Wormwood regularly hits the press, and if you scan the web for entries on wormwood you will find many, from health sites promoting its positive properties, to ancient texts highlighting its poison. If you have any interesting facts on wormwood that you would like me to add please do not hesitate to contact me at orders@eabsintheorders.com

What is wormwood?

Wormwood, Artemisia absinthium, named after the Greek goddess, Artemis; the goddess of hunting and childbirth, belongs to the family of Compositae, a group consisting of 180 species. Many artemisia varieties have insecticidal properties, wormwood being the most potent. It is a shrub-like perennial, native to Europe and Asia, with flowers that have a greenish-yellow tint. The whole family share an extreme bitterness from all parts of the plant: ‘As bitter as wormwood' is a very ancient proverb. Today in some of the Western states of North America you will find large plains covered in certain kinds of artemisia, which are of no use as forage. The few animals that do decide to munch on them, when eaten, are said to have a bitter taste.

History & Uses

The bitter oil, which contains Thujone, is extracted from the plant and has a variety of uses aside from absinthe!

The earliest historic reference to wormwood I can find goes back as far as 2800BC. The legendary Chinese emperor Shen-Nung, (also known as ‘The Devine Healer') single-handedly tasted every plant in China to see if the taste was good and to find out what was dangerous. Legend has it that during his research he was poisoned seventy-two times in a single day and yet amazingly suffered no long-term effects, however, alternative stories reveal that he turned green and died from toxic overdose - you decide! He is attributed with discovering that sweet wormwood cures Malaria now used in a herb based medicine as an anti malaria drug. According to the department of bioengineering, University of Washington, wormwood is also believed to have selective toxicity towards cancer cells. Medicinal uses also date back to the 1840s where French Foreign Legion troops fighting in Algeria were given absinthe to prevent various fevers. This gave the troops ‘a taste' for absinthe which they brought back to Paris and it quickly engaged the French society.

The use of wormwood leaves and combining them with alcohol is ancient, with references to it appearing in old texts such as the Bible and Egyptian papyri. For many centuries it has had many uses - as a repellent for moths and fleas, general pesticide and worming medicine for people and animals. The Greek philosopher, Pythagoras, claimed it eased childbirth and Hippocrates, father of medicine, recommended it for a number if ailments, including menstrual pain, rheumatism and anaemia.

Wormwood has also in the past been used in rituals by adding it to herbal incense to aid psychic reception, high spirits, and relieve anger and negativity.

The Romans referred to common wormwood as absinthium from the word absinthial meaning bitter.

Wormwood was once used as a traditional stuffing for goose.

Today wormwood is used as a mild sedative, to eliminate worms, increase stomach acidity and lower fever. It can help you regain your appetite and enhances digestion. It eliminates toxins and congestion in the gut and has also been used to treat liver, gastric gallbladder and vascular disorders and migraine. It is used for treating infections, fever, colds and flu. Moroccans call it chiba, which is Arabic for wormwood, and add it to their tea during the colder months to keep out the cold. Wormwood's uses are not only limited to ingestion, this herb can be used for wounds, skin ulcers, blemishes and insect bites.

Wormwood doesn't only have these amazing properties but it forms the intrinsic quality of absinthe.