Artemisia Absinthiumis the botanical and Latin name for the plant Common Wormwood. Artemis is a Goodess of Greece from whose name the word “Artemisia” came. Artemis was famous goddess of forests and hills, of the hunt and also a defender of children. Artemis was later linked to the moon. It is thought that the Latin “Absinthium” comes from the Ancient Greek for “unenjoyable” or “without sweetness”, referring to wormwood’s bitter taste.
The herb, oil and seeds are from the Common Wormwood plant 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. Other names for common wormwood, or Artemisia Absinthium, are armoise, green ginger and grande wormwood.
Wormwood plants appear beautiful with their tiny yellow flowers and silver gray leaves. In tiny glands on the leaves Wormwood oil is produced. The different plants of Artemisia group are tarragon, sagebrush, sweet wormwood, Levant wormwood, silver king artemisia, Roman wormwood and southernwood. The Artemisia plants are members of the Aster family of plants.
Since ancient times wormwood has been used as a herbal medicine
– It can be used in easing labor pains in women.
– The poisoning from toadstools and hemlock can be counteracted.
– It can be considered as an antiseptic.
– It is used to ease digestive problems and to stimulate digestion. Wormwood is helpful in dealing with the problem of insufficient stomach acid.
– In pharmaceuticals it is used as a cardiac stimulant.
– Fevers decreases by it’s use.
– As an anthelmintic to expel intestinal worms.
– It was mainly taken as a tonic.
There is research claiming that wormwood may be effective in treating Alzheimer’s disease and Crohn’s disease.
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. People thought that it was responsible for hallucinations and mental illness. Absinthe was also related to the Bohemian culture of Parisian Montmartre.
The chemical thujone and the THC are said to be similar. 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.To prepare Absinthe containing Artemisia Absinthium one can take advantage of AbsintheKit.com.