The Wine Bottle

Most of the people want to know whether Absinthe has any effect on the body and also about the physical effects of Absinthe? Several people have never tasted Absinthe because it was unauthorized in the 1900s and remained illegal for decades.

One can find Absinthe as an anise flavored distilled alcoholic beverage made generally with a wine base and flavored with herbs. The three main herbs used in Absinthe distillation are common wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium), aniseed and fennel.

During 18th century Absinthe was created in Couvet, Switzerland by a doctor. He made it as a medicine for his patients out of herbs. Henri-Louis Pernod managed to get hold of the recipe and started making Absinthe in Couvet and then in Pontarlier, France.

Besides being a very popular drink Absinthe was used by French soldiers in the 1840s to cure malaria. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries it took over from wine as the favorite drink of the French. Absinthe became a “pick me up” used all over France and in numerous other nations.

Absinthe was served with apparel such as a special Absinthe glass, a slotted Absinthe spoon and an Absinthe fountain or carafe of iced water. Instead of serving it direct it was diluted with a sugar and water solution.

An article from “Sweat” magazine “Battle Cry” from the 1960s talks of how the medical profession in France were concerned about Absinthism, a “disease” caused by prolonged Absinthe drinking. Doctors claimed that it was far worse than normal alcoholism and had the following symptoms:-

Initial Symptoms after consuming Absinthe:-

- A feeling of exhilaration
– Hallucinations
– A person can suffer with restless nights having dangerous nightmares
– There can be symptoms of nausea and vomiting
– Trembling
– Dizziness

Symptoms of long term Absinthe abuse:-

- Frothing and convulsions
– Delirium
– Problems of hypersensitivity to pain
– Loss of libido can be the problem
– Feeling of hot and cold
– Insanity
– Paralysis
– Death

The French Academy of Medicine asked that Absinthe be forbidden in 1900 but their pleas were ignored. The governments were forced to act against it because an Absinthe drinker murdered his family. In 1908 Absinthe was restricted in Switzerland, in 1913 in Italy and in 1915 in France.

Absinthe’s physical effects were thought to be due to thujone in it. Thujone was said to be psychoactive, a neurotoxin and to act on the GABA receptors in the brain. It was found to similar to the THC in the drug cannabis.

However, recent research with traditional pre ban Absinthe recipesand gas chromatography  tests on vintage bottles of original Absinthe have all shown that, contrary to belief, Absinthe only contained a maximum of 6mg of thujone rather than 350mg which is what people believed it contained. One had never find this amount of thujone near a harmful level.

Many now believe that Absinthe was unfairly blamed and that Absintheis no more dangerous than any other strong liquor. The ABV in it is high related to other alcoholic drink so one should be careful and drink it in balanced quantity.

Understanding the physical effects of Absinthe that are caused today?

Most believe that Absinthe has no physical effects like causing hallucinations but those who consume bottled Absinthes, or stronger Absinthes made using kits like those available from AbsintheKit.Go through the website AbsintheKit.com and get drunk, talk about a very different drunkenness. Due to Absinthe’s blend of herbs this may happen. There are some herbs which act as stimulants and others as sedatives.

Know about the physical effects of Absinthe? One can feel not only a clear headed drunkenness but also pleasure and enjoyment.

Tags: Absinthe Recipes, Absinthe spoon, Symptoms of consuming Absinthe