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I thought you might be interested in more complete information about
absinthe, wormwood and thujone, after our recent exchange on the subject.
I've come across a comprehensive summary about it in Jonathan Ott's superb
"Pharmacotheon." (Although using his name with any glowing adjective is
redundant because everything I've seen of his is so complete, exhaustive
and thoroughly researched and studied.)

"Absinthe was prepared by distilling alcohol over mashed leaves of
wormwood, and other common ingredients were Angelica root, Acorus calamus
rhizome (which may contain the psychoactive asarones; ...), cinnamon,
fennel seed, star anise (both of which contain anethole, another
potentially psychoactive compound...) and other plants. The characteristic
and much-desired green color of the liqueur, which was supposed to whiten
when mixed with water, was sometimes artificially enhanced by addition of
indigo and other plants, or toxic metal salts like copper sulfate and
antimony chloride...

He chronicles the history of the banning of absinthe and a recent renewal
of interest in absinthe, then says:

"It is commonly assumed that the thujones were the neurotoxic principles of
absinthe, although alcohol also is a potent neurotoxin (absinthe contained
from 68-85% alcohol) and significant quantities of copper and antimony
salts used as adulterants (particularly in cheap imitation absinthe for the
poorer classes) may have been present and responsible for the
neurotoxicity...While large doses of injected thujones are unquestionably
toxic, modern toxicological studies of thujones, in the quantities present
in absinthe, without the copper and antimony adulterants, are needed before
concluding that the neurotoxicity associated with absinthism was a
consequence of thujone content. I suspect the copper and antimony salts, as
well as the unusually high alcohol content had more to do with absinthe
toxicity than the thujone content. Non-thujone essential oils commonly
present in absinthe have also been shown to have convulsant properties and
are probably neurotoxic."

The obvious inference is that thujone is unlikely the culprit in
"absinthism." And even though he acknowledges the toxicity of "large doses
of injected thujones," the operative words are "large" and "injected." It
may be assumed (without any evidence to support this statement) that
swallowing thujone in some form (tea, for example) would subject it to the
chemical rigors of digestion, a pathway that is much different from
intravenous or even intramuscular injection. Whether the same can be said
for, say, smoking a thujone-containing plant is another matter since
inhalation effectuates a much more direct transfer into the blood without
the intervention of hydrochloric acid, pepsin and other digestive enzymes.

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From christopher.gn.apc.org (Christopher Hedley):

A note.. Sage (Salvia officinalis) essential oil is 30% thujone and good
sage has up to 2.5% essential oil. Wormwood contains 1% essential oil, I
don't have a figure on the % of thujone but if we assume it to be less than
half then it is possible to consume more thujone in Sage tea than in
Wormwood tea and no one has suggested that long term use of sage is toxic.

Distilling alcohol over Wormwood would extract mostly the volatile oil.
Weiss says that the pure volatile oil was also used in the making of
absinthe - this is still an ingrained habit in food and drink manufacture
and one that should be condemned. Flavouring with volatile oils is NOT the
same as flavouring with plants.

Thujone has been given bad press but I still don't think that consuming
large amounts of volatile oil for long periods has anything to recommend
it. Also the thujone has strong stimulating effects, noticeable when
smoking wormwood - which as Howie says is nothing like smoking Mugwort.
Presumably absinthe had the same degree of stimulation and thus people were
encouraged to drink more and abuse it.

The comparison between thujone and THC is an interesting example of just
how far theory can lead people astray. Always try for yourself I say.

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From Howie Brounstein :

> Also the thujone has strong stimulating effects, noticeable when smoking
wormwood- which as Howie says is nothing like smoking Mugwort. Presumably
absinthe had the same degree of stimulation and thus people were encouraged
to drink more and abuse it.

Hmmm. Did I say that. Oh yes, so I did. It is hard to put into words.
Mugwort can be used like Wormwood for worms, warming, female reproductive
system effects, and it has similar contra-indications. Yet wormwood has
something else, a more overtly drugged feeling it produces that I have
never experienced with other Artemisias. I don't know what chemical is
responsible for it, it may be thujone unrelated, for all I know. But I know
the feeling.

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From: "Rob Miedema" <8rm1.qlink.queensu.ca>

Thujone does not in fact act like THC at all. That belief was founded on
the observation that they have similar chemical structures, but was proven
incorrect (Hold et al., 2000). Actually, it seems that thujone exacts its
effects on GABA-A receptors in the brain. This is the same receptor that
alcohol acts on, but the two chemicals have opposite effects. Therefore the
balance between thujone and ethanol in the absinthe is critical. Thujone,
or rather it's active metabolites (7-hydroxy-alpha-thujone, alpha-thujone),
and other products in wormwood that steep into absinthe (e.g. camphor) are
actually convulsants. They inhibit the brains inhibitory system causing
overexcitation. Death in animals as large as cats and rabbits results from
moderate doses and there are documented cases of death in humans (Burkhard
et al., 1999). One person's statement that oral ingestion is not injection
so it is probably fine is false, the thujone actually needs to be
metabolized by the liver to break it down into its active components.

