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Latin
name:
artemisia absinthium .
Other
Names:
absinthium, green ginger, absinthe, old woman, southernwood
Parts
Used: Leaves
or flowering tops
 Description
:
Native to Europe, N. Africa and Western Asia, cultivated in the
USA and elsewhere. The
plant grows from 2 to 4 feet in height. The numerous flower heads
are short-stemmed and hang in a many-flowered panicle. The capitula
are small, globular, inclined and 3 to 4 mm wide and almost as
long. The bracts are gray, silky-pubescent with a rounded tip.
The outer ones are linear-oblong and pubescent while the inner
ones are ovate, obtuse, broad and have a transparent, membranous
margin. The receptacle is rough-haired. The flowers are yellow
and fertile. The fruit is about 1.5 mm long...
Loss
of appetite
Dyspeptic complaints
Liver and gallbladder complaints Bitter,
carminative, anti-microbial, anthelmintic, aromatic, tonic,
antiseptic, febrifuge. The drug is administered for loss of
appetite, dyspeptic disorders, bloating, meteorism and for dyspepsia
as a result of convulsive gallbladder disorders
In
folk medicine, wormwood preparations are used internally
for gastric insufficiency, intestinal atonia, gastritis,
stomach. ache, liver disorders, bloating, anemia, irregular
menstruation, intermittent fever, loss of appetite, and
worm infestation.
Externally,
the drug is applied for poorly healing wounds, ulcers,
skin blotches, and insect bites. Wormwood is primarily
used as a bitter; it has the effect of stimulating and
invigorating the whole of the digestive process. Used
for indigestion, especially when due to a deficient quantity
or quality of gastric juice. It is a powerful remedy in
the treatment of worm infestations, especially roundworm
and pinworm. It may also be used to help the body deal
with fever and infections. It benefits the body in general.
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Due to the
drug's thujone content, the internal administration of large
doses can lead to vomiting, stomach and intestinal cramps, headache,
dizziness and disturbances of the central nervous system. Continuous
use is not advisable. The use of volatile oils and spirituous
extracts from the drug for the manufacture of alcoholic drinks
is forbidden in many countries because of possible injuries
to health.
Wormwood is the principal herb used in absinthe, a bitter, aromatic,
alcoholic drink that was very popular in Italy, France, and
Switzerland during the nineteenth century. Because of the addictive
nature of wormwood, and frequent side effects when absinthe
was used to excess - dizziness, seizures, stupor, delirium,
hallucinations, and even death- it has now been banned in nearly
every country of the world.
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