Absinthe Blog

Absinthe was exiled from the world amidst a flurry of words. The decision to ban absinthe was a controversial one. Supporters of absinthe claimed that the drink was unfairly dealt with. They claimed absinthe in its original form could not have induced the effects that had been ascribed to the drink. The study of these claims now reveals rewarding insights into the effects of psychotropic substances on our brain and how absinthe may be absolved of such charges.

Our brain’s system of rewards and how substances play with this system

Taking drugs or alcohol undeniably gives us pleasure. Drugs and alcohol work on our nervous system and simulate feeling of pleasure in the brain. Our brain controls chemicals that gives us the feeling of pleasure. It controls the release of a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine creates pleasurable feeling by stimulating the specific regions of the brain. The brain uses the help of receptor cells to allow access of dopamine to these regions.

Our brains are naturally programmed to reward us for taking actions that might be necessary for our survival. It rewards us when we eliminate hunger by taking in food. It rewards us when we drink water for quenching thirst. It also rewards us when we have sex - necessary tools for perpetuation of our species.

Psychotic substances try to simulate these effects and cause the release of chemicals like dopamine in the brain. Most drugs cause release of large quantities of dopamine in the brain.

The brain responds to the increase in the level of these chemicals and take steps in maintaining its level. The brains restricts the natural release of the chemical to counter the imbalance created by the externally induced increase in its level. This means that we stop having feelings of pleasure naturally unless we take these psychotic substances. We have to depend on drugs and alcohol to feel pleasurable.

The brain also maintains the balance of the chemical by closing the receptor cells for the specific chemical. Gradually it stops entertaining the chemical. Now we would require more and more quantities of the drug to give us lesser and lesser of pleasure. This is the state of addiction.

Truth about narcotic effects of absinthe

Absinthe when it was introduced was essentially taken as a medicine. It was taken as a cure for digestive disorders and for curbing high body temperature. Thujone, an ingredient in absinthe, is said to be the substance that gives psychotropic effects. It was believed to induce a state of reverie and to cause such effects as convulsions and hallucinations.

The original recipe of absinthe contains little amount of thujone. One would have to drink a substantial amount of the drink for the negative effects to emerge. Before the drink was banned in early 20th century, many producers and absinthe drinkers deviated from the original recipe and began including psychotropic substances to make drinking more pleasurable. These caused the undesirable side effects and eventually led the drink to be banned.