Wormwood

Artemisia absinthium

Wormwood

(traditional use) Common wormwood is an herb in the Artemisia genus native to Europe, North America, and Siberia. It has the characteristic grayish white downy leaves common to the artemisias and small yellow flower buds, and grows as a weed along fences and roadsides. It was traditionally used as a bitter tonic and carminative to support healthy appetite levels and gastrointestinal function, and a healthy flora balance in the digestive tract. The plants in the Artemisia family are known for their extreme bitterness, which was used to stimulate secretions from the gastrointestinal tract and liver. It was often used to cleanse the digestive tract of parasites and toxins during febrile illness. Wormwood was also used to support the nervous system when taken in small amounts. It was used as a chief ingredient in the notorious preparation of absinthe liqueur, to which the name absinthium refers. It was once believed that the psychotropic activity and toxicity of absinthe were due to the thujone content, however modern analysis has demonstrated that only minor amounts of this compound were present, and the effects may have been due to the copper and antimony adulterants as well as the high ethanol content.