Absinthe effects are infamous. Absinthe is known around the world for its colourful history and the mysterious myths that revolve around it.

Absinthe was developed in Switzerland in the 18th century as an elixir or tonic. Its major ingredient, the herb wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium), has been used in medicine for thousands of years in the following ways:-
– As being a tonic
– To counteract poisoning caused by hemlock and toadstools
– To activate digestion
– To help remedy parasitic intestinal worms.

Absinthe began to be distilled and sold by Pernod at the turn of the 19th century and became famous in La Belle Epoque period and linked with the Bohemian culture of the Montmartre part of Paris – home to numerous artists and writers. Many popular artists and writers like Van Gogh, Verlaine, Baudelaire, Oscar Wilde and Hemingway relied on the effects of Absinthe saying that it freed their minds and encouraged them. Some declare that Van Gogh chop off his ear while intoxicated by the Green Fairy, Absinthe.

A lot of people begun to believe that Absinthe was harmful, claiming that it was psychoactive, an hallucinogen, that it had psychedelic and intoxicating effects and could cause violence and insanity. It was even believed that a French man had murdered his whole family after ingesting Absinthe. In reality, he had consumed an enormous amount of other alcohol-based drinks after drinking the Absinthe.

The Absinthe effects were blamed on the wormwood extract in the drink which included a chemical called thujone. Thujone had similarities with TCH, located in the drug cannabis. Absinthe was restricted and made unlawful in France in 1915 and im many other countries at around the same time. Oddly enough, it was never restricted in Spain, Portugal, the UK or the Czech Republic.

Many people researched thujone and Absinthe and it was found that drinking Absinthe was only as safe as ingesting any strong spirits, and liquor with a significant alcohol by volume, and that Absinthe contained only very minute quantities of thujone. Absinthe was, therefore, made legal again in lots of countries in the 1990s. EU legislation suggests 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 intended that many new Absinthe-like products had been manufactured to replace Absinthe, like Pernod Pastis which satisfied people’s appetite for an anise flavored alcoholic drink. These beverages continue to be available along with artificial Absinthes that have been made for the US market. If you wish real Absinthe you’ll need an Absinthe that contains the vital ingredient, wormwood, that provides Absinthe it’s characteristic bitter flavor. Search for Absinthes which contain real wormwood or buy Absinthe essences which contain wormwood and which can be combined with vodka or Everclear to create your own bottled Absinthe. These essences are utilized by the Absinthe industry and may be obtained online through sites like AbsintheKit.com. They come with instructions regarding how to utilize them and are to be used with your Absinthe spoon and glass.

You merely need to worry about Absinthe effects if you are planning to use a significant amount of Absinthe. Remember that Absinthe is two times as strong as whisky and drink it in moderation!