Mithridatism Explained: Can the Body Gain Immunity to Poison by Taking Non-Lethal Amounts of Toxins?

(Photo : Getty Images/ Gina Pricope)

A Greco-Persian King left his mark in history for developing immunity to poison by microdosing on deadly chemicals.

The Poison King

Mithridates VI Eupator was the ruler of the Kingdom of Pontus in northern Anatolia from 120 to 63 BC. He is considered as one of the most terrible and determined enemies of the Roman Republic.

As a young prince, Mithridates escaped into the wild after his father was murdered, only to return after several years to claim his rights on the throne. However, the young prince became too paranoid that he would also be the target of the enemies, so he decided to build up his biological defenses.

He is said to have made himself immune to the lethal effects of poison by obsessively training his body on small doses of deadly toxic substances. According to legends, Mithridates used to feed ducks with poisonous plants before drinking the blood of those that survived the toxins.

By doing so, he ingested a non-lethal dose of deadly substances, slowly increasing his tolerance to the chemical arsenal of Pontic assassins. This practice earned him the nickname "The Poison King."

He is said to have made himself immune to the lethal effects of poison by obsessively training his body on small doses of deadly toxic substances. This practice earned him the nickname "The Poison King."

With no worries for the rest of his days as king, Mithridates returned to Pontus as a poison-proof king. After ascending to the throne, he proved himself to be one of the most ingenious military leaders in the ancient world. His kingdom was assailed thrice by the Roman Empire, but Mithridates was able to demonstrate his flare for biological warfare.

The Pontus king killed the invaders with venomous animals, poisoned arrows, and chemical weapons made from naphtha. However he may have slowed the advancing Roman army, but he was not able to stop it. In the end, Mithridates was captured and defeated.

Ironically, the invulnerable ruler attempted suicide by poison, but he was not able to get a lethal dose. Seeking other ways to die, he asked his bodyguard to kill him with a mortal blow of sword.

Is Mithridatism Possible?

Today, the practice of developing tolerance to poisons is known as mithridatism. Although the idea of microdosing may not appeal to most people, a few scientists follow the steps of the legendary monarch in the hopes of creating a universal antidote for snake bites.

However, before trying this technique, it must be noted that various toxins affect a person's body in various ways, a mithridatism only works for some of these, so the poisong must be chosen wisely.

For instance, heavy metals accumulate in the human body, so taking multiple small doses will only add up to a big dose. Regularly taking small amounts of mercury, lead, cadmium, and other heavy metals will not create tolerance but can only damage the vital organs.

There are also toxins which are processed by the liver. Gradual increase in exposure to these substances can train the liver to release more of the enzymes needed to metabolize them, resulting in a degree of tolerance.