Absinthe Is Good For You!

There have been decades of negative propaganda making all sort of outrageous claims about absinthe. For instance, absinthe will make you crazy, cause you to snip off appendages and murder your family, blah blah blah. All of this is pure hogwash. This propaganda was spread with the express purpose of turning people away for the absinthe in order to keep them off alcoholic spirits or to preserve wine’s strong hold on the French consumer market. What has been largely forgotten in the Reefer Madness-like hysteria is this one simple fact; Absinthe is GOOD for you!

There are three principal ingredients in absinthe that have been used for centuries as homeopathic remedies for all laundry list of aliments. These three ingredients are wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare azoricum) and anise (Pimpinella anisum). Each of these ingredients are have there own unique health benefits.

Wormwood has been used for thousands of years to treat stomach aliments. The oil produced by the wormwood shrub contains two chemical compound toxins, thujone and isothujone. Wormwood also contains absithin and anabsinthin, which give the shrub a strong bitter taste. Both absithin and anabsinthin are believed to stimulate digestive and gallbladder function. However, wormwood is usually mixed with other herbs such as peppermint or caraway when used to make herbal remedies. A mixture of wormwood, peppermint, and caraway is often used in connection with heartburn and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). There are also reports the wormwood can also be used to treat anorexia, insomnia, anaemia, lack of appetite, flatulence, stomach aches and jaundice and other ailments such as indigestion and loose motions arising from improper functioning of liver. Care should be exercised in the dosage and form in which one ingests wormwood. Too much of anything isn’t good for you. Large doses (that are not found in a bottle of absinthe) can cause nervous afflictions, convulsions, restlessness, impulsive behavior etc.

Fennel is another great herb for treating stomach aliments. These seeds are very rich in minerals including magnesium. Two of its main constituents are Anethol and Fenchone. Anethol and other terpenoids may inhibit spasms in smooth muscles such as those in the intestinal tract. Fenchone may be responsible for the medicinal properties associated with Fennel. Fennel seeds often provide quick and effective relief from many digestive disorders. They help to overcome gas, cramps, acid indigestion, and many other digestive tract maladies.Fennel water has properties similar to those of anise and dill water and when mixed with sodium bicarbonate and sugar water it is called 'Gripe Water,' and this is widely used to correct the flatulence of infants and treat colic. In Europe, straight fennel tea is sold as baby tea and also used to treat colic. Syrup prepared from Fennel juice has historically been given to treat chronic coughs. The French use it for migraine and dizziness where good results have been noted. . In India (and in Indian restaurants), fennel seeds are routinely chewed upon after meals to aid in digestion after a rich meal while acting as an herbal mouth freshener. Fennel seeds often provide quick and effective relief from many digestive disorders. They help to overcome gas, cramps, acid indigestion, and many other digestive tract maladies.
Anise, like fennel, contains anethole, and is known to be a phytoestrogen (or dietary estrogen). Tests are underway to investigate if Phytoestrogens may be used in prostate cancer prevention. Anise is also a mild antiparasitic and its leaves can be used to treat digestive problems and minor relieve toothaches. A tea made from anise seeds can be used to treat bronchial asthma, cough, a slow digestion, stress and colic and heartburn.

The only other ingredients required to make absinthe are water and alcohol. The health benefits of these are largely dependent upon the amount one consumes. When you take into account the three herbs used in absinthe, it’s impossible to argue that the bad press it has received over the years is at all warranted. In fact the opposite it true. Absinthe is indeed good for you. Don’t take my word for it. The next time your stomach is bothering you, pour yourself a nice glass of absinthe. You too will soon be come a believer.

Just a reminder, drinking too much of anything that is good for you can be dangerous. Drink absinthe in moderation!