Re: Mike, everything is a poison!

Mornin' all!

I've been reading this thread with interest - the DHMO trick is one I've pulled on a few people in my time - and thought that I would post a few facts. Also, I feel that you should know that I'm posting information that I've gleaned from my (UK) Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) course, so I'm not just pulling this info off of the web!

Wormwood contains a volatile oil called thujone. This oil is neurotoxic and acts by interfering with cell membranes, ie it alters the structure of the phospholipid bilayer. This in turns affects the permeability and conductivity of the cell. This has fairly obvious consequences for mental health.

Allow me to give you the brief history of the spirit 'absinthe', which outlines the case in point -
This was first made for the armies of Napoleon when they were off attempting to conquer Europe. They had problems with the soldiers getting worms, so they used tincture of Wormwood to sort the problem out (a tincture is an alcoholic extract of a substance). This wouldn't have tasted particulary pleasant, but soldiers like their alcohol and tend to take it in any way they can get it. Over time, this concoction was added to to improve the taste and eventually evolved into absinthe - that green aniseed stuff. When it became commercially available, people were able to drink loads of the stuff - including several well known artists. Van Gogh is likely to have cut his ear off because of mental health problems related to his consumption of absinthe. In fact, a lot of people around that time who consumed absinthe are likely to have succumbed to the neurotoxic effects of thujone containing absinthe.

Moral of the story:
Avoid thujone (hence avoid Wormwood ) - DON'T GIVE IT TO KIDS, or expressionist painters..

Sorry about the lecture, but I feel that people need the proper facts to enable them to make informed decisions.

Regards,
Chris
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Mornin' all!

I've been reading this thread with interest - the DHMO trick is one I've pulled on a few people in my time - and thought that I would post a few facts. Also, I feel that you should know that I'm posting information that I've gleaned from my (UK) Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) course, so I'm not just pulling this info off of the web!

Wormwood contains a volatile oil called thujone. This oil is neurotoxic and acts by interfering with cell membranes, ie it alters the structure of the phospholipid bilayer. This in turns affects the permeability and conductivity of the cell. This has fairly obvious consequences for mental health.

Allow me to give you the brief history of the spirit 'absinthe', which outlines the case in point -
This was first made for the armies of Napoleon when they were off attempting to conquer Europe. They had problems with the soldiers getting worms, so they used tincture of Wormwood to sort the problem out (a tincture is an alcoholic extract of a substance). This wouldn't have tasted particulary pleasant, but soldiers like their alcohol and tend to take it in any way they can get it. Over time, this concoction was added to to improve the taste and eventually evolved into absinthe - that green aniseed stuff. When it became commercially available, people were able to loads of the stuff - including several well known artists. Van Gogh is likely to have cut his ear off because of mental health problems related to his consumption of absinthe. In fact, a lot of people around that time who consumed absinthe are likely to have succumbed to the neurotoxic effects of thujone containing absinthe.

Moral of the story:
Avoid thujone (hence avoid wormwood) - DON'T GIVE IT TO KIDS, or expressionist painters..

Sorry about the lecture, but I feel that people need the proper facts to enable them to make informed decisions.

Regards,
Chris Tweet