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sage essential oil as an alternative to wormwood

02 March, 2007 17:40

Wormwood essential oil is hard to come by.  Most often you have to import the oil from another country and hope the FDA doesn't take it has a digestible substance.  The reason for this, or the feature is absinthe.

This word meaning 'undrinkable' in Greek is an elixir containing the chemical thujone.  Thujone is known as a psychoactive drug causing hallucinations and addiction.  Current research concludes that thujone is a GABA antagonist.  Although it was banned in the united states by the FDA, (I am uncertain about DEA regulations) with no evidence to conclude such, thujone can be found in many other readily available essential oils.

Sage essential oil can contain as much as 50% thujone, however the FDA considers this a safe additive to food products and cosmetics.  Anis and Florence fennel also contain thujone and readily available to US consumers.

Sage essential oil is used as a food additive in Vermouth for flavoring.  Sage, as used by an aromatherapist can help treat stress related symptoms and act as a cerebral sedative.  Sage should be used with care however, because of the large amount of thujone it contains.  Thujone in large quantities is toxic, (causing renal failure and death) and any oil that contains thujone should be used with care.

Sage in conjunction with niacin, ginko biloba, or other herbs that improve circulation through vasodilation is known to help treat symptoms of Schizophrenia and other mental disorders.  Sage, and other camphor chemotypes can also have strong adverse reactions with those prown to epileptic seizures.

[Aromatherapy]
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Thujone [Reply]

The FDA state that absinthe that is sold in the USA must test "thujone free"

The test is so antiquated that 10 parts per million = Zero. Some people are now selling "thujone free" absinthe in America and many people are buying it!!

Strong European absinthe with like 100mg thujone (Century Absinthe for example) has a relaxing effect and this is hardly surprising as thujone works on the GABA receptors as you point out.

Paul | 31/03/2008, 12:16

Re: Thujone [Reply]

The largest amount of Thujone contained within Wormwood is from Germany (alpine)..

Because of the export laws, this is the closest legal way of utilizing its contents beneficially.

I also would like the export laws changed. It would then probably be regulated by the DEA, instead as of now regulated by the FDA and is not illegal - though not recommended.

Myside | 14/11/2008, 18:57

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Pronunciation: \ˈspyü\
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Etymology: Middle English, from Old English spīwan; akin to Old High German spIwan to spit, Latin spuere, Greek ptyein intransitive verb
Date: before 12th century
  1. VOMIT
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Land where drunk cows swim and home to my daily hand