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 the name of the goddess of forests and hills, of the hunt and also a protector of children. Artemis was later linked to the moon. According to the people’s thought the Latin word “Absinthium” came from the Ancient Greek meaning “without sweetness”.

The Common Wormwood plant is a perennial herb which often grows on arid ground and in rocky areas of Asia, North Africa and the Mediterranean. After streching from people’s gardens it has also been found growing in parts of North America. Common wormwood is also known as armoise, green ginger and grande wormwood.

Wormwood plants look beautiful with their silver gray leaves and tiny yellow flowers. The tiny glands on the leaves are the production area of Wormwood oil. The Artemisia group of plants also includes tarragon, sagebrush, sweet wormwood, Levant wormwood, silver king artemisia, Roman wormwood and southernwood. The Artemisia plants belongs to the Aster plant family.

Wormwood has been used as a herbal medicine for different medical purpose
- Relaxing labor pains in women.
- Counteracting poisoning from toadstools and hemlock.
- One can use it as an antiseptic.
- The problems related to digestion is solved by it. Wormwood is helpful in dealing with the problem of insufficient stomach acid.
- One can use it as a cardiac stimulant in pharmaceuticals.
- Fevers can be reduced.
- One can use it as an anthelmintic to expel intestinal worms.
- Taken as an elixir.

There is research proving wormwood to be effective on 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. According to the people’s belief it caused hallucinations and mental disorder. The Bohemian culture of Parisian Montmartre with its loose morals, courtesans and artists and writers was also combined with Absinthe.

The THC in the drug cannabis and the thujone in wormwood are said to be the same. Studies showed that Absinthe contained very small amounts of thujone and one will have to drink enough Absinthe to get the harmful effects of it!

One can drink Absinthe as any other strong spirit but in balanced amount.

Absinthe just is not real Absinthe without Artemisia Absinthium. A lot of manufacturers make “fake” Absinthes using 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.