Scientists have dispelled the myth of absinthe

The favorite drink of French Bohemia early XX century, absinthe, not a specific psychoactive effects, it is assumed to German researchers. According to them, thujone, long "drug" is considered the traditional absinthe contained in very low concentrations. Fashion for absinthe or absinthe, came to Europe in the second half of the XIX century. This strong alcoholic drink is a source of inspiration and premature death of many prominent artists and poets. In the 10-20s of last century, absinthe was banned in most of Europe and in the U.S. as a powerful and dangerous drug. For a long time, psychosis and hallucinations were caused by the abuse of absinthe, are made to explain the effect of thujone - containing organic compound in wormwood. In the 80 years of XX century, was when the manufacture and sale of absinthe in Europe continued, thujone content in the drink legally limited to 35 milligrams per liter. After studying 13 samples of authentic absinthe, produced before the ban in the past century, the researchers concluded that the destructive effects of absinthe is unlikely because of the high concentrations of thujone. As it turned out, in the old absinthe that the substance no more than a modern, legal and "safe" absinthe was. Thus, the content in the samples of thujone was 0.5 to 48.3 mg / l, on average - is 33.3 mg / l. Methanol, antimony, copper, and some other components of samples of authentic absinthe therein is isolated in very small amounts, and it is unlikely that any additional effects can cause the background of the main component - 70 percent solution of ethyl alcohol. Scientists are believe mental disorders that absinthe famous artists have provoked must return the everyday symptoms of alcoholism. The report on the study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry published.