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If you still want to try it here's one how-to, and a vivid description of
the experience:

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>Making Absinthe is extremely easy, as long as you don't require the full
alcoholic content. Just take Pernod, pour off about an ounce and cram
wormwood herb in the top. Let it set for a week or two. That's it. Pernod
is Absinthe without the wormwood and about half the alcohol.

From ix.io.com (Lupo LeBoucher):

This is unlikely to absorb much thujone; for a really horrible and
ridiculously potent absinthe, buy a fifth of 100 proof vodka, pour it over
an ounce of wormwood, and a quarter ounce of anise seeds, and let it steep
for a month or two. After straining the liquid, the resulting decoction
will be a horrible looking liquid with approximately the color and
psychoactivity of 1970s gasoline, though gasoline tastes better (long
story).

To ingest (one cannot drink it), pour over a lump of sugar into a strong
mixture of water & lemon juice, hold nose, and swallow before you taste the
bitter horror. Be sure to do this in the vicinity of a sink with running
water; one may need to wash the awful stuff down or provide your absinthe
with a convenient place to rest should it decide to come up for a breather.

Effects reportedly include, audio-visual hallucinations similar to the
opiates, with a bit o nitrous; numb mucus membranes; dizziness, nausea,
picking up the ugliest member of the opposite sex one has ever encountered
and vomiting green bile over oneself while asleep (experts disagree whether
or not the latter was an effect of the previous, rather than an effect of
the thujone - ask Heysoos, I didn't do it).

The above recipe was taken from a book called "The Magical and Ritual Uses
of Herbs" (by Richard Allen Miller) which described Absinthe as "an
excellent after-dinner liqueur" which makes one wonder what types of
dinners Mr. Miller has at his place.

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From ix.io.com (Lupo LeBoucher):

>Anise has no effect; the active ingredients in absinthe are just wormwood
and alcohol.

The anise went in the mix in a misguided attempt to kill some of the bitter
flavor (since it was what the standard recipes used). All I succeeded in
doing was killing some of the wormwood "flavor" *retch* upon burping.

>The plain wormwood probably could be swallowed as a tea followed by the
booze as a chaser. The plain infusion used to be prescribed as a "tonic".

I don't know if it would have the same effect; the essential oils in the
wormwood, which contain the active ingredients, are not likely to be water
soluble.

             ----------------------------------------------

From stygianv.shadow.net (Coyote Osborne):

> Anise has no effect; the active ingredients in absinthe are just wormwood
and alcohol.

Ah, but anise does have an important effect here. It keeps the
wormwood/absinthe from irritating your stomach so much. I would recommend
fennel and perhaps peppermint or basil for this also.

> The plain wormwood probably could be swallowed as a tea followed by the
booze as a chaser. The plain infusion used to be pre-scribed as a "tonic".

Actually, most of the things in wormwood are damaged or destroyed if added
to hot water. Warming it gently (like brandy) works, but not making an
infusion with water that is boiling. I suspect that a good rule of thumb is
that if it is hot enough to destroy alcohol, it is also hot enough to make
the wormwood lose it's efficacy.

>From reading that book or other, somehow I got the idea to make absinthe
by mixing a whole ounce of wormwood in a half fifth of whiskey and
forgetting about it for a few months. That shit is impossibly bitter. It's
one of the most bitter herbal substances you know.

Yes. Not even the worms like it. : )

It does have some interesting properties, though, and prepared properly can
even taste... well I won't say nice... but it will taste such a way that it
is desirable.

Acquired taste perhaps? Good for the sensually indulgent? Weird?

             ----------------------------------------------

From Stuart Cullen 

Just a little extra info from an experienced Absinthe drinker. I have drunk
three different types of absinthe (two Portugese [50% and 58% alcohol by
volume] and One Czech [55% by volume]) on innumerable occasions -- usually
4+ European shots a night.

In Portugal, to get its most extreme effect I was told to add sugar to the
shot, light the absinthe, blow it out, drink it through a straw, cup my
hand over the glass and inhale as much of the fumes as I could. I am sure
this would be potent with any alcoholic drink. I have drunk stronger vodka
[63% by volume] yet it has never had the effect of absinthe.

I have experienced one 'hallucination' -- I was once positively sure that a
girl was dancing beside me for several minutes when there was no-one there.
I have experienced numerous total blackouts from its usage. I am not an
expert on herbs or a student of any related subject but absinth/e is a drug
NOT an alcoholic drink (believe me).

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An endnote from Henriette:

I'm told the "absinthe" recipes given above are completely off the wall.
I'll believe that, because nobody in their right mind would ever call
tincture, tea or even leaf of wormwood straight off the plant palatable.

Some say that wormwood has a nice "floral" scent. Yech, says I, because to
me that "floral scent" is a thoroughly nauseating smell, which carries over
into the taste if ingested. Urgh.

