illustration of Vincent van Gogh drinking absinthe and hallucinating.

Important to know: No, absinthe will not make you hallucinate. It is a strong alcoholic drink that, due to its high alcohol content, can cause very unpleasant effects if consumed in large amounts, such as a delirium. And that can also happen with whisky, beer, or wine if you drink too much.

In this article

Absinthe is a mysterious green drink surrounded by many fascinating stories. Some even claim it can make you hallucinate. But is that really true? Is it because of wormwood and the thujone it contains? Or does the high alcohol content play the leading role? In this article, you’ll read what absinthe really is, where it comes from, and why it makes such an impression.

What is absinthe

Absinthe is made from wormwood, also known as Artemisia absinthium. This plant grows in Europe, North Africa, and Asia. In English, it is called wormwood. The leaves and flowers are used as the base for absinthe. Often, herbs such as lemon balm, hyssop, and anise seeds are added. The green color of absinthe comes from the chlorophyll in the plants. In the Netherlands, the drink has been legal again since 2005, but strict rules apply to its thujone content.

Wormwood

Thujone: the controversial compound in absinthe

Thujone is the compound at the heart of it all. It is a terpene with a fresh, bitter, menthol-like taste that gives absinthe its distinctive aroma.

Thujone is a natural component of wormwood that has given the drink its mysterious reputation. In the 19th century, it was therefore thought that absinthe had hallucinogenic properties. Modern science shows that this is not the case at the amounts found in legal drinks.

In fact, the amount of thujone needed to produce a “psychedelic effect” would have to be 2 to 10 times higher than is allowed. Under European regulations, absinthe may contain a maximum of 35 milligrams of thujone per kilogram. With the absinthe you can buy in stores, you will not notice any psychedelic effect.

A psychedelic effect at a high dose of magic mushrooms or DMT can produce this kind of imagery. Absinthe does not.

Frequently asked questions about absinthe

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What is thujone and is it in absinthe?

Thujone is a natural compound in wormwood that occurs in small amounts in absinthe. It gives a spicy, slightly menthol-like flavor. The EU sets a maximum of 35 mg of thujone per kilogram of drink.

Why is absinthe also called the ‘green fairy’?

The nickname ‘green fairy’ refers to the green color of the drink, derived from the chlorophyll in the herbs, and the mysterious reputation absinthe gained in the 19th century.

Is absinthe legal?

Yes, since 2005 absinthe has been legal again in the Netherlands, as long as the thujone content remains within the legal limit.

How to drink absinthe?

Traditionally, absinthe is poured into a glass, after which a special absinthe spoon with a sugar cube on top is placed over it. Ice-cold water is then slowly dripped over the sugar, causing the drink to become cloudy.

How does absinthe taste?

The taste of absinthe is strong and spicy. Absinthin provides a distinct bitterness. Thujone adds a fresh menthol flavor. Together with anise and other herbs, this creates a complex taste. Enthusiasts appreciate this flavor, but it can be intense for beginners. For this reason, a sugar cube is often dissolved in a glass of absinthe. Sometimes it is also caramelized by burning it. But be careful; absinthe can also catch fire due to its high alcohol content.

Absinthe dangerous?

There is a good reason why legislation exists regarding thujone and absinthe. The most common effects of thujone are anxiety, irritability, muscle cramps, and even epileptic seizures that can lead to heart problems. And this only occurs at 70 to 350 milligrams of thujone.

Will you hallucinate from absinthe?

No. The dosages at which thujone could be considered “psychoactive” are close to the toxic level. There is no safe margin where you would only experience hallucinations without the risk of poisoning.

It is often thought that thujone belongs in the smartshop because it is said to cause hallucinations. In reality, this is not the case. Moreover, “hallucinating” is a broad term. That is why we also put "psychoactive" in quotation marks. What people actually mean is: “with absinthe, you would see things that aren’t there.” That is simply not the case; no more than with other strong liquor.

Does absinthe resemble magic mushrooms?

From a smartshop perspective, we can say that absinthe is nothing like magic mushrooms, DMT, or LSD. That’s because it works differently. Different neurotransmitters are involved with thujone in absinthe than with psychedelics.

How does thujone work in absinthe?

Where true psychedelics like magic mushrooms, DMT, and LSD show you all kinds of colorful patterns and give you a warm, satisfied feeling, thujone does none of that. At Dutch-Headshop, we love explaining how it really works. But beware: this quickly becomes a technical story.

At higher doses, thujone acts as a GABA antagonist. This means it reduces the inhibitory effect of the neurotransmitter GABA. GABA is also the substance involved in alcohol, but alcohol works the opposite way. Alcohol is a GABA agonist. That’s why you feel relaxed, sleepy, less anxious, and unable to walk in a straight line.

