Absinthe Effects

Absinthe is a highly alcoholic beverage obtained from the flowers and leaves of the herb Artemisia absinthium, more commonly known as wormwood. This liquor is usually light green in color and is often referred to in literature as the 'green fairy'. Absinthe has a mysterious history that began with its growing popularity in the early 19th and 20 century, especially among the artists and writers of that time, who became fascinated with the drink for its presumed effects on human creativity and thinking. Later on, absinthe alcohol became quite notorious as a psychoactive drug capable of distorting human perception. This eventually lead to the banning of absinthe in many European countries and United States by the year 1915.

History of Absinthe
The history of absinthe goes back to ancient Egypt, where it was mainly used for medicinal purposes. Even ancient Greeks used it as a remedy for various ailments. It became popular in modern times when it was presented as an all-purpose remedy by the 19th century French physician, Dr. Pierre Ordinaire. In 1840, absinthe was used to treat malaria among French soldiers, which further contributed to its popularity. The first distillery for producing this beverage was established in the year 1797, in Covet by Major Dubied along with his son and son-in-law. A second distillery was opened in 1805 in Pontarlier, France, by the name Maison Pernod Fils, which became one of the most popular brands till it was banned in 1915.

Effects of Absinthe
The main chemical found in absinthe is thujone and it is held responsible for much of the mysterious effects of absinthe. However, majority of the so called effects of absinthe have not been proven scientifically. It was mainly banned in 1915, due to its presumed hallucinogenic effects on the human mind. In1970, a scientific study reported that thujone can have effects similar to those produced by tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, which is the main chemical found in marijuana.

Later on, some other experiments reported that absinthe effects are worse than common alcoholic beverages. This believe gave rise to the term Absinthism, which refers to the development seizures, impairment of speech, sleep disorder, and both auditory and visual hallucinations, from the long term consumption of absinthe. Many artists and writers also claimed that effects of absinthe drink were quite different from ordinary alcohol.

It has been asserted by many that absinthe produces clarity of thought even in the state of intoxication by enabling the mind to enter a different level of awareness. This changes the perception of reality. Many also believe that absinthe helps to awaken the subconscious mind, which then works with the conscious mind and this in turn, alters perception and cognitive abilities. According to chemist, historian, and absinthe distiller Ted Breaux, some of the compounds found in the herb from which absinthe is distilled act as stimulant, while others act as sedatives. This may be responsible for producing two opposite effects, i.e. intoxication and awakening, simultaneously.

However, recent studies have highlighted that thujone does not have any hallucinogenic effect, though in large doses it can produce muscle spasms and convulsions. Even the additional absinthe effects on mind and thinking have not been proven scientifically. But, the herb wormwood is known for both painkilling and anti-parasitic effects. A high concentration of thujone in alcohol has shown a negative effect on attention, while medium levels have not been found to produce any different effects from the ordinary effects of alcohol. The production and sale of absinthe resumed in 1990 in the countries of the European Union and today, absinthe or absinthe liquor, is available in almost all countries where alcohol can be sold.