There is so much contradictory Absinthe information available on the internet and in books, it’s difficult to understand what to believe.
Unreliable Absinthe Information
One book “Absinthe The Cocaine of the 19th Century: A History of the Hallucinogenic Drug and its Effect on Artists and Writers in Europe and the United States” by Doris Lanier, measures up Absinthe to drugs just like cocaine as it was considered to be addictive absinthekit, to provide a feeling of euphoria, have psychedelic effects and weaken the mind and other faculties.
Absinthe became well known at the conclusion of the nineteenth century and early 20th century, a time known as “The Great Binge”. This was a period in the past when a lot of today’s illegal drugs like crack cocaine, morphine and heroin were developed and used by normal individuals for medicine, on prescription for coughs etc. as well as in drinks. Popular drinks in bars were Absinthe, Vin Maraiani (cocaine and wine) and Coca Cola (then manufactured from cocaine, wine and kola nuts). These drugs and drinks were all considered to be harmless and were widely taken throughout Europe.
Absinthe was connected with these drugs due to its global recognition with Bohemian artists and writers, who liked to overindulge to help their creativity, and with the loose morals of the courtesans of the Moulin Rouge and Montmartre.
Thujone, the compound in wormwood, was also claimed being psychoactive and similar to THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) in the drug cannabis (marijuana). Both THC and Thujone are terpenoids and therefore are both from essential oils but THC affects the central nervous system whereas thujone has an effect on the GABA receptors inside the brain. When wormwood is smoked as a joint or ingested in mass, it has been proven to cause effects similar to cannabis intoxication – to result in hallucinations and fantasies, in making the person feel euphoric, to relieve pain and to work as an aphrodisiac.
Absinthe was banned together with some drugs in early 1900s and was made illegal to purchase and sell in several countries around the globe. Now that we know it’s ban was just a part of the hysteria of that time period. People lumped Absinthe, the Green Fairy, together with drugs like heroin (the White Fairy), cannabis and cocaine and even presently there are lots of people and websites who mention Absinthe within the very same sentence as magic mushrooms, LSD, weed, cannabis and ecstasy.
Absinthe Information – What we now know
We all know that medical studies on Absinthe and wormwood previously were not accurate and were “colored” by way of the prohibition movement of that time period as well as the worry that Absinthe was a drug. Recent surveys have shown that Absinthe, once it is actually distilled, only contains really small quantities of thujone – insufficient to result in any harmful side effects or hallucinations, that’s just a myth. Even tests on vintage pre ban Absinthe indicates that it hardly comprised any thujone whatsoever. A person would die of alcohol poisoning long before suffering any negative effects from thujone.
Results from studies and research have brought on many countries to legalize Absinthe again so the Green Fairy can now be enjoyed in bars and in homes across the world.
Eventhough it might not allow you to trip or get high, it is possible to get drunk on Absinthe due to its high proof. It offers twice the alcohol content of spirits like vodka or whisky so care should be taken when drinking it. If you do get drunk on Absinthe you will probably experience a very different intoxication than you’d probably experience from other spirits or fermented drinks. Many describe it as being a “lucid” or “clear headed” sort of drunkenness. This can be explained by the combination of herbs plus the alcohol – a blend of sedatives and stimulants. Many people enhance these qualities by developing cocktails containing Absinthe as well as the caffeine loaded drink Red Bull!
So, you will be disappointed if you believe many of the misleading Absinthe information and purchase Absinthe to provide you with vivid hallucinations. However, it’s a great tasting herbal liquor which happens to be fun to prepare and has a great anise flavor. You can even enjoy making your individual wormwood Absinthe at home through the use of real, top-quality Absinthe essences from AbsintheKit.com – a great and economical way to enjoy Absinthe.