Thread: wormwood is BITTER

Having another cup of wormwood (1.5 teaspoons loose dried/cut) and peppermint tea in what is essentially a WBTB now. IT IS BITTER!!!! Hoping the proximity to REM sleep will result in the usual wild ride that is wormwood dreams...

What effect does wormwood cause? Is it very toxic?

The Thujone in wormwood is considered toxic by some, so it's best to use it sparingly. The literature is very divided and unclear about it. But for me, it sometimes induces a slightly altered feeling for the night, and in the past has resulted in really wild/bizarre dreams, more so than usual, and some lucidity. But the last few times I've tried with this particular tea I can't tell if I had any results or not. This morning I ended up with lots and lots of dreams that were rather vivid and I felt "present" in most of them, but they were rather commonplace scenarios, the earlier dreams were much more bizarre. But that is a typical pattern for me: earlier sleep cycle dreams tend towards the bizarre, and later ones towards more mundane.

edit: well, at least I'm probably entirely clear of any intestinal parasites now...

As far as I know, thujone is actually insoluble in water, so unless you pour alcohol in the infusion, there shouldn't be much thujone in it.

My two tips for wormwood (and Calea Zaccatechichi):

1. Use only a little water for the infusion (half as much water => half as much pain)
2. Use a straw to bypass the front part of the tongue, to the extent possible.

Originally Posted by FryingMan

But that is a typical pattern for me: earlier sleep cycle dreams tend towards the bizarre, and later ones towards more mundane.

I have the exact same experience.

Originally Posted by Voldmer

As far as I know, thujone is actually insoluble in water, so unless you pour alcohol in the infusion, there shouldn't be much thujone in it.

.

Interesting. Maybe this is the reason why my wormwood tincture (in alcohol) seems so much more effective than this tea for me (basically, no effect from this tea at all!). I assumed that since I was getting the full bitter effect I'd be getting the nootropics as well, perhaps that's a flawed assumption? Hmm I wonder how much vodka would be required?

In the U.S. They limit how much can be in food or drink so they must think it is somewhat toxic.

Yes, the US does like to limit all the fun...at least galantamine is "over the counter"!