The Wine Fact Center

Absinthe effects are infamous. Absinthe is famous throughout the world for its colorful history and the hidden myths.

Absinthe was made in Switzerland in the 18th century as an elixir or tonic. Its main ingredient, the herb wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium), has been used in medicine since ancient times in the following ways:-
- It works as a tonic
- Antidote to poisoning caused by hemlock and toadstools
-For encouraging digestion
- Also used in treating parasitic intestinal worms.

Pernod started distilling and selling of Absinthe at the turn of the 19th century after that it became famous in La Belle Epoque period and combined with the Bohemian culture of the Montmartre area of Paris. According to many popular artists and writers Absinthe freed their minds and inspired them. Some say that Van Gogh cut off his ear while under the influence of the Green Fairy, Absinthe.

According to the belief of most of the people Absinthe has psychedelic and intoxicating effects and it can be responsible for violence and insanity. According to a description a French man had murdered his whole family after drinking Absinthe. In fact, he had consumed a vast amount of other alcoholic beverages after drinking the Absinthe.

The Absinthe effects were blamed on the wormwood extract in the drink which contained a chemical called thujone. There is similarities between thujone and TCH. Absinthe was banned and made illegal not only in France but also in several other countries in 1915. Spain, Portugal, the UK or the Czech Republic never banned it.

Many people researched thujone and Absinthe and it was found that drinking Absinthe was just as safe as drinking any strong spirits, and liquor with a high alcohol by volume, and that Absinthe contained only very minute quantities of thujone. Hence Absinthe was made legal again in many nations in the 1990s. According to EU legislation bottled Absinthe can only be sold if it contains 10mg/kg or less of thujone EU legislation means that bottled Absinthe can only be sold if it contains 10mg/kg or less of thujone and US law only allows the sale of Absinthe with trace amounts of thujone.

The Absinthe ban meant that several new Absinthe-like products had been made to replace Absinthe for satisfying people’s appetite. Even today these beverages are available along with artificial Absinthes which have been created for the US market. If you want real Absinthe you need an Absinthe which contains the vital ingredient, wormwood, which gives Absinthe it’s characteristic bitter flavor. Own bottled Absinthe can be prepared by Absinthes or Absinthe essences that contain wormwood and can be mixed with vodka or Everclear. These essences are used by the Absinthe industry and can be bought online through sites like AbsintheKit.com. They come with instructions and cannot be used without Absinthe spoon and glass.

You only need to worry about Absinthe effects if you are going to consume a significant amount of Absinthe. Absinthe should be taken in balance amount!