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Absinthium | | Name : | Absinthium | | Synonyms : | Absinth
Absinthe
Absinthium
Ajenjo
Commonwormwood
Greenginger
Oldwoman
| | Parts Used : | Leaves, flowering tops | | Habitat : | Found in waste places and along roadsides from Newfoundland to HudsonBay and south to Montana. Wormwood is a native plant in Europe, fromwhere it was introduced into North America. | | Description : | Wormwood's woody rootstock produces many bushy stems, which growfrom 2-4 feet high and bear alternate, bi- or tri-pinnate leaves withlong, obtuse lobes. Numerous tiny, yellow-green, rayless flower headsgrow in leafy panicles from July to October.
The stem of wormwood is branched, and firm, almost woody at the base.The stem is covered with fine silky hairs, as are the leaves. Theleaves themselves are 3 inches long by one broad, thrice pinnate withlinear, blunt segments. They are grayish-green and have a distinctodor.
Wormwood is not heat tolerant. Zones 4-10.
There are other varieties of wormwood. Annual wormwood (Artemisiaannua L.) otherwise known as Sweet Annie, is a bushy plant 1-9 feettall; used in the treatment of malaria. Related to A. absinthium,it is not poisonous but may cause dermatitis. A. heterophylla; Paiutename is 'Kose-wiup,' At Owyhee, Nevada, a basket was used to steepthese wormwood leaves, and put them next to a baby's skin to reducefever. The Shoshone name for this herb is 'Pava hobe,' CaliforniaNative Americans called it 'Poonkinny.' Packets of steamed plantswere placed on limbs for rheumatism, and a sweat bath given. Anotherwormwood, (A. gnaphalodes), Paiute and Shoshone gave the same namesas to A. heterophylla. They made a tea called 'Ba wa zip,' (youngpeople's tea). Smoky Valley Tea and steam bath was for young girlsapproaching maturity. | | Constituents : | Absinthol which is common to all worm-woods, in addition to otheressential oils including pinene, cineol borneol phenol cuminic aldehyde,artemisia ketone.
Anthelmintic (kills intestinal worms), antiseptic, antispasmodic,aromatic, carminative, cholagogue (stimulates flow of bile), febrifuge(reduces fever) , narcotic, stimulant, stomachic, tonic | | Uses : | Wormwood is above all a stomach medicine, being useful for indigestion,gastric pain, and lack ofappetite, as well as the related problems of heartburn and flatulence,fevers, dysentery,asthma, burns,anemia. It is also said to behelpful for liver insufficiency by stimulating liver and gallbladdersecretions, jaundice. Wormwoodis a cardiac stimulant and therefore acts, when taken in proper doses,to improve blood circulation. Wormwood tea has been recommended tohelp relieve pain during labor. The powdered flowering tops have beenused to expel intestinal wormsand other parasites. A fomentation of wormwood tea can be appliedexternally to irritations, bruises, or sprains. A wash of the teawill relieve itching from rashes. The oil acts as a local anestheticwhen applied to relieve pains of rheumatism,neuralgia, lumbago, tuberculosis,and arthritis.
The vinegar from boiled wormwood is good for halitosis,either from gums, teeth, or sour stomach.
Also, repels moths; put in closets, chests, etc., no problem withmoths. Scatter lavishly between the folds of clothing, dried wormwood,and wrap each article in newspaper before packing away winter clothing.Wormwood was used in considerable quantities by cloth manufacturersaccording to one old herbal. Mugwort, related to wormwood, was alsoused to protect clothes from moths. The oil of wormwood, rubbed on,will drive away fleas, flies, gnats, and worms. A few leaves of greenwormwood, scattered where black ants have become troublesome pests,is said to be effective in dislodging them. | | Dosage : | Infusion: steep 2 tsp. leaves or tops in 1 cup water. Take1/2 cup per day, a tsp. at a time.
Oil: A dose is from 2 to 5 drops, 2-3 times per day.
Tincture: take 8 to 10 drops on a sugar cube, 1-3 times perday.
Powder: take 1/4 to 1/2 tsp., 1 or 3 times per day. | | Safety : | Pure wormwood oil is poisoning. Relatively small doses may causenervous disorders, convulsions, insomnia, nightmares, and other symptoms.Flowers may induce allergic reactions. Has been approved as a foodadditive (flavoring) with thujon removed. Follow dosage closely anduse under medical supervision. Do not take large doses.
Contraindicated in pregnancy. If you are pregnant, do not use wormwood. | | Myths : | This is the bitterest of herbs.
Wormwood's name is obviously derived from its medicinal propertyof expelling intestinal worms for which it has been well known sinceancient times. An Egyptian papyrus dated 1,600 years before Christdescribes this bitter herb.
Legend has it that this plant first sprang up on the impressionsmarking the serpent's tail as he slithered his way out of Eden. Accordingto folk beliefs, wormwood was reputed to deprive a man of his courage,but a salve made from it was supposed to be effective in driving awaygoblins who came at night.
Wormwood is a principal ingredient in the dangerous alcoholic drinkabsinthe, which has been made illegal all over the world because itdeteriorates the nervous system, causing attacks similar to epilepticseizures. Absinthe is a bitter, aromatic, alcoholic drink that wasvery popular in Italy, France, and Switzerland during the 19th century.Because of the addictive nature of wormwood and the frequent sideeffects when absinthe was used to excess (dizziness, seizures, stupor,delirium, hallucinations, and even death) it has now been banned innearly every country of the world.
Wormwood planted as a border, it keeps animals from the garden.
It got its generic name from Artemis, the Greek name for Diana, becauseshe discovered the plant's virtues and gave them to mankind. Anotherstory has it that it is named for Artemisia, Queen of Caria, who gaveher name to the plant after she had benefited from its treatments.Wherever its name came from, it is one of the bitterest herbs known.Its common name comes from its ability to act as a wormer in childrenand animals. It was used in granaries to drive away weevils and insects,and was used as a strewing herb in spring to drive fleas away.
It contains large amounts of a toxic substance called absinthin,which will wash off the leaves of the plant and into the ground nearby,inhibiting the growth of closely planted herbs or plants. |
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