posted
I was just for kicks doing some research on Absinthe Culture.
It turns out that one of the main ingredients in Absinthe is Artemisia (Wormwood).
Is that the relation to the Artemisinin that so many of us are on for the Babesia?
If thats the case anybody up for an Absinthe Salon. Haha. Darn we can't have the sugar cubes.
Maybe Van Gogh didn't have Syphilus maybe he was a Lymie. Hmmm?
Just kidding,thought that was an interesting connection.
I feel pretty messed up sometimes, but I never had the urge to cut off my ear though.
I have been through my Blue ( in painting) period. Love & Light
Posts: 188 | From NM | Registered: Feb 2006
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charlie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25
posted
There are a whole bunch of plants in that family, only one of which is useful to us. In fact the common herb rosemary is part of it.
It's an intriguing idea though. My son brought a bottle of absinthe from Spain where it's legal....I of course tried it (for medicinal purposes only)
I suspect the purported narcotic properties have more to do with it being about 150 proof rather than any dope in the wormwood. It'll knock you on your behind for sure.
Posts: 2804 | From Texas | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
I drink absinthe, so we'll see how it goes. I would drink it anyway, even if it didn't help. Posts: 14 | From Columbia, SC | Registered: May 2006
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posted
Actually I read the narcotic properties in Absinthe come from the Thujon ( I think thats how you spell it) chemical in the Wormwood. It is aparently similiar to the THC in Canibis.
Ofcourse the 150 proof more or less probably doesn't hurt. You know how in the old days they said the Absinthe drove many people mad.
It was due to the quality of the herbs and the Wormwood they used, and the way it was distilled. In otherwords bad batches. Not so much a problem now a day.
So enjoy, but I don't wanna hear about any body parts being cut off O.K.!
Love & Light, Yemaya
Posts: 188 | From NM | Registered: Feb 2006
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posted
Most all references to absinthe causing psychosis (absinthism) are nonsense. There have been recent studies that have debunked the 'thujone' myth. If anything, some of the bad practices of old involved impure alcohol base, methanol, antimony, and most importantly...wormwood essences which are toxic. In any case, yes, 'bad batches' to suffice the enormous demand at the time.
Maybe it could be surmised that most of the reported tales associated with some of the great artists involved pre-existing diseases combined with severe alcohol abuse.
Modern absinthe, as well as properly distilled pre-ban absinthe, is perfectly safe when consumed responsibly...and yummy
A pretty good read that sums it up beautifully. Also Wiki is good
Posts: 14 | From Columbia, SC | Registered: May 2006
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posted
Back in the day, I was a big absinthe drinker! (I used to make it.) Wonderful stuff -- the high from it is different from alcohol alone, and nothing like a THC high in my experience. Really lovely, very transcendent.
I don't drink *any* alcohol at all now ( and you folks shouldn't either -- tsk tsk!) -- it is BAD for lymies, and interferes with treatment. Plus, we only get *one* liver, and abx tax it plenty.... (off the soapbox now...)
Yes, artemisinin (wormwood) is the same plant used in absinthe.
The rumors about true absinthe driving folks mad are fantasy and legend -- as mentioned above, the problem was that in the height of the absinthe craze, it was very expensive to make. Some manufacturers started using very toxic (but cheaper) ingredients like antimony salts and copper sulfate to get the green color in their knock-off versions of absinthe. These were the problem, not the wormwood. Yes, wormwood is toxic in very high doses, but that is true of most medicinal plants.
Plus, the absinthe culture attracted a lot of artists of many disciplines, many of whom were not very stable to begin with.
Really interesting and rich history about this whole thing. Wish I could've been there in person, hanging out with the great artists, drinking away....
-------------------- "Looks like freedom but it feels like death.. It's something in between, I guess"
Leonard Cohen, from the song "Closing Time" Posts: 822 | From California | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
I ordered a bit of the Green Fairy. French & Czech.
Posts: 188 | From NM | Registered: Feb 2006
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arg82
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 161
posted
Just wanted to chime in here and say that, while Absinthe and Artimisinin are both artemisia, they are different ones - Absinthe is artemisia absinthe and Artimisinin is artemisia annua.
I tried a little bit once that my brother bought in Canada while on vacation and it just made me feel really really sick - like I was going to throw up - which was most likely due to dropping blood pressure that alcohol tends to cause with me (Dysuatonomia aka Neurally Mediated Hypotension).
posted
No, it is most likely due to the fact it was bought in Canada which is limited to Czechsinth (affectionately known as 'crapsinth' in absinthe circles). Though I've never tasted it before, nor will I, it is purported to be absolutley horrindous and nothing like distilled absinthe produced according to historical recipes.
The best absinthes available today are Swiss & French. With the exception of one German made and one Austrian made. End of story.
Yemamya, I'm sorry about your Czech purchase. Which French absinthe?
Posts: 14 | From Columbia, SC | Registered: May 2006
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arg82
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 161
posted
quote:Originally posted by djm850: No, it is most likely due to the fact it was bought in Canada which is limited to Czechsinth (affectionately known as 'crapsinth' in absinthe circles). Though I've never tasted it before, nor will I, it is purported to be absolutley horrindous and nothing like distilled absinthe produced according to historical recipes.
The best absinthes available today are Swiss & French. With the exception of one German made and one Austrian made. End of story.
From what I can remember, the absinthe I had was NOT made in Canada, just BOUGHT in Canada. I believe it was Swiss. And it is not just absinthe that makes me feel sick like that, basically any alcohol does it to me if I drink too much. Since absinthe has such a high level of alcohol it just didn't take as much to make me feel that sick.
posted
I was joshing mostly, but for clarification, due to Canada's laws regarding importation coupled with a recent surge in customs confiscations, most importers are not shipping to Canada. There are only a few available (if you can even find them)and they are horrindous. I understand your point concering the effects of alcohol related to lyme. To clear the air regarding absinthe's high alcohol proof though, it is always mixed 3 to 4 parts ice water which brings it back into relation with most beer/wine/cocktails. Cheers.
Posts: 14 | From Columbia, SC | Registered: May 2006
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posted
Gave my Dh his Bday present and he loved it. I got the French "Amer 76%" Czech " Reality".
He hasn't tried them yet. He needs sugar cubes. Will tell you what he thinks. He has never tried it before.
I'll tell you how he likes it. He will give me an honest answer. He is from Germany so is a bit of an Alchohol snob. Cheers Love & Light, Yemaya
Posts: 188 | From NM | Registered: Feb 2006
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posted
Remember, friends don't let friends "flame absinthe", but with the Czech absinth, it's customary Posts: 14 | From Columbia, SC | Registered: May 2006
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