Absinthe Effects
Absinthe effects are notorious. Absinthe is known throughout the world for its colourful past and the mysterious myths that encircle it.
Absinthe was made in Switzerland in the 18th century as an elixir or tonic. Its main component, the herb wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium), has been used in medicine since ancient times in the following ways:-
– As a tonic
– To counteract poisoning brought on by hemlock and toadstools
– To stimulate digestion
– To help remedy parasitic intestinal worms.
Absinthe started to be distilled and sold by Pernod at the turn of the 19th century and became famous in La Belle Epoque period and associated with the Bohemian culture of the Montmartre division of Paris – home to a lot of artists and writers. Many famous artists and writers like Van Gogh, Verlaine, Baudelaire, Oscar Wilde and Hemingway relied on the effects of Absinthe proclaiming that it freed their minds and encouraged them. Some point out that Van Gogh cut off his ear while under the influence of the Green Fairy, Absinthe.
Lots of people began to feel that Absinthe was harmful, claiming that it was psychoactive, an hallucinogen, that it had psychedelic and envigorating effects and can even cause violence and insanity. It was even claimed that a French man had murdered his whole family after ingesting Absinthe. In fact, he had consumed a vast volume of other alcohol-based drinks after drinking the Absinthe.
The Absinthe effects were attributed to the wormwood extract in the drink which comprised a chemical called thujone. Thujone had commonalities with TCH, found in the drug cannabis. Absinthe was banned and made illegal in France in 1915 and im many other countries at around the same time frame. Interestingly, it was by no means forbidden in Spain, Portugal, the UK or the Czech Republic.
Lots of people researched thujone and Absinthe and it was discovered that drinking Absinthe was just as safe as ingesting any strong spirits, and liquor with a significant alcohol by volume, and that Absinthe included only very small amounts of thujone. Absinthe was, therefore, made legal again in lots of countries in the 1990s. EU legislation implies that bottled Absinthe could only be sold if it contains 10mg/kg or less of thujone and US law only enables the sale of Absinthe with trace quantities of thujone.
The Absinthe ban meant that many new Absinthe-like products had been developed to replace Absinthe, like Pernod Pastis which satisfied people’s appetite for an anise flavored alcoholic drink. These beverages are still available together with artificial Absinthes which were created for the US market. If you would like real Absinthe you need an Absinthe which contains the vital ingredient, wormwood, that provides Absinthe it’s characteristic bitter flavor. Try to find Absinthes that contain real wormwood or buy Absinthe essences that contain wormwood and which may be mixed with vodka or Everclear to make your own bottled Absinthe. These essences are employed by the Absinthe industry and might be bought online through sites like AbsintheKit.com. They come with directions on how to use them and are to be used with your Absinthe spoon and glass.
You merely need to be concerned about Absinthe effects if you are intending to take a substantialportion of Absinthe. Keep in mind that Absinthe is twice as strong as whisky and drink it sparingly!