Homeopathy conference descends into chaos after 29 delegates 'took LSD-like drug'

• 29 delegates at a conference in Handeloh, near Hamburg, hospitalised 
• Found staggering around, unable to talk and suffering violent convulsions
• Urine and blood tests found they'd taken hallucinogenic 2C-E 
• German police have launched investigation after drug outlawed last year 

A homeopathy conference in Germany descended into chaos after dozens of delegates took an LSD-like drug and began to suffer hallucinations.

Twenty-nine male and female delegates were spotted 'staggering around' in front of the convention centre in Handeloh, south of Hamburg.

Broadcaster NDR reported that the were also seen curled up on the field outside the centre, talking incoherently and suffering violent convulsions. 

The group were found at the hotel where the conference was taking place on Friday.

German police have since launched an investigation after the drug thought to be responsible was made illegal last year. 

Twenty-nine male and female delegates were found staggering around, unable to speak and suffering violent convulsions outside the convention centre in Handeloh, south of Hamburg on Friday. More
than 150 medical personnel arrived at the scene and the patients were taken to hospitals in the area

Around 160 medical staff, ambulances and police descended on the scene, and took the patients who were aged between 24 and 56 to hospital.

They were found to be suffering delusions, breathing problems, racing hearts and cramps, with some deemed to be in a life-threatening condition, NDR reported. 

Test revealed the patients had taken the drug 2C-E, known as Aquarust in Germany.

The substance was banned there at the end of last year.

According to the charity Frank, the drug has psycheldelic, hallucinogenic and stimulant effects - similar to a cross between ecstasy and LSD.   

Torsten Passie, a member of the German government's expert commission for narcotics, told NDR: 'It must have been a multiple overdose. 

'That does not support the view that the people concerned took the hallucinogen knowingly.

'One has to assume that people were not told about the substance, its effects and risks before taking it.' 

German police have launched a criminal inquiry into what happened, after the drug was outlawed last year, Deutsche Welle reported. 

Detectives are said to be looking into whether or not the drugs were taken as part of an experiment.  

The Association of German Healing Practitioners (VDH), which represents homeopaths as well as other naturopaths, quickly distanced itself from the embarrassment.

In a statement, it said none of its representatives took hallucinogens during the 'incident' in Handeloh.

Urine and blood tests found the patients had taken taken the drug 2C-E, known as Aquarust in Germany. The substance was banned there at the end of last year. According to the charity Frank, the drug has psycheldelic, hallucinogenic and stimulant effects - similar to a cross between ecstasy and LSD

'The organisers of this obscure conference are unknown to us and such events will not be tolerated by our Association,' a spokesperson said.

'Unfortunately, the conference in Handeloh has severely damaged the image of the alternative medicine profession…and we have clarified that such acts are not in the spirit of natural therapy, and contradict our values both morally and legally.

'The Association of German Healing Practitioners (Heilpraktikers) detests such misdemeanours.'

Information on the Talk to Frank website states the drugs 'can make you see objects and reality in a distorted way and may cause hallucinations'.

Additionally, as stimulants 'they can make you feel awake and alert and may cause changes in your emotions'.

They are normally sold as pills or a white powder.

Risks of taking 2C include headaches, nausea and vomiting, panic attacks and 'even acute psychosis has been reported'.