Wormwood is intensely bitter. Couple that bitterness with the revolting
taste and you're set for something fit to give to your worst enemies, but
not fit to serve at table.

On that note, I made about half a liter of wormwood tincture (1:5 45 %)
years ago. Anybody over 18 (can't have kids getting drunk on this stuff)
who drinks 1/2 dl (2 ounces) of that tincture in front of me (outdoors,
please, with convenient bushes nearby) can have the whole bottle -- if they
still want it after ingesting their half deciliter.

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                   2.4 St. John's Wort (Hypericum) (SJW)
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           2.4.1 St. John's Wort (Hypericum) and photosensitivity
             ----------------------------------------------

Here's the question (on the herblist (see 8.1.1 below) in November 1994):

>As to Hypericum perforatum (St. John's Wort) causing photosensitivity in
humans, I have been unable to find a single study that verifies this in
vivo. Lots of research on the effects of hypericin on cattle and insects,
but humans? This may be an example of assumptive jumping from mammalian lab
results to humans. Anyone know a study that indicates photosensitivity in
humans due to Hypericum?

             ----------------------------------------------
The discussion can be found here:
http://www.ibiblio.org/herbmed/archives/Best/1994/sjw-photosens.html
             ----------------------------------------------

Two years after above was included in the FAQ:

In recent discussions on a high-quality herbal mailing list the conclusion
was that yes, some very few people can have problems with photosensitivity
and Hypericum; that it might manifest a tad more often with topical
application of oil on skin which is exposed to sunlight; but that actually,
in very sensitive people, it might be enough to just take sensible amounts
of tincture internally for photosensitivity to appear (even without synergy
with meds).

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            2.4.2 St. John's Wort (Hypericum) and MAO inhibition
             ----------------------------------------------

>>St John's Wort does in fact work like an MAO inhibitor and likewise
causes the same dangerous side-effects.
>That's the wrong term. They're not "side effects"; they're food or drug
interactions. But if SJW is an MAO-inhibitor then they're certainly
"dangerous".

From smisch.tiac.net (Samson):

Yes, they would be if SJW really _were_ a MAOI. But it's not. That was a
theory that was floating around for a while without much support, and it
has since been disproven.

See eg.

   * Thiede HM; Walper A: Inhibition of MAO and COMT by Hypericum extracts
     and hypericin. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol, 7 Suppl 1:1994 Oct, S54-6
   * Bladt S; Wagner H: Inhibition of MAO by fractions and constituents of
     Hypericum extract. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol, 7 Suppl 1:1994 Oct,
     S57-9

"Using pure hypericin as well as in all ex vivo experiments, no relevant
inhibiting effects could be shown. From the results it can be concluded
that the clinically proven anti-depressive effect of Hypericum extract
cannot be explained in terms of MAO inhibition."

Hypericin does show some MAO-inhibition in vitro at _very_ high
concentrations. At regular human doses, though, virtually nil.

             ----------------------------------------------
 2.4.3 About standardized hypericin content in St. John's Wort (Hypericum)
             ----------------------------------------------

On alt.folklore.herbs in Oct 97:
>(somebody) wrote:
>>I gathered my own SJW when it was flowering, (snip)

(somebody else) replied:
>You don't know how strong a dose you are receiving in your homemade
tincture. St. John's Wort keeps the serotonin in your brain from breaking
down so rapidly. This is called a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor
(SSRI) and the level of serotonin in your brain goes up. This may be good
for people who have low levels of serotonin such as depressives but it is
not good for people with normal serotonin levels. I would stick to the
companies who standardize their dose for 0.3% hypericin and only take the
recommended dose.

             ----------------------------------------------

Then jmt.... (J. Mark Taylor) stepped in and replied to the recommendation
to "stick to the companies who standardize their dose for 0.3% hypericin":

... I would ignore this advice. We don't buy carrots by beta-carotene
content and we don't buy potatoes by carbohydrate ratings. Although
neutraceutical interests may soon begin marketing things that way, they
only take away from the fundamental nature of wholistic health.

             ----------------------------------------------

Comment from Henriette:

This 'standardization' is just yet another marketing trick to me. Get
suppliers you trust, know your tinctures, and don't fall for scams, not
even 'scientifically proven' ones.

Pure hypericin -has- been shown to produce side effects in almost all
laboratory tests, while side effects with the whole plant extract
(Hypericum tincture, made solely with Hypericum flowering tops and alcohol)
are exceedingly rare.
However, after the herb made it big in the US (in 1996? 1997 ?), tens of
thousands of people have been taking it, daily, in larger or smaller
quantities (they don't always remember or even know that more is not always
better); as tinctures, "standardized extracts", capsules, and you-name-its.
If -you- experience side effects, you're just one of the unhappy few
"exceedingly rare" cases. If that's the case use your common sense and
_stop_ taking it.

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                             End of part 1 of 7
             ----------------------------------------------

-- 
Henriette Kress, AHG                      Helsinki, Finland
Henriette's herbal homepage: http://www.ibiblio.org/herbmed

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