances were becoming increasingly available. William Shakespeare, perhaps the greatest playwright to have ever lived, was flourishing at this time. And, it was said that he used certain substances to inspire him.

How else could a man write 37 hit plays all in one lifetime? He definitely needed something to give him a little boost. Well, apparently that boost came from toad venom. It is believed that a powder form of the venom was readily available and he would smoke it in his pipe as he wrote. Supposedly he used it especially with the Tempest, which was one of the more imaginative plays he wrote. Here’s a very famous line from the Tempest:

“Our revels now are ended. These our actors,

As I foretold you, were all spirits and

Are melted into air, into thin air;

And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,

The cloud-capp’d towers, the gorgeous palaces,

The solemn temples, the great globe itself,

Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve,

And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,

Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff 

As dreams are made on: and our little life 

Is rounded with a sleep.”

Does this not sound a little like Michael Pollen’s description of toad venom? What do you think? True or false?

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Fact: Toad venom was first used thousands of years ago

The use of toad venom can be traced back thousands of years to various indigenous cultures around the world. In ancient Egypt, for example, toad venom was used as a remedy for a range of ailments, including headaches and epilepsy. In ancient Greece, toad venom was believed to have magical and mystical properties and was used in religious rituals.

The use of toad venom also has a long history in traditional Chinese medicine. In Chinese folklore, the toad is believed to have medicinal properties and is associated with longevity and good health. Toad venom, which is known as ‘Chansu’ in Chinese, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries to treat a variety of conditions, including heart disease, cancer, and pain. Now, In modern times, the use of toad venom as a recreational drug gained popularity in the 1960s and 70s, particularly in the United States.

The psychoactive properties of bufotenin, a compound found in toad venom, were discovered and became popular among counterculture groups. Nowadays people pay shamans hundreds of pounds to trip-sit them through an experience with the venom. Even Mike Tyson has claimed that the substance saved him from his crippling depression. Not many people who consume it now, truly understand the lustrous history that toad venom has. But what do you think? True or false?

What Do You Think?

Having read all three of these supposed facts, and analyzing them thoroughly, which do you think is the lie amongst the truths? Which one stands out to you? Make sure to comment below and let’s see if you are right. Did Shakespeare take the drug? Can you lick it directly off the toad’s back? Does it really have such a long history? You decide.

Conclusion

Since Michael Pollen labelled toad venom the ‘Everest’ of psychedelic drugs, it’s been all the rage. However, like ayahuasca, it seems that only some people have actually tried it themselves. It’s a journey of a lifetime, and only some want to actually experience that. 

It is a complex substance that contains a variety of compounds with both potentially beneficial and dangerous effects. Nonetheless, for those that have used it (maybe even William Shakespeare), many have claimed it has changed their life. Anyway, enough of that. It’s time for you to decide which was the fib. Let us know in the comment section below.

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