Wormwood is a perennial plant which can grow to be 3 feet tall, with velvety white or silver-green stems, yellow-green feathery leaves, and bulbous yellow flowers. Aside from its appearance, wormwood is an herb that has been long known for its distinctive aroma, bitter flavor, and health benefits. While native to Europe, it grows readily across various climates, including parts of Asia, Africa, South America, and the United States. During the 1970's, we learned that a range of the constituents (listed below) found in the plant contributes to its medicinal benefits, including: Gut inflammation, digestive stiumlation, and neuroprotective, antidepressant, antibacterial, antifungale, and antimalarial acitivity.
History & Folklore
A longstanding folklore of wormwood is something of a love spell: An Old Love Charm ‘On St. Luke’s Day, take marigold flowers, a sprig of marjoram, thyme, and a little Wormwood; dry them before a fire, rub them to powder; then sift it through a fine piece of lawn, and simmer it over a slow fire, adding a small quantity of virgin honey, and vinegar. Anoint yourself with this when you go to bed, saying the following lines three times, and you will dream of your partner ‘that is to be’ "St. Luke, St. Luke, be kind to me, In dreams let me my true-love see."
Habitat & Cultivation
While native to Europe, it grows readily across various climates, including parts of Asia, Africa, South America, and the United States. Wormwood is propagated from seed in early spring or by dividing the roots in autumn. The aerial parts are harvested in late summer.
Uses
Absinthe Absinthe, a distilled highly alcoholic beverage, is flavored with wormwood essential oil. Because of the high levels of thujone, a nerve stimulant that is toxic in excess, absinthe was banned in the early 19th century.
Digestive Stimulant For those with weak or underactive digestion, wormwood is an extremely useful medicine as it increases bile and stomach acid production. This helps the body to absorb more nutrients, which can be helpful in treating many conditions including anemia.
Worms wormwood can be used to treat parasitic worms of the gut
Traditional Insect Repellent Useful as an insecticide and insect repellent
Parts used
Aerial Parts can be used either fresh or dry and have a wide range of medicinal uses. Aerial parts are ideal as insect repellant.
Key Actions
Aromatic bitter
Stimulates secretion of bile
Antiparasitic
Antimicrobial
Anti-inflammatory
Eases stomach pain
Mild Antidepressant
Constituents
Volatile Oil containing sesquiterpene lactones; thujone; azulenes
Flavnoids
Polyphenols
Lignans
References
- Chevallier, Andrew, FNIMH; Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine - 550 Herbs and Remedies for Common Ailments; 3. Edition 2016; ISBN: 978-0-2412-2944-6; Page 66.
No Remedies found containing Wormwood
No Products Found For Wormwood
No reviews found for Wormwood
Help others by leaving a review
Share your experience with this herb to help other people