If we list drugs that are similar:

  • Picrotoxin (Anamirta cocculus): Strong GABA antagonist, but toxic and not suitable for recreational use.
  • Bicuculline (in some plant seeds): Pharmacologically used GABA antagonist, not intended for consumption.
  • Salvinorin A (Salvia divinorum): Primarily acts on kappa-opioid receptors but can indirectly influence the GABA balance, creating a disorienting feeling. As a result, hallucinations are extremely different from those of psychedelics.
  • Yohimbine (Pausinystalia johimbe): Stimulant, can increase anxiety and irritability, partly comparable to thujone at high doses.
  • Certain kavalactones (Piper methysticum): Most enhance GABA (calming), but some variants have a slightly stimulating or disinhibiting effect.

More well-known drugs:

  • PCP (phencyclidine): Blocks NMDA receptors in the brain. This disrupts signal transmission in the central nervous system, leading to dissociation, altered perception, and sometimes hallucinations. PCP does not directly act on GABA, but like thujone, it disrupts the brain’s normal balance, as if pressing the gas pedal.
  • Ketamine: Also an NMDA antagonist, but with a shorter duration than PCP. Medically used as an anesthetic and, in low doses, studied for depression treatment. It causes a ‘disconnection’ of body and mind but does not antagonize GABA like thujone.
  • DXM (dextromethorphan): Cough suppressant that, in high doses, is also an NMDA antagonist. Causes dissociation and alters perception.

Furthermore, the fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) is interesting to mention, as it is sometimes rightly compared to absinthe. The red-and-white mushroom contains ibotenic acid and muscimol, which, like thujone and alcohol in absinthe, have two opposing effects.

  • Muscimol: The active compound muscimol is a powerful GABA agonist. So, like alcohol, it does the opposite of thujone. Muscimol provides relaxation, sedation, and sometimes dream-like hallucinations; just like alcohol at high doses.
  • Ibotenic acid: What makes the fly agaric intriguing is that, alongside a relaxing compound, it also contains one that speeds you up: ibotenic acid. Thujone works in a similar way.

In short: too much thujone can make you feel restless or anxious, irritable, or even cause muscle cramps and epileptic seizures. Because absinthe also contains a lot of alcohol, the effects can reinforce each other unpredictably. Hallucinations only occur at extremely high doses of thujone, far above what is allowed in drinks. But by then, you would be at much greater risk from the alcohol itself. And these hallucinations are nothing like the psychedelic effects produced by magic mushrooms, LSD, or ayahuasca.

Absinthe hallucinations are probably a delirium

Stories of hallucinations from absinthe fit much better with an alcohol delirium than with the effects of thujone. You are at risk of delirium tremens if you drink excessively or if you suddenly stop after prolonged alcohol use.

A delirium causes severe confusion, disorientation, tremors, and vivid visual hallucinations. In the 19th century, when absinthe often contained more than 60% alcohol, it was probably this alcohol poisoning – not the “green fairy” – that gave artists and drinkers strange visions.

Absinthe and Vincent van Gogh’s ear

In absinthe’s history, the name Vincent van Gogh comes up regularly. The famous painter was known for his regular consumption of absinthe. Among artists, the drink was popular for its intense taste and the mysterious image of the “green fairy.”

Popular stories claim that Van Gogh’s vivid use of color, distorted perspectives, and the infamous incident in which he cut off his own ear were the result of hallucinations from absinthe. In reality, alcohol use and mental health issues probably explain this world-famous story. At the time, absinthe contained higher amounts of thujone than it does today, but there is no scientific evidence that this directly influenced his behavior or artistic style.

Van Gogh was not the only artist linked to frequent absinthe drinking. As its use increased in the 19th century, fears about negative effects grew. The term “absinthism” was used for ailments attributed to the drink. In many countries, it was banned, often after dramatic incidents that received much attention. Only in the late 20th century could producers make the drink again, with lower amounts of thujone.

The traditional absinthe ritual

Absinthe is often drunk in a special way. Fill a glass halfway with absinthe. Place an absinthe spoon on top with a sugar cube. Slowly pour ice-cold water over the sugar. The cube dissolves and mixes with the drink. The color changes from bright green to cloudy yellow-green. At that moment, the aromas are at their best.

Making absinthe yourself

At Dutch-Headshop, we do not sell alcohol. But we do have herbs and extracts for making your own absinthe. With wormwood and other herbs, you can make your own version at home.

For an alcohol-free version, steep the herb in hot water for fifteen minutes. This way, you get the taste of absinthe without drinking alcohol. Also, less thujone ends up in your drink, since thujone is not very soluble in water. Made this way, absinthe is much safer.

Sources:

  • Talmon, M. et al. Anti-inflammatory Activity of Absinthin. June 4, 2020.
  • Olsen, R.W. Absinthe and γ-aminobutyric acid receptors. April 25, 2000.
  • Jellinek. Alcohol and physical health dossier. 2020.
  • Höld, K.M. et al. α-Thujone (the active component of absinthe). April 11, 2000.
  • Regulation (EC) No. 1334/2008 of the European Parliament. December 31, 2008.