Artemisia Absinthiumis the botanical and Latin name for the plant Common Wormwood. The name “Artemisia” originated from the name of Greek Goddess Artemis. Artemis is known as the goddess of forests and hills, of the hunt and also as a protector of children. Later Artemis was connected to the moon. The word “Absinthium” is referred to the bitter taste of wormwood.
The herb, oil and seeds known as Wormwood are from the Common Wormwood plant, a perennial herb which often grows in rocky areas and on arid ground in Asia, North Africa and the Mediterranean. It was also been produced in the parts of North America. The different names for common wormwood are armoise, green ginger and grande wormwood.
The silver gray leaves and tiny yellow flowers gives worwood plants a preety look. One can get Wormwood oil from the tiny glands on the leaves. The other plants of Artemisia group are tarragon, sagebrush, sweet wormwood, Levant wormwood, silver king artemisia, Roman wormwood and southernwood. The Artemisia plants belongs to the Aster plant family.
Since ancient times wormwood has been used as a herbal medicine
– The labor pains can be lowered down by it.
– To counterbalance the poisoning from toadstools and hemlock.
– Also available as an antiseptic.
– The problems related to digestion is solved by it. Wormwood may be used in solving the problems of stomach acid.
– It acts as a cardiac stimulant in pharmaceuticals.
– One can stop fevers with the help of it.
– To discharge intestinal worms it can act as an anthelmintic.
– It was mainly taken as a tonic.
Alzheimer’s disease and Crohn’s disease can be cured by wormwood.
Effects of Artemisia Absinthium
Wormwood is a key ingredient in the liquor Absinthe, the Green Fairy, which was banned in many countries in the early 1900s. Absinthe is named after this herb which also gives the drink its characteristic bitter taste,
Absinthe was banned because of its alleged psychedelic effects. According to the people’s belief it caused hallucinations and mental disorder. Absinthe was also associated to the Bohemian culture of Parisian Montmartre with its loose morals, courtesans, artists and writers.
People believe that the chemical thujone in wormwood and the THC in the drug cannabis are same. The amount of thujone is so small in Absinthe that it cannot harm a person unless drunk in very large quantity!
One should drink Absinthe in moderation because it is about twice as strong as whisky and vodka.
A real Absinthe is that which contains Artemisia Absinthium. Besides the real Green Fairy “fake” Absinthes are also available which are produced from other herbs and flavorings. If you want the real thing you must check that they contain thujone or Common Wormwood or use essences,such as those from AbsintheKit.AbsintheKit.com can help a person in preparing his own Absinthe containing Artemisia Absinthium.