Everything about Absinth Wormwood totally explained
Artemisia absinthium (
Absinthium,
Absinthe Wormwood,
Wormwood or
Grand Wormwood) is a species of
wormwood, native to temperate regions of
Europe,
Asia and northern
Africa.
It is a
herbaceous perennial plant, with a hard, woody
rhizome. The stems are straight, growing to 0.8-1.2 m (rarely 1.5 m) tall, grooved, branched, and silvery-green. The
leaves are spirally arranged, greenish-grey above and white below, covered with silky silvery-white hairs, and bearing minute oil-producing glands; the basal leaves are up to 25 cm long, bipinnate to tripinnate with long
petioles, with the cauline leaves (those on the stem) smaller, 5-10 cm long, less divided, and with short petioles; the uppermost leaves can be both simple and sessile (without a petiole). Its
flowers are pale yellow, tubular, and clustered in spherical bent-down
heads (capitula), which are in turn clustered in leafy and branched
panicles. Flowering is from early summer to early autumn; pollination is
anemophilous. The
fruit is a small
achene; seed
dispersal is by gravity.
It grows naturally on uncultivated, arid ground, on rocky slopes, and at the edge of footpaths and fields.
Cultivation and uses
The plant can easily be cultivated in dry
soil. They should be planted under bright exposure in fertile, mid-weight soil. It prefers soil rich in
nitrogen. It can be propagated by growth (ripened cuttings taken in March or October in temperate climates) or by seeds in nursery beds. It is
naturalised in some areas away from its native range, including much of
North America.
The plant's characteristic odour can make it useful for making a plant spray against pests. In the practice of
companion planting, because of the secretions of its roots, it exerts an inhibiting effect on the growth of surrounding plants, thus weeds. It can be useful to repel insect
larvae but it need only be planted on the edge of the area of cultivation. It has also been used to repel
fleas and
moths indoors.
It is an ingredient in the liquor
absinthe, and also used for flavouring in some other
spirits and wines, such as
vermouth and
pelinkovac. It is also used medically as a
tonic,
stomachic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, cholagogue,
febrifuge and
anthelmintic. In the middle ages it was used to spice
mead.
Therapeutic uses
The leaves and flowering tops are gathered when the plant is in full bloom, and dried naturally or with artificial heat. Its active substances include
silica, two bitter elements (absinthine and anabsinthine),
thujone,
tannic and
resinous substances,
malic acid, and
succinic acid. Its use has been claimed to remedy indigestion and
gastric pain, it acts as an
antiseptic, and as a
febrifuge. For medicinal use, the herb is used to make a tea for helping pregnant women during pain of labor. A dried encapsulated form of the plant is used as an
anthelmintic. A wine can also be made by
macerating the herb. It is also available in powder form and as a
tincture. The oil of the plant can be used as a cardiac stimulant to improve blood circulation. Pure wormwood oil is very poisonous, but with proper dosage poses little or no danger. Wormwood is mostly a stomach medicine.
Etymology and folklore
The beliefs surrounding this genus are founded upon the strong association between the herbs of the genus
Artemisia and the moon goddess
Artemis. In
Hellenistic culture, Artemis was a goddess of the hunt, and protector of the forest and children.
Absinthium comes from
Ancient Greek ἀψίνθιον (apsinthion)
(External Link
), possibly meaning "unenjoyable", and probably referring to the bitter nature of the derived beverage
(External Link), though this is likely folk etymology.
The word "wormwood" comes from
Middle English "wormwode" or "wermode". The form "wormwood" is influenced by the traditional use as a cure for intestinal worms. Webster's Third New International Dictionary attributes the etymology to
Old English "wermōd" (compare with German
Wermut and the derived drink
Vermouth). An alternate explanation dubiously combines the Old English "wer", meaning "man" (as in "werewolf"), with OE "mōd", meaning "mood".
See
Artemisia (plant) for its relationship to the
Book of Revelation,
Chernobyl and other associations in human culture.
Image:Artemisia absinthium.jpg
Image:Artemisia absinthium NF.jpg
Image:Koeh-164.jpg|19th century illustration
Further Information
Get more info on 'Absinth Wormwood'.
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