Wine Insiders |

The physical effects of Absinthe are not known to many people? As Absinthe was restricted in the 1900s and was illegal for decades so lots of people were unaware of it’s taste.

Absinthe is an anise flavored distilled alcoholic beverage prepared with a wine base and flavored with herbs. The distillation of Absinthe is done with three main herbs known as common wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium), aniseed and fennel.

Dr Pierre Ordinaire, in Couvet, Switzerland in the 18th century produced Absinthe. It was prepared by him as a medicine for his patients. Henri-Louis Pernod started making Absinthe in Couvet and then in Pontarlier, France.

Absinthe became a very famous drink and was used to treat malaria by French soldiers. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries it became the most popular drink in France. Along with France Absinthe became well known in several other countries.

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

“Sweat” magazine “Battle Cry” contains an article related to 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
– Nausea and vomiting
– Trembling
– Dizziness

Symptoms of long term Absinthe abuse:-

- Frothing and convulsions
– Delirium
– One can suffer with hypersensitivity
– One can suffer with loss of libido
– 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. It took for governments to act because a family was murdered by an Absinthe drinker in Switzerland. Switzerland banned Absinthe in 1908, Italy in 1913 and France in 1915.

According to the belief thujone caused the Absinthe’s physical effects. According to the belief thujone was a psychoactive, a neurotoxin and active on the GABA receptors in the brain. It was even compared to 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. This amount of thujone was nowhere 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.

Learning the physical effects of Absinthe?

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.One can visit AbsintheKit.com for a “clear headed” or “lucid” drunkenness. This may be due to Absinthe’s blend of herbs. A few herbs act as stimulants and others as sedatives.

So, what are the physical effects of Absinthe? There is a feeling of pleasure and enjoyment and also a clear headed alcoholism.

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