TIFU by making brain meltingly strong Absinthe.

So I'm the kind of guy who likes to have some unique projects on the go.

One I did last year was making absinthe but to a more classic recipe. It was hard to find a precise recipe so I just found as many as i could that referred to old botanicals used and cobbled it together.

I made this by macerating the ingredients in 45% ethanol for a few weeks and then distilling it off to about 75%.

The ingredients were as follows:

100g Wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemisia_absinthium

25g Dittany (Ballota pseudodictamnus - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballota_pseudodictamnus)

25g Elecampane (Inula Helenium - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elecampane)

25g Dittany (Dictanmus Albus - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dictamnus)

25g Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tansy)

25g Sweet flag root (Acorus calamus - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acorus_calamus)

25g Angelica - (Angelica archangelica - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelica_archangelica)

25g Chamomile - (Chamaemelum nobile - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamaemelum_nobile)

25g Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyssopus_officinalis)

25g Speedwell (Veronica Officinalis - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veronica_(plant)))

25g Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemon_balm)

4 Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clove)

4 Eucalyptus leaves (Myrtle)

25g Dandelion root (Taraxacum officinale - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taraxacum_officinale)

400g aniseed ( Pimpinella anisum - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anise)

95g Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fennel)

70g Star Anisse (Illicium verum - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illicium_verum)

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Heres a list of all the major active components from the mix:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helenin

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isoprene

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamazulene

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thujone

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camphor

Myrtenol

Camphor

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thujone

Trans Thujone

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynarine

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axillarin

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asarone

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenol

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Here's the TIFU bit. When just tasting the distillate to monitor the ethanol content and avoid grabbing the tails I found that a few hours later my vision almost completely went blurry and I was left with an extremely 'polygonal' vision. Think picasso painting https://i.etsystatic.com/5880816/r/il/096ef3/851574792/il_794xN.851574792_h6ei.jpg This was extremely alarming and put me off ever actually having a shot of it. My vision became much like the below link. Bit concerned it was linked to the known neurotoxic properties of thujone. Thankfully it came back. The sensation was similar to getting a visual aura during a migraine.

https://imgur.com/a/whf5xHt

It gave me an immediate appreciation for some of Van Goghs artwork, as I'd seen the world through that lense.

I have no idea of the total content of Thujone or anything else in it really. I'd love to get it tested but I know thats unlikely if I dont know exactly what to look for.

Most of the active molecules are extremely oxygenated so would likely cause oxidative stress and would do a little towards explaining the bizarre effects it had. Not too sure why I'm posting really. Its just been sitting on my shelf now for a year and I have zero desire to drink it. Just feel like posting here as a kind of PSA that nature be scary, before I just chuck it all down the sink or burn it. Frustratingly it smells lovely!

Respect nature folks!

The difference between medicine and poison is the dosage.

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TL;DR I made some Absinthe that definitely exceeds safe levels of Thujone and I temporarily went blind.