Absinthe, which inspiration-seeking artists once drunk in excess, is not a psychedelic beverage after all, say international researchers.
Instead, they say, the drink's reputation is down to nothing more exotic than its high alcohol content. Absinthe has been dubbed the 'the green fairy' or 'the green muse' and was once widely used by 19th century Parisian bohemians, many of whom believed it could expand consciousness. Australian drug expert Dr Rodney Irvine of the University of Adelaide , who was not involved in the research, says there have always been many rituals surrounding its use.
The drink is poured through a sugar cube, goes cloudy, and some people set it on fire, says Irvine, who researches the pharmacology and toxicology of illicit drugs.
But in its heyday many drinkers developed 'absinthe madness' or 'absinthism', a collection of symptoms including hallucinations, facial contractions, numbness and dementia. Absinthe soon gained a reputation as a dangerous psychedelic drink and was banned after growing reports of illness and violence.
Some say artist Vincent van Gogh chopped off his ear and later shot himself in the chest after drinking it. Many people believe the active ingredient in absinthe is thujone, a chemical found in wormwood, one of the herbs used to flavour and colour the drink, says Irvine.
