The absinth effects are due to the thujone in the formulation. While naturally occurring in many plants and flowers, thujone is magically released by wormwood, which is one of the herbs in the traditional absinth recipe. A-thujone has a structure very similar to THC (tetrahyrdacannaboid), thus explaining the euphoric effects.
It has been proposed that these two substances work similarly upon the brain.
However, recent research has shown that thujone also blocks GABA-A receptors in the brain and inhibits them from firing. Once these receptors are blocked, the brain is free to fire at will unregulated.
This is the very reason why absinthe drinkers report feeling clear headed even after drinking numerous glasses of the green concoction.
With the high alcohol content of absinthe, they should be in a stupor